Showing Up To Life

Just want to remind you that tomorrow, Saturday, Feb 5, at 11:30 am MST (10:30 am PST, 12:30 CST, 1:30 pm EST) you can join my free workshop on Lovingkindness.

Lovingkindness is a tool we can use to connect or to set boundaries as our lives require. But most of all, the practice of Lovingkindness is a way for us to connect back to ourselves and access the awesome power of self-love and self-compassion.

Don’t believe me? Come to the workshop and let me change your mind.

Here’s a short video talking about the workshop:

And here’s a link to join. It’s free.

artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/lovingkindness-412

Yesterday, I talked about the value of kindness in helping us maintain our balance and regulation so we can be available and show up to our moment-to-moment experience.

Another really powerful force we can all access that will provide the same regulation and presence is kinda where kindness and acceptance meet: Forgiveness.

When we forgive, we allow our bodies to become calm and free from the resentment that distracts us from the present moment experience.

In today’s video, I go into the science behind all of this and I even tell a story about a stress expert in Africa telling us about what happens when a cheetah chases a gazelle.

I hope you enjoy it!

Reminder: This Saturday, I’ll be covering the concepts and science behind Lovingkindness, and I hope to inspire you with the many real-life benefits available through these simple, yet powerful practices.

Of course, I’ll be going over the practices as well and providing you with take-home materials. (Even though you’ll already be home. It’s a zoom meeting.)

I hope you can join us!

Here is a link to a page with some more information and a link to join this free workshop:

https://artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/lovingkindness-412

When we experience some kind of conflict in our lives; when we experience disappointment, we have two choices.

We can allow ourselves, through clinging and aversion, to become dysregulated and act out in anger and resentment.

Forgetting the consequences of shame, guilt, and embarrassment for a moment, let’s look at what happens in this place of dysregulation.

In this dysregulation, you are blind and deaf to what is going on around you and when life reaches out to you in the form of a loved one, friend, or even some kind of opportunity, you are not there to meet it.

But what if we intentionally practice kindness in this moment, in spite of whatever level of disappointment or anger we might feel entitled to?

If we practice kindness in this circumstance, we make a connection to the person involved in the conflict.

In this connection, we make ourselves more healthy and increase our own well-being and become more open to connecting to the rest of what’s going on around us.

Which would you choose?

Watch today’s video for my take:

If you feel like you could use some more clarity about these topics or anything else I cover here; if you would like to explore the idea of getting coached in this work, please click this link to schedule your free session:

https://calendly.com/artburns/45-min-coaching-session

And if you like today’s episode, you’re gonna love the workshop I’m hosting on Saturday!

The Weekend Workshop Series at 11:30 am MST on Saturday, Feb 5. These workshops have been amazing and I just know you will love this one.

To register, click this link:

https://artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/art-burns-coaching-winter-workshop-series

First of all, I want to remind you about this week’s edition of The Weekend Workshop Series at 11:30 am MST on Saturday, Feb 5. These workshops have been amazing and I just know you will love this one.

To register, click this link:

https://artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/art-burns-coaching-winter-workshop-series

This brings me to today’s topic: Lovingkindness. (This Saturday will be all about lovingkindness!)

Lovingkindness is the practice of infusing kindness into every aspect of our moment-to-moment experience.

And when we do this repeatedly as a practice, kindness becomes available to us in every circumstance and experience.

And, as I talk about in today’s video, it leads to an increased capacity for compassion for ourselves and others.

Here’s the video:

If you feel like you could use some more clarity about these topics or anything else I cover here; if you would like to explore the idea of getting coached in this work, please click this link to schedule your free session:

https://calendly.com/artburns/45-min-coaching-session

While I try to mention all these free resources in my videos, I think they sometimes get buried beneath the rest of the content. I guess that means the content is solid. Right?

Anyway, today I’m keeping it super simple just so you know exactly what, where, and when the three free resources are available to you.

First, we have the Winter Workshop Series, a weekly, 2-hour, interactive workshop on a different topic each week. To see all the upcoming topics and to register for this free event, click here:

artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/art-burns-coaching-winter-workshop-series

Next, on Wednesday evenings I host a free guided meditation and discussion of topics related to mindfulness and compassion. Click here to register:

https://www.meetup.com/learning-to-surf-talks-on-buddhism-meditation-mindfulness/events/vhrtfsydcdbdb/

(This link will take you to the Feb 2 event. I can’t seem to share a link to join the group.)

And, finally, here is a third free resource: A 1:1 Coaching session all for you! I have created the space for you to schedule and experience the life-changing power of sitting down with a certified coach who can help you contextualize anything going on in your life through the lens of mindfulness and Self Compassion. If you’re ready, click here to schedule your free session:

https://calendly.com/artburns/45-min-coaching-session

“A person who is not at peace with themself will be at war with the rest of the world.”

This is scribbled in my notebook in what looks to be a very rushed fashion. So much so that I failed to write down who is quoted. So if you recognize this quote, and you know its source, please let me know so I can give proper credit!

In today’s first segment, I explore the concept of the above quote, which is also illustrated by this quote from an equally unknown author:

“We don’t experience the world as the world is, we experience the world the way we are.”

If we bring awareness to how at peace we are or are not in any given moment, we can see the root of the conflict and then walk into the world with the more comfortable and helpful posture of peace.

Speaking of awareness, in today’s second segment I talk about a factor in some areas of spiritual teaching which sacrifice awareness in the interest of regulation and personal comfort.

As I explain, our emotions, the physical sensations they cause, and the thoughts from which they arise are a response to our environment and circumstances.

And to avoid any of our emotions is to put a blindfold on as we live our lives in the present moment.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

I also want to remind you that this Saturday I will be hosting Week 3 of the Winter Workshop Series. Please understand that each week is completely stand-alone, so it’s alright if you’ve missed the first two.

This week we’re diving into the world of informal - AKA ‘Off The Cushion’ practices.

Honestly, of all the people I’ve helped to adopt mindfulness into their lives, the ones who seem to benefit most and most deeply are the ones who embrace the practice beyond the once-a-day meditation.

In fact, I can tell you that I’ve clients who never do any formal practices and yet have seen amazing changes take place in their lives from just applying the simple practices to the most mundane tasks of the day.

I’m going to be covering all that and much more this Saturday at 11:30 am MST.

I hope you can make it!

For more info and the registration link for this free workshop, please click here:

artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/art-burns-coaching-winter-workshop-series

We all know how good it feels to receive kindness.

Whether a simple compliment or acknowledgment, an act of assistance, or even a simple thank you; when someone does something kind for us or to us we feel it.

And it feels really good!

But what we don’t usually recognize is how beneficial it is to express kindness and to practice it towards others.

(Note: We should always be practicing kindness towards ourselves! And I’ll get into that in another episode. But what we’re talking about today is all about between ourselves and others.)

It turns out that kindness is at once an effect of an integrated brain and the cause of integration in the brain.

I go into this and review three super simple practices you can do today to develop this vital integration and enjoy the benefits of regulation, attention, and awareness that will follow.

Enjoy!

Well, here’s a rare sighting of Art Burns on a Sunday afternoon!

Turns out, I had two covid-caused cancellations today (I feel like that could be the name of a band!), and I could think of nothing more important to do with this newfound time than to record an episode for you!

In the first segment, I tell a personal story from 20+ years ago in which I was the unlikely recipient of kindness and how very good it felt.

At the end of that first segment, I offer you a gentle and compassionate challenge to practice kindness right now.

In the second segment, I relay a story I’d heard from Jack Kornfield during a course I took on Buddhist Psychology. Amazing course, amazing story.

I hope it moves you as it has always moved me.

Here’s the episode. I hope you enjoy it.

I want to make sure you know all about the AB Coaching Winter Workshop Series! I’ve gotten tons of positive feedback from people who’ve shown up to both sessions so far, which is super duper exciting!

This Saturday, 1/29, I’ll be talking about informal, ‘off the cushion’ meditation practices, which may well be the most important lesson I can teach anyone. So I hope you can make it. I do accept donations, but this is a free workshop.

Click here for info and to register:

artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/art-burns-coaching-winter-workshop-series

Finally, I want to remind you that weaving this work into our lives and undergoing the amazing transformation this work provides can be hard. Like really hard. Scary even! So if you feel like you could use some personalized support in your journey, you should know that it is available to you and just might be more affordable than you think. The first step is to schedule a free call with me. No strings attached, I promise!

https://calendly.com/artburns/45-min-coaching-session

I wasn’t planning on recording an episode today.

As I explain, I awoke yesterday to the news that a dear friend had passed away overnight.

Loss comes in many shapes and sizes and we process each loss differently.

But when we process loss - that is, when we grieve - we often tend to try to get through it as quickly as possible.

Unpleasant feelings can be difficult. But avoiding the discomfort of grief is to miss a valuable opportunity, as I explain in today’s episode:

Week # 2 of the Art Burns Coaching Winter Workshop Series is all about formal meditation. I’ll cover the benefits of a daily practice, even if only a few minutes a day!

I’ll teach you how to get the most out of those few minutes a day and, most importantly of all, I’ll teach you every single thing you need to know to start a meditation practice as soon as Saturday afternoon!

Remember, while I do accept donations this workshop series is free and open to all!

(Don’t worry if you missed week 1! Each week is independent of the rest.)

Click here to register and get the link for Saturday’s meeting.

Art Burns Coaching FREE Winter Workshop Series Sign Up

In the first segment of today’s episode, I explain why I might look so tired.

But I also tell you how I’m bringing mindfulness into my tired-ness!

And in today’s second episode, I explain how I had to re-record the entire segment because it was nearly a word-for-word replica of a previous video.

I guess I’m THAT tired!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the episode!

Don’t forget! Tomorrow, at 11:30 am MST, I’ll be hosting the first of 12 Free Winter Workshops.

The topic for tomorrow is journaling. You can find all the information, register, and get the link for the meeting here:

artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/journaling-workshop

To find out about future topics, click here:

https://artburnscoaching.ac-page.com/art-burns-coaching-winter-workshop-series

And, as always, here is a link to claim your 45-minute coaching session with me. It’s already paid for, all you need to do is schedule it at a time convenient to you.

https://calendly.com/artburns/45-min-coaching-session