Sometimes life is so beautiful and euphoric, that we want to hold onto experiences and people we associate with those moments. The butterfly shows that sometimes beauty flows in, and flys away…..we can only appreciate and enjoy it, and allow it to enhance the beauty in our lives that is always there.

What are the elements in your life that provide constant beauty? What are you willing to let go to allow yourself to be present with the beauty that surrounds you, always?

Click here for the full New York Times article:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/the-evolution-of-the-runners-high/

We’re referring to different levels of awareness. On the most basic level, we’re motivated by our unconscious conditioning. This is operating when we react to circumstances or act out of habit. We’re not aware of what’s driving us.

The next layer deeper is our subconscious mind. This represents the internal forces at play, the imprinting we’ve accumulated since childhood, that shape our response to the world. We can access this layer by seeing what comes up during meditation, as well as by paying attention to our dreams.

The more conscious we become, the more aware of our options we become. Becoming conscious empowers us with freedom from our habitual behaviors and response patterns. It liberates us from the way we thought our lives had to be. At the same time, this awareness bestows a greater sense of responsibility, because our awareness of the effects of our choices is heightened as well.

Choosing a conscious path is a process, and it’s important to be gentle with ourselves and others in that process. How do you feel about the word “conscious” and what does it mean to you? In the comments below, please share an area of your life where you’d like to become more conscious? How will your life be different when you shine the light of awareness on this area?

Positivity is of course a wonderful quality, but if it comes at the expense of revealing our raw truth, it actually prevents us from being as connected as we could be. This is not an excuse to hide behind wounds or play the victim card. Joy, laughter, and celebration of life are an essential part of what bring us together.

It’s also important to honor who it is safe to be vulnerable with. Not everyone chooses to face their own darkness, and not everyone is able to be there for us in the ways we may need. Discovering people in our lives who embrace all our rich shades is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

When you are sad or upset, how easy is it for you to allow yourself to be comforted by others? What is one thing you can do today to be more “real” with someone and allow them a little closer?

For obvious reasons, it’s a good idea to know how to support your woman through each phase of her cycle. For example, during the winter season (moontime, or menstruation), offering a foot rub or doing the dishes to give her extra rest will be appreciated even more profusely than usual. Use your intuition to attune yourself to what she needs during different times of the month, and you will discover her own unique rhythms and seasonal needs.

All this can be a lot to think about, but take comfort in knowing it’s not an exact science. How one experiences her internal season is influenced by many factors, not the least of which is what season it happens to be outside! The important point is to begin to develop an awareness of your body’s cues, and validate them with the knowledge that our physical needs do indeed change in relation to our cycles.

For the men, think of a woman you’re especially close to. What shifts do you notice in her from time to time, and what do you do to help support her through these changes? For women, what can you ask of the man/ men in your life, to help support you through each phase of your cycle?

That may mean setting aside time to get organized and create a clutter- free space. Or it may mean stocking up on good quality bath salts to enjoy during your moontime. It’s a great time to get bodywork or take care of health appointments.

What do you enjoy doing to wind down and prepare for more rest? What can you do for your female partner during her fall season to help her feel nurtured and relaxed?

The follicular phase culminates with ovulation, when the egg is released, which correlates with the summer season. It’s the time of peak sexual energy, drive and creativity. Scientific studies have actually shown that men tend to be most attracted to women when they’re ovulating (though this is not a conscious choice, of course). Pheremones are thought to play a role, but it could also have to do with the type of energy a woman exudes.

Do you notice a shift in your energy levels following your period? As a woman, what can you do to maximize your internal spring and how can you best enjoy it? As a guy, what can you do to appreciate and support the women in your life when you notice they are most energized and inspired?

The first season, or beginning of the cycle, is menstruation, which is a reflective, restorative time. So just like in winter we tend to go inside and curl up and “hibernate,” that’s the time in a woman’s cycle when it’s really important to take that time to recharge and go within. In many cultures, they believe a woman’s intuition is heightened during this time and it can be a powerful time if you take the time to slow down and connect with what your intuition is telling you, in whatever area of your life needs attention.

If we’re not in tune with our “internal” seasons and just trying to maintain the pace of linear, masculine society it can be easy to miss out on the potential power of the winter season. What can you do to honor yourself during the your own personal “winter?” If you have a female partner, what can you do to help support her through this particular season?

With the speed of modern life, it can be easy to lose touch with the rhythms of nature, and even the rhythm of your own body. Just like the seasons outside remind us when it’s time to go out and play in the sun , or curl up by a warm fire, a woman’s monthly cycle can also guide her lifestyle choices.

Honoring the cyclical needs of your body can help curb PMS symptoms, increase fertility, boost your energy and stabilize your mood. And this awareness isn’t just for women; by paying attention to your woman’s cycle, a man can respond more optimally to her needs…. and when the lady’s happy, everyone’s happy, right?

In the comments below, please share a few ways you already welcome your internal seasons, or some simple ways you’d like to start doing so.

The amazing thing about being afraid to do something is…. much of the time, the actual experience is not nearly as intimidating as we imagined it to be.

Resistance is one of those tricky things that make us feel like we really, really, really don’t want to do something—-and come up with a zillion “reasons” to avoid it—- even (and perhaps especially) when we feel in our guts that moving forward could create a major breakthrough.

When you feel intimidated by a project or situation, but know there’s potential value to explore, what do you do to give yourself a boost? Is it as simple as Nike’s phrase, “just do it?” What strategies do you use to overcome resistance?