Today is a story day at my house. At times like these, we all get caught up (at least a bit), in those stressful stories spun so exquisitely by the mind. I can see it happening in others, and I feel it happening in me; the mind is in charge a little more than usual.
I know this, because my friend stress tells me so, and the mind has a story about that too. This story says "Stress is bad, you should be present so the stress goes away."
What I notice is that, when I follow this story, I resist what is (stress) and I feel the normal effects of that resistance (more stress). I try to get rid of it and the old 'What you resist persists' law seems to kick in. 
But luckily, a few years back, I discovered an alternative. I noticed that, when I allow the feeling, embrace it even, I come straight back to the present. The stress then becomes just another part of now, like the breath, or the birds singing. 
Treat stress like a friend and it becomes one. And today I wanted to share this simple but powerful way to make stress a force for good in your life.

I Wonder About These Stories...

Learn Mindfulness today with these simple, effective classes from Oli Doyle, author of 'Mindfulness Plain and Simple'.

Alternative Health

Health

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Minds are funny things, aren't they? They think they know what the world should look like, what other people should do and how everything should happen. And yet it doesn't. Reality has its own rules, its own way of playing and its own ideas about what needs to happen next. And it doesn't care what we think about it. The question then for us as humans is whether we should keep lecturing reality, arguing with what is and fighting for what the voice in our heads says 'should' be happening, or whether we are better served by noticing the truth of what is here now and working with it in the best way we can. In today's class we apply practical tools to this very human problem and find the best way forward for each of us.

Reality Has No 'Shoulds'

Living this instant means living instinctively, responding to the moment as it arises, free of fear and desire. This is easy to say, but harder to do, and in this live class Oli shares his best tips and tools for coming back into alignment with your inner intuition.

Intuitive Living

Lao Tzu tells us that the lord of the country should not be flitting about, which means lost in the thought stream! And you and I are the 'Lord of the Country', the master of the house. Not the little me that whines and complains but the one who is aware of whining and complaining, the one who watches it all. This is what we seek when we meditate, and yet it is what we are. In today's class, we find the master, the lord, the boss and learn to live from there, not flitting about the countryside, lost in thought but rooted in being, here, now, always. For more information visit www.olidoyle.com or join my Facebook group - Mindfulness With Oli Doyle.

The Lord of the Country

"The Master doesn't seek fulfilment, Not seeking, not expecting, She is present, and can welcome all things." Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching - Stephen Mitchell's version. This week's class explores the importance of finding the Awareness that you are and of bringing curiosity to our inner experience rather than believing the words of someone else. For updates on classes join my Facebook Group 'Mindfulness With Oli Doyle.'

Finding Awareness - Mindfulness Live With Oli Doyle

Thinking is not something we DO, it is something that does US, and when we get addicted to watching and listening to the thoughts that come uninvited, when we lose our attention in that stream of words and images, we lose the most precious thing - our actual life. Guided by the wisdom of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, in this live class Oli explores the addiction to thinking from which all humanity suffers and shares the steps we can take to start to unpick the threads of that addiction. Are you ready to be free? This class is for you.

I Wonder About These Stories...

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