Present Life.Beautiful Life

Sometimes that's exactly what we need to do. Just sit and listen to the birds

Are you curious about Meditation & Mindfulness? But not sure whether a class is for you?

Most people are in that same boat! See what people have said about the course once they completed it!

You are welcome here. Our next class begins in less than two weeks - on March 21. For more information and/or to register, visit:

rebeccahellmann.com/services

Ahhhh - that sense that of "all-rightness" that happens when you take a deep breath in and a slow breath out.

We hold so much tension, worry, control, fear in our bodies. Fear that if we turn our attention away just for a moment, the spinning plates may come crashing down.

But when we release our hold just a bit, we create a crack where light can come in.

For this moment, and this moment, and this moment - I am ok.

One of the greatest forces we have is our attention. Where we place our attention, what we are awake for - becomes the moments that become our life.

l came across this quote and felt it so strongly articulated the power of paying attention and knowing ourselves.

✨ When we are aware of how we are feeling, and know how to acknowledge those feelings, we have the space to show up to those we love in a way that feels so much more loving.

Silence can be scary, but it can also be quite profound. Sharing my third and final reflection from my November retreat.

https://www.rebeccahellmann.com/meditations-musings/the-wisdom-of-silence

Wisdom through Silence - Seeing the nature of my mind — Rebecca Hellmann, Mindfulness Coach A week of silence provided a wealth of insight into the patterns of my mind

Six words. That's it.

But oh so powerful. In a moment of overwhelm, a moment of reactivity - try gently asking yourself this simple question.

Maybe a walk..a few deep breaths..a snack,..a place of silence...a hug..a break.

Your heart and your body know what you need. They just need to be asked.

Present Life.Beautiful Life updated their business hours.

Yay! I settled on a name and a logo.

✨The Name: Present Life, Beautiful Life.

THIS to me is the essence of the journey we are all walking. The practice of mindfulness showed me what it's like to be fully alive. And it's THERE, in this moment, where we get to experience the full range of life's emotions. Life is beautiful. And can only be found HERE. Right in this moment.

✨The Logo : As a marketer, the visual story of the name was just as important to me.

The logo that brings this to life has several elements:

1) Incorporates the lines of the lotus flower. The lotus flower thrives in the muck of the mud, yet every day blooms. A simple representation of life and beauty. "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." For me, life had to get hard before my heart could shed its "muck" and begin to bloom. It’s also a reminder that life will continue to be “mucky” and, with this practice, I can hold both the beauty and the muck.

2) This visual has a brightness and uprightness and presence that fills my heart with joy. This level of serenity and joy, I believe, can only be found in oneself. By sitting with oneself. By walking with oneself. When I am fully present, this is the energy I feel and, I'm beginning to believe, I have an opportunity to share.

3) Lastly, the 4 dots signify the 4 heart qualities of mindfulness: joy, compassion, kindness and equanimity (otherwise known as balance). These are the 4 qualities inherent in each of us - and through intentional practice, we can cultivate and grow. That knowledge, and my daily practice, nourishes my heart and soul in a way I didn't fully anticipate.

(AND the four dots give a nod to my 4 children FROM whom I learn and grow immensely and FOR whom I hope will benefit from my path of practice. They are my Why ❤)

The August class is wrapping up and it's been a beautiful experience as each student discovered for themselves how to tap into the inner peace and wisdom that exists within each of us. These are beginners, just like you.

A new class will begin October 11th and will run for 8 weeks (meeting six times in that period). We'll meet on zoom and sessions will be recorded.

Only 3 spots are left in the Monday evening class. I know many of you are considering. This will be the introductory last class I teach in 2021. I would love to see you in this next cohort.

Register now! rebeccahellmann.com/services

Today, I was listening to another teacher I respect a lot give a talk and I heard her say "we live life like it is a problem to be solved instead of a mystery to be lived" and that hit me in the moment like a splash of cold water.

You see, I'm fighting with something in my life right now that, like many of my internal struggles, could be characterized in the category of "its not going the way I believe it should" But, WOW, am I am holding on tight. I'm looking into every corner for the answer to fix this problem....sure that if I just tried harder, thought of another idea, said the perfect words - that things would fall into place.

With that phrase, though, I saw clearly for a moment.

What if life, just like it is now, is ok?
What about if I just let it unfold?
What if I just unclench my hands a bit and see what happens?

Can I be ok, just for a moment now, with things as they are? I can.

And can I trust I'll be ok in the next moment, then? I think I can.

Our thoughts, and the story we tell ourselves about how things SHOULD be, is often more painful than anything life can actually bring.

Life is a mystery and I'm reminded constantly that when I think I have all the answers, or need to figure out all the answers to get the cast of characters in my life arranged to do what I'd like - that I'm not in control.

Today, I'm going to bring Curiousity instead of rumination (hmm...I wonder what this is teaching me). And Openness instead of Control.

And try to be awake for all the mysteries that life is giving me.

I had an interesting observation today.

Self-care is often spoken of as a critical element to mental health. I also have seen that it can be polarizing to many people. (it can bring up questions of selfishness, time availability, worthiness).

What strikes me is that many elements of self-care (a walk, a warm bath, a call to a friend, a therapist appointment, etc, etc) require us to leave our element, our surroundings, our day-to-day life.

It’s almost as if we have one life. Life has struggle. So we create opportunities to leave that life to rejuvenate, to reenergize.

What if (not instead of, but in addition to) we created Self-Refuge? Where we didn’t need to leave / to exit in order to rejuvenate and re-energize? If instead, we had the ability to turn inward to a place that felt safe, where we felt comforted, that gave us a container in which to relax? While we are in the midst of that difficult conversation, the stressful meeting, the overwhelming schedule?

It hit me. That's what mindfulness has given to me.

Practicing meditation and mindfulness has been a game-changer for me. Prior to this practice, I felt many times that life was on auto-pilot - that I was simply holding on. This practice of settling my mind, seeing my thought patterns and, most importantly, making (relatively) small choices on how I related to the world around me - has been nothing short of transformational for me.

If you, like many others, are curious about mindfulness & meditation, don't know where to start and/or need a helping hand to get you there, this class may be you.

It's an 8-week program. We'll meet on Zoom 6 times in that period, and in-between classes, I'll provide you with practices and support in-between.

An August class is underway now and I'll be starting two new classes in October. More information and registration can be found here: www.rebeccahellmann.com/services