Paintings by Peggy
  • Home
  • Watercolor Galleries
    • Floral
    • Southwest
    • Nature
    • Watercolors in Private Collections
    • Cards
  • Abstract Galleries
    • Abstract I
    • Abstract II
    • Abstract III
    • Matted Abstract
    • Textured Abstract
    • Abstracts in Private Collections
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Classes
    • Primordial Sound Meditation
    • Meditation Resources
    • Meditation Basics
  • Photography
    • Floral
    • Nature Photos
    • Out and About
  • Contact
    • Exhibits
  • About
  • Blog

Musings on Meditation and Art

Shit Happens

6/21/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll
 
As I teach in my meditation classes, having a daily meditation practice does not eliminate stress in your life, but it changes your reactions to the stress in your life.  Last week, I had several opportunities to put this philosophy to the test and see that I am much less reactive to challenging situations.
 
I was having a wonderful time camping, when the neighbor who watches our house while we are gone texted to say that part of our roof had blown off.  The old me, prior to developing a daily meditation practice, would have worried for the rest of the trip and/or would have wanted to pack up and go home.  I would have not enjoyed my time in nature and not have been present with friends as my mind would have been spinning in all directions imaging a variety of scenarios.  And the funny thing is when we did pull into our carport the damage was far worse than I expected, but nothing would have changed if I had worried or came home early.  It was a good lesson to remind me that worrying doesn’t help and to live in the present moment and deal with the situation one step at a time.
 
Then two days later after I took my bath, the bathtub didn’t drain and backed up into the other shower and the seal around the toilet leaked and ruined the laminate wood flooring in the master bath and water leaked into the carpet in the master bedroom.  We tried valiantly that night to resolve the issues with the tools at home but to no avail. The next morning we pulled up the flooring and padding and we finally got a plumber out here at noon.  Our problem is resolved, but now I truly understand the phrase “shit happens”  as I experienced the shit first hand. There was lots of cleanup and getting rid of the sewer smell and drying up the carpet in the master bedroom and remaining flooring near the toilet. Now we will need to put flooring in the bathroom as we are down to the cement foundation.  But, I am feeling lots of gratitude for plumbers and roofers and all of the things I do have in life.  I get to choose my attitude and I choose to be upbeat.
 
Is this what I wanted to happen in my life? No. 
Is this what I planned to happen? No. 
But it is what happened.  I didn’t complain and say “poor me” and I didn’t waste time worrying about any of it.  I accepted the situation, surrendered and dealt with each event as it happened and moved on to the next thing that needed to be done to solve the problem.   I didn’t waste any energy being angry or upset and it really was a much more peaceful way to deal with the challenges that occur in life.
 
How do you deal with the challenges in life?

What can you do to improve how you deal with the challenges in your life?


2 Comments
Connie
6/21/2016 06:41:02 pm

I have recently been working on this very topic/feeling... Getting there but slowly!

Reply
Peggy
6/21/2016 08:14:31 pm

Good for you Connie! Be patient and kind to yourself as you work on a different way to live and be!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Peggy Steffens is an artist and Chopra Certified Meditation Instructor


    Subscribe to receive blog posts via email.

    * indicates required

    My goal is to build a community with like-minded individuals who want to grow, share and learn from one another.  Please post comments to enrich the experience for all.

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    February 2019
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Four Agreements
    Perfection
    Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success

    RSS Feed

Home

Abstract

Watercolor

Meditation

Contact

Blog

Copyright © 2016
  • Home
  • Watercolor Galleries
    • Floral
    • Southwest
    • Nature
    • Watercolors in Private Collections
    • Cards
  • Abstract Galleries
    • Abstract I
    • Abstract II
    • Abstract III
    • Matted Abstract
    • Textured Abstract
    • Abstracts in Private Collections
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Classes
    • Primordial Sound Meditation
    • Meditation Resources
    • Meditation Basics
  • Photography
    • Floral
    • Nature Photos
    • Out and About
  • Contact
    • Exhibits
  • About
  • Blog