November 2017 - Pilates Preacher

“In The Quiet” written by Laura Burdo.

It’s in the quiet where we hear the most.

Quiet The Mind

“The mind when housed within a healthful body possesses a glorious sense of power.” Joseph Pilates

Brain In Control

Joseph Pilates made this power statement. Being the founder of the Method of Contrology, he touted that we must first train the brain – and then – the brain will control the will of the body.

This is to be highlighted…especially in our world today. I feel that our minds are under attack. Information bombards us. We juggle economic and societal pressures, cultural expectations, family concerns … and if there’s a bit of time and energy left, we take care of ourselves.

This is crazy making, right?
All that makes it difficult to live orderly – with personal priorities.

Joe said that we are to do things with profound purpose. Sounds great. But to do so, we might have to first quiet and control the mind. I wonder what could happen if we could master this – and have a healthful body!

Purpose

Rick Warren authored the book, The Purpose Driven Life, awhile back. It sold about a million copies per month for a very long time. He said this in a Ted Talk, “What surprised him most about the book was that he got to write it.”

You see, he never considered himself an author. He just said that he liked to spend time being quiet… and being open.

“Tune Out to Tune In.” That’s what I say to admonish others.

“Airplane mode” is what I call it.

Solitude

I’ve learned to seek solitude. It’s become a precious practice to me.
Whether it be a hike, reading, or stretching gently upon a mat – no matter the activity, BEING ALONE is the point.

Yet, alone I am not.
Just like a divine appointment, something tangible meets me.

At times, the quiet speaks, occasionally in a loud tone.
I’ve questioned this space, and its power.
Is it my subconscious mind?
Is it the universe?
Is it God?

Psychology Today

Psychology Today published an article on this very topic.

They differentiated between loneliness and solitude. “Loneliness is a negative state, marked by a sense of isolation or rejection. One feels that something is missing. It is possible to be with people and still feel lonely – perhaps the most bitter form of loneliness. Solitude is the state of being alone, without being lonely.”

Over the years, I realized that we can even be lonesome for ourselves, is a way, lacking personal peace and fellowship with self. And just maybe, something higher than ourselves longs for our company.

John Wesley

John Wesley was an English Anglican cleric and theologian who, with his brother, Charles and fellow cleric George Whitfield, founded Methodism.

John Wesley’s mother is said to have sat in a chair and thrown her apron over her head as a sign to her kids to leave her alone.

Jesus usually went to a secluded hillside to meditate.

A Final Thought

A “prayer closet” might even be a daily commute, a bench in the back yard, or under the kitchen table.

The point is that the “closet” is free from interruption, distraction, and listening ears.

But, keep your ears attuned.

TUNE OUT TO TUNE IN.

Talk soon,
Laura Burdo
The Pilates Preacher

For more check out these articles:
1) Less Hope Full
2) Gonna Be
3) Mentors

P.S. To hear more, please be sure to sign up to the 7 Heavenly PIPs.

“Less Hope Full” written by Laura Burdo.

“If you think it’s hopeless, it isn’t.”

Is It Real?

So, is it a situation, a relationship, is it a job, or is it you that’s hopeless?

I get it. It’s a thought and a feeling that’s pretty familiar.

But, you know what? It’s just that. A thought. Oh, it feels real, but it isn’t.

Opinion isn’t always truth.

(And neither are emotions the best barometer.)

By Definition…

Here’s the definition of hopeless. Lacking hope, despairing, not expecting anything positive – giving no grounds for hope, promising nothing desirable, desperate.

Now, that’s heavy.

But, you know what?

Those negative devils are liars! Worse than that, despair seeks to steal your joy and comes only to destroy.

Hope deferred afflicts the soul and makes the heart sick. But, when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Substance

It has been said that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

What if someone gave you grounds for hope? Or better yet, what if you gave yourself permission to hope again?

A glass half full… or a glass half empty. A gas tank once full, now low… or… on empty.

It’s like that.

Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles lived in the 1800s. He was a Scottish author who is known as a government and social reformer.

He practically rose to celebrity status overnight when he released his masterpiece of a book titled, Self Help.

He concluded that more progress could come from new attitudes then from more laws.

Here’s one of his more powerful quotes, in my opinion. “Hope is like the sun, which as you journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burdens behind us.”

Dalai Lama

I’m gonna close with a gracious reminder from the Dalai Lama … “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”

Well, there we go … all our bases are covered!

May our hopes soar higher and may we be without doubt…
MORE HOPE FULL!