Mastery of Health and Happiness
  • Home
  • Who am I
  • What is Mastery?
  • Pearls of Wisdom
  • Media
  • Store
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Oct
10
2017

No One Teaches Us This!


“Did you know our bodies ‘open’ or ‘close’ depending on what we are thinking and feeling?” ~ Bev Pugh

There are so many ways to move forward in life and create what is really important to us. This month we have Thanksgiving and I’m reminded of a really important learning I experienced. I would like to share it with you.

Gratitude is a much used word and can feel overused. It can be described as good manners, polite and the ‘right’ thing to do and feel. However, there is a whole other level to gratitude – which opens and closes our bodies.

This is what we know both scientifically as well as psychologically. In the area of building vitality and personal power, it is the actual vibration of the word or the effect that it has on us and our bodies that is so important, not the word itself. The effect it has on our body is determined by how open our hearts are when we say it. Our vitality and wisdom can go up or down depending on how we are connected to the words we use. The key here is to notice if we really feel the words we use or do we simply routine them.

What we know is that certain emotions and words like resentment, guilt, shame, judgement, jealousy, or fear create tightness and restrictions in our bodies. We have all experienced muscle tightness. In addition, these states can affect our vitality and mood. Our heart closes to protect us from us. (I am talking about the energy of the heart, not the biological heart)

Other feeling states and words like love, joy, gratitude, understanding, and compassion can relax our muscles and create an open body where energy can flow and we can feel our vitality. Our hearts open.

I am very aware of when my heart is open and when it is closed. I have taught myself this awareness. We all have the ability to open and close our hearts and bodies, but no one teaches us this important information. So I learned through my experience and commitment of understanding who I am on ‘all’ levels. Now it is well documented in the literature. Think of our hearts as a car. All of us are 8 cylinders and most of us are functioning on 2. (I know little about cars, so I hope that analogy works!)

If we say something like “thank you” or “I am so grateful for…”and we consciously say it, feel it, mean it, and are present with it, our bodies actually open up and more energy can flow through us. It is actually the energy of the heart that opens up. Our vitality goes up, and so does our mood and perspective. This is very powerful stuff. Once we really understand, it is incredibly powerful for vitality and perspective and all the things we want for ourselves.

There is a big difference for our wellness when we consciously select and feel and not come from a routine place of good manners. I was taught that “thank you” or “I appreciate” were the right thing to say. And they are. However, once I began to work and understand all the nuances of language, and how that affects our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, I became interested in a whole different way.

When we authentically say and feel a thank you to someone and it’s not an automatic response, but a selected response, the following changes happen for us:

  • Our breathing can change and that opens us up
  • Our hearts open and warmth is there
  • Our compassion and understanding quotients for ourselves and others go up
  • Our depth of wisdom becomes more available to us

These are only some of the changes, but look at the scope of mastery that is here for us. We have a great deal more mastery capacity than what we are using.

Happy Thanksgiving, and this month watch the changes in your body and energy as you select and feel what you mean, rather than routining it or taking it for granted.

Tags: awareness, Bev Pugh, change, choice, emotions, focus, gratitude, happiness, heart, life, Mastery of Health and Happiness, meditation, perspective, self-growth, wisdom
Posted in Feeling Gratitude | 2 Comments »

Aug
08
2017

Fatigue and Your Rejuvenation

Bev meditating

“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.” ~ Pema Chödrön

If you feel out of balance or busy in your head, or just plain tired, one of the things you may want to consider is a meditation. There are many guided meditations for those of you who have no experience. Today I would like to share with you one of my favourite guided meditations that I learned in Japan. It is one of my “go to” meditations when I feel I need a holiday, but can’t jump on a plane!

Much of the fatigue we all feel is emotional. Our self care is really important these days. There is a lot of stimulation out there and we have ourselves and our minds and habits to deal with as well.

When I was living in Japan I found that it was too expensive to do my hobbies… like a game of golf would be $250. However, sitting on a tatami mat and practicing some meditations was very doable, free and easy! Nowadays I do it for different reasons.

Before you meditate or do a guided meditation, be clear about why you are mediating. It’s not just something you do. You want to know within yourself why you are dong it.

I, personally, have stillness as my intention or connecting to life from the “Big Me”, so I carry more perspective. Although sometimes my intention is just to relax or move from my head to my heart if I am thinking too much.

Before you meditate, find a quiet place that feels good and begin to deepen your breathing… combine abdomen breathing with some deep sighs. Its often recommended you sit, but if that is uncomfortable then lie down. Make sure no limbs are crossed and your jaw is relaxed, then lightly touch your tongue to the back of your front teeth. Quietly ask yourself why you are meditating. What is your intention?

What I do is a softly close my eyes and breathe deeply. I bring the front of my body closer to the back of my body so I am no overextended. I lift my heart as if I am opening it, then consciously drop from my head to my heart. I take a moment to bring in the feeling of love. I picture a beautiful piece of nature that just makes my heart pop open. I love wildflowers in the mountains! I love the stars at night and the moon! For my birthday I was s given a telescope. What do you love and enjoy and that gives you tingling sensations?

Here is a beautiful guided meditation. I don’t know who wrote it. I’ve had it quite some time. It travels with me!

Enjoy it. Read it, breathe and picture it, feel it. If you want, you can record it so that you can play it back.


The Mirror Mind.

When a mountain lake is agitated by winds, the moon that is reflected in it appears in a dozen broken pieces. In it, clouds look distorted, and trees dance.

Taking three deep and slow breaths, I calm my mind and body.
I visualize a calm lake reflecting everything like a mirror.
The moon in the lake is in one piece, and the clouds look the same as they do in the sky.
When my mind is calm, it is like that lake, reflecting things as they are.

As I calm my mind, the outside world also feels calmer; things appear simpler and easier to deal with.

Calm mind, calm world:
Just trees, just clouds, and just the moon.
My mind reflects things as they are.

The steady rhythm of my breath calms me, like the hand that gently rocks the cradle calms a fussing baby.

I let that calmness pervade my whole body and mind.
I sit basking in the pleasant feelings that come from a relaxed body and mind.

Mental states are like cloud formations in the sky.
They depend on the winds of emotion and thought, and change from moment to moment.
States of mind such as certainty, uncertainty, or irritation come and go.
I watch them arise and disappear.

Without breath awareness, a mental state can take up all the space.
Focusing on my breath creates space in my mind.

I made room for my feelings as I observe and accept them.
As I sit, there is just sitting.
As I breathe, just breathing.

On a clear summer day, everything is bathed in light.
The light of my awareness shines like the sun.


Enjoy feeling – the beauty and stillness – of this meditation and carry it into your life.

Tags: Bev Pugh, guided, heart, meditation, mind, perspective, quiet, reflection, self care
Posted in Meditation and Relaxation | 4 Comments »

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. NEXT

Beverley Pugh

Beverley Pugh

Beverley Pugh has international experience in Individual, Marital and Family Therapist services. Areas of practice include counselling in: individual, couples, family, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression, pain management, multicultural, workplace and others.

Join Our Mailing List

Mastery Practice Tool

Our Most Powerful Parenting Tool

 

Notice the moments when you are asking your children to be an "expectation" you have that you yourself are not addressing. We can model self-growth to our children by being honest with ourselves around our own growth. We can model the following:

 
  • Non-judgment of ourselves when we lose it
  • How we pick ourselves up and self correct
  • Practicing self-love and acceptance rather than looking to others
  • Self care and how we honour our bodies, our intentions and our lives
 

This is not about being perfect, or living a life of guilt or regret. This is about maintaining our focus on the biggest version of who we are, and being on that journey with no judgment of ourselves. We all make mistakes and fall into the pot holes, but it’s our humour, commitment, and love for ourselves that is our most powerful teaching tool.

Testimonial

Bev's Laughing and Breathing Belly Workshop for Children was one of the best I have attended. She has a gifted ability to gently connect with children and teach and share with them her techniques of belly breathing, rooting, mind vacations and laughter. These techniques soothe and calm them whenever they feel overwhelmed or anxious - be at school, home or before bed time. Whether you have an overwhelmed pre-schooler or a test-anxious pre-teen, Bev's approach works! I love that she gave parents the tools to model and share these fundamentals of meditation with their children. I would encourage families to take her course...your children will thank you and you will benefit from ways to keep yourself calm and allow wisdom in.

Farrah J. - Mother of 3, West Vancouver

Archives

  • May 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (1)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (2)
  • April 2016 (2)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (2)
  • October 2015 (2)
  • September 2015 (2)
  • August 2015 (2)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (2)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (2)
  • January 2015 (4)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (2)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (2)
  • July 2014 (2)
  • June 2014 (2)
  • May 2014 (2)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • March 2014 (2)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (2)
  • November 2013 (2)
  • October 2013 (2)
  • September 2013 (3)
  • August 2013 (1)
  • July 2013 (2)
  • June 2013 (2)
  • May 2013 (1)
  • April 2013 (2)
  • March 2013 (2)
  • February 2013 (2)
  • January 2013 (2)
  • December 2012 (2)
  • November 2012 (2)
  • October 2012 (2)
  • September 2012 (4)
  • August 2012 (3)
  • July 2012 (3)
  • June 2012 (3)
  • May 2012 (3)
  • April 2012 (4)
  • March 2012 (3)
  • February 2012 (3)
  • January 2012 (2)

Categories

  • awareness (30)
  • Balance (8)
  • change (16)
  • Choice (28)
  • Feeling Gratitude (14)
  • forgiveness (8)
  • Gentleness (10)
  • healing (17)
  • Health and Happiness (35)
  • Health and Wellness (18)
  • holding power (9)
  • Inspirational (32)
  • Learning to Adapt (18)
  • Love (30)
  • managing emotions (20)
  • Meditation and Relaxation (15)
  • Parenting (6)
  • Pearls of Wisdom (21)
    • Breathing (3)
    • Creating What You Want (4)
    • Gratitude (6)
    • Happiness (7)
    • Heart Space (2)
    • Meditation (2)
  • Relationships (4)
  • Self Growth (57)
  • Stress (3)
  • transitions (6)
  • Uncategorized (3)

About Beverley

Beverley Pugh has international experience in Individual, Marital and Family Therapist services. Areas of practice include counselling in: individual, couples, family, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression, pain management, multicultural, workplace and others.

Contact

Telephone:
604-925-1513
Email:
bev@beverleypugh.com
Location:
120-1451 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
V7T 1B8
Canada

Disclaimer: The information presented on this site about various psychological conditions, is of a general nature and is not a substitute for an assessment by a competent therapist and/or medical professional. If you believe that you or an important person in your life is in need of an intervention please seek qualified help as soon as possible.

(c) 2022. Beverley Pugh Counselling Services. All Rights Reserved. Site Designed by Pureze Web Media.