The Three Fires

Hatred, Ignorance, and Greed. Also known as the three fires or three unwholesome roots, they have been sitting heavy on my mind lately. These three fires cause most of our problems and suffering, in ourselves and in the world. Our thoughts, words, and actions can trace their roots back to these negative qualities of the mind. For a while now, I've been watching the three fires burn brightly with what feels like unlimited fuel. 

In this Country, it should never be accepted, or normalized, that a presidential candidate base their entire foundation on Hate, Ignorance, and Greed - steeped in lies and fear. Nor should it be acceptable for a convicted felon, and an individual found liable of sexual abuse, be able to qualify as a presidential candidate. 

Unfortunately, so many of us accepted these qualities as a leader who should be president. 

When studying an idea or concept, instead of defining what it is, it may provide clarity to name what it isn't. With that, the fundamental qualities of a true leader isn't defined by Hatred, Ignorance, and Greed. 

In this moment, community can feel really small. Where do we look? What do we do now? The reality is we cannot control the existence of the three fires. But, we can choose to not add fuel or allow them to grow and fester. 

Fortunately, there is a cure and opposition to the Three Fires called the "Three Wholesome Attitudes" of the mind. These three wholesome attitudes are "Lovingkindness", "Wisdom", and "Generosity". Each are powerful qualities that allow us to take action, extinguish the three fires, and become a leader who inspires others. 

When things feel dark, remember, you can still choose what kind of person you want to be in that moment. 

Below are several examples for each of the three wholesome attitudes to shift your mind. 

Lovingkindness: It's so easy to have a closed heart to others. There is a practice to open your heart and extinguish hatred, which in turn allows you to approach life and others with compassion and empathy. As you sit, start with your self and simply say, May I be well, May I be healthy, May I be happy in life. Pause for a moment, take a breath, and then bring to mind a person outside your circle that may wear on you a little. Don't pick someone difficult for your first time. Again, gentle say, May you be well, May you be healthy, May you be happy in life. This is a practice you can choose every time you feel frustration, anger, or annoyance. 

Wisdom: With conspiracy theories, conflicting news reports, and various people claiming to have "the truth", it's important to see reality clearly. Ignorance is not a lack of knowledge but a misperception of the nature of reality. Practicing Wisdom is always learning, being open minded, listening, and being okay with adjusting or adding to your beliefs when presented with new facts. 

Generosity: A great way to extinguish greed is giving of yourself, your talents, or resources to a cause or person important to you. This may be donating your time to a food bank, planting a tree, or providing resources to a cause you care about. I, for one, will be donating to a few organizations who protect the environment. 

Let me know your thoughts and any other examples you may have. 

Labyrinth of Life

We all have stories that we carry with us that limit us in some way. Some are really big and others are small. Either way, they feel true. One story that I've always believed is that writing poetry is hard and beyond me. I was recently challenged to write a poem for an online zine collection of self-love poems curated by Amy Williams. I could have easily said no but I decided to drop the old story and write a new one. So, I sat down and wrote a poem about my insights that day while walking a labyrinth. I hope you enjoy and I look forward to bringing you more. You can find the entire collection of self-love poems here: The Search for Love.

Labyrinth of Life

I follow the path

Soft ground beneath my feet

 

With many turns before me

I’m exactly where I need to be

 

Cool air dancing across my face

Bird song cheering me along

 

The path folds and spins me around

Like life many times before

 

I arrive not alone

Lessons joined me along the way

 

The destination is only a pause

For the path continues before me

 

Grateful for this moment

I’m exactly where I need to be

- David Barron

Coming Alive Inside

The following is from my field notes during Natural Mindfulness Guide Training 

I was mentally exhausted after work and almost considered saving the "Coming Alive Inside" practice for another evening. There was also an inner urge inside of me to be outside in nature. So I decided to head over to the Evergreen Nature Preserve with a short ¼ mile paved loop through a dense variety of trees and plants. I walked down the path, stopped, and brought my attention to a deep Spring Breath followed by a slow Fall release. I closed my eyes and raised my hands over my head. How did I know my hand was there if I couldn’t see it? I could feel a slight breeze across the back of my hand, the cool air on my skin, Amy running up to give me a high five, and now the tingling on my skin. This brought a smile to my face and I could feel a shift in my body. I turned my focus back to my body, my hand, and if I could sense the energy within me. I could feel an energy that felt like the low vibration of a singing bell a few seconds after being struck. I continued down the path and began to tune into an inner and open awareness of my body and the environment around me. The first feeling that was apparent was the sound of a passing car with a modified muffler rattling loud enough where I felt the vibrations in my chest. The trail curved and opened up to a multi layer canopy of green leaves high above our heads, splashed with the orange light of the setting sun. Walking along the path there were lazy Susan's, blackberries, fireflies hovering and flickering all around us, and cardinals hidden in the canopy singing their hearts out. I continued down the path, mindful of my step, looking for a tree to connect with that was not covered in poison ivy or Virginia creeper which is everywhere here. I finally see a Magnolia Tree near the trail where I could feel it’s leaves, smell it’s flowers, and touch it’s branches. I take a leaf between my fingers. The top of the leaf is a waxy shell with a velvety texture underside. I reach out to touch the base of the tree and bring my focus to the bark under my finger tips. I take a minute to allow a second to connect. I sense, or imagine I feel, it’s energy running up and down it’s branch as an interstate running from the very tip of its leaves all the way down it’s roots deep into the ground around me. I thank the tree for its service and bringing me so much joy as a child when I would climb a Magnolia tree’s perfect branches and sit for hours reading and imagining my escape into nature. On the way back to the car I could hear a Cardinal singing above us. I stop and begin to search the trees, my eyes searching among the branches. I finally see a beautiful female Cardinal high above us on a dead branch. On the way back, still deep in the woods, I pass through the strong smell of marijuana. My dog pauses and looks into the woods as I see movement in my peripheral vision. I could feel someone was near that I couldn’t see and felt a heightened awareness in my body. I arrived safely back at the car, thankful for a nice evening connecting with myself and nature around me.

Walking Mindfully

The following is from my field notes during Natural Mindfulness Guide Training. 

This evening I practiced walking mindfully while at James Boyce Park. I started by walking slowly feeling the paved path below me, sensing my movement through the environment. I practiced with stepping forward with my left, then slowly bringing my right foot to my left, bringing awareness to the movement of each step. I did this several times on the paved path and the gravel path. On the gravel path I was aware of the moment of silence during the pause before moving my foot again. As I stepped forward I could feel my feet shifting under me. I would quicken my pace and then slow down, noticing the difference in sounds and how it felt in my body. I would practice stepping with intention, connecting with the surface with my heel, following through the step as a rolled to my toes, listening and following the sounds around me and the sounds I was making with each step. My dog was walking with me being patient with my walking pace. I brought my awareness to her walking as well, her pace, her nails on the paved path verses the sound on the gravel path. She would notice the squirrels and start pulling me. As I walked up the hills I brought my awareness to my body and it's position as I shifted my weight to walk up the hill. As I headed to the car I mindfully stepped across the transition from the gravel path back to the paved path. I have walked this path before and walking mindfully made me experience it in a new way.

This is an example of what it looks like to run/walk three and half miles. It took a while but this will improve with time. As part of my personal focus, I'm starting to run again. It's an important part of my self-care practice, reducing stress, and losing the pandemic weight. I would like to invite you to join me, where ever you may be, just as you are. I will be using two apps on my phone. The first app is called C25K to guide me from "not running" to "running 3.1 miles without stopping", at whatever speed it may be. The second app will be "Mapmyrun" which will log distance, time, calories, etc. You may find similar apps that work best for you. A bonus app would be your favorite motivational music. Each week I will be posting my progress and encourage you to share your progress with me at @upShiftingwithdavidbarron. As with any exercise program please consult with your doctor first. I hope you join me.

 

2022 Vision Board

I recently attended a workshop and created a vision board for 2022. Throughout the year I want to bring a personal focus to loved ones, friends, travel, reading, meditation, and running. It may seem like a simple list, but a few of these areas lost focus during the pandemic as I'm sure some have for you as well. But that's okay, that's part of the practice of becoming aware and bringing your focus back to what's important for you. With that thought in mind, what is on your vision board, what do you want to bring into focus, what is important to you?

Intentions vs Expectations

In today's 2 Minute Insight we discuss Intentions vs Expectation. For much of my life I had expectations that left me upset, frustrated, and disappointed when the outcome didn’t happen the way I wanted it to. My thoughts and desires lived in the future and it was always someone else's fault when things didn’t work out. I was so fixed on the outcome I didn’t see anything else outside the world in my head. If I was good, if I was perfect, if everyone just did what they should be doing, everything would work out just the way I imagine. My attachment to the outcome would leave my world crashing down around me. 

Things began to change when I learned to drop my expectations and start setting intentions. By setting an intention I began to focus on the process in the present moment to reach the outcome. I would use daily intentions to check in with myself to make sure my actions and path was heading in the right direction. I remember one intention I had was to bring more joy into my life because I was working a lot of long hours at work. Each morning I would sit at the edge of my bed and set the intention that I would do one thing that day that brought me joy. I didn’t know what that one thing was but I allowed my actions throughout the day to lead me to what it may be. One day I got off work at a normal time and went to a local museum that was having free admission that evening. One day I went running while the sun was still out. Another day I drove to a park for lunch and sat in the grass. It was simple moments but by focusing on the present moment experience I was able to find a greater joy that filled my life in ways that I had not imagined. I also began to take responsibility for my actions and not blame others. There was no reason to be hard on myself as well. I was doing the best I could and I wasn’t attached to the outcome being a certain way or happening at a certain time. I had determination but I kept an open mind to where the path may lead. 

So, the next time there’s an outcome you would like to work towards, I invite you to set an intention and drop the expectation. It could be one of the most rewarding things you do as you walk your path.