THE CENTER FOR MINDFUL LIVING
  • Home
  • Practitioners
  • Services
    • Individual Therapy & Creative Arts
    • Meditation Schedule (No Charge)
    • Workshops, Classes & Events >
      • CURRENT WORKSHOPS
      • Yoga Offerings
      • Ongoing Offerings
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Notes from Louisa
    • Being Human Podcast
    • How to Meditate
    • Meditation at Home
    • Omaha Meditation Listing
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Health Policy Updates

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS:
THE CENTER FOR MINDFUL LIVING PRACTITIONERS' BLOG

Comparison, Curiosity, and Compliments

4/30/2018

0 Comments

 
By Stephanie Nielsen, MA,
Restorative Wellness Practitioner
 
A month ago, my husband and I attempted to escape the brisk February weather and ventured to Vegas. I had never been there before, and I was excited to eat incredible food and watch breathtaking performances.
 
Our first night we attended an acrobatic burlesque-style show. Upon immediate entrance into the theater, I felt the ghosts of not-quite-good-enough past creep into my thoughts as I looked at photos adorning the wall of beautiful performers in well-positioned strips of cloth.
 
That would have normally lead me into a comparison and shame nose-dive, except... I noticed my thoughts. (Awareness, you are small and mighty.) I coat-checked my comparison cloak at the door-it's rather itchy and unflattering-and found warmth in my cozy cardigan of curiosity. After all, I did knowingly choose to go to a burlesque show, so why not embrace all that it is? Hi-five Carl Jung-no more resisting and persisting for this girl!
 
Now, it wasn't quite that simple. Life rarely is.
 
I was still a bit uneasy... pretty sure I held my husband's hand and gave it a squeeze-nothing wrong with asking for support. However, as I observed my surroundings and sat in awe of the performers, I felt a profound shift in my mind and body.
 
While I consciously told myself the limiting belief of comparison wasn't welcomed right now, I noticed the curiosity I replaced those beliefs with had effortlessly transitioned to compliments.
 
No longer was I wondering who choreographed the movements-I was part of the dance. The kaleidoscope of strength, courage, and joy before me, reflected the smile, laughter, and wonder within me. These performers were amazing and beyond my scope of talent, and yet I had never felt more at ease with my body and mind.
 
And that is what I want for you.
 
Not necessarily to replace comparison with compliments, but to find the answer within yourself. Forget the noise of the "should" and "oughts", and lean into the discomfort of your limiting beliefs-whatever they may be-and ask why those thoughts are occurring in the first place.
 
Get curious, because it is in that curiosity that you begin to set aside self-judgment (and, spoiler alert, judgment of others), understand yourself better, embrace what is, and discover tools that work for you to navigate through your limiting beliefs.

Photo Credit: Free Image Stock Photo
Photo by Anthony from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-art-artist-artistic-133170/

Please click here to read our monthly newsletter.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All


    Join our mailing list to receive our monthly Newsletter.

    Join Now

    HOME
    PRACTITIONERS
    SERVICES
    RESOURCES
    ​CONTACT

Picture
​ 621 N. 51st St, Omaha NE 68132
​ info@thecenterformindfullivingomaha.com

 402.933.4070

Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter!
Join Now

Picture
  • Home
  • Practitioners
  • Services
    • Individual Therapy & Creative Arts
    • Meditation Schedule (No Charge)
    • Workshops, Classes & Events >
      • CURRENT WORKSHOPS
      • Yoga Offerings
      • Ongoing Offerings
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Notes from Louisa
    • Being Human Podcast
    • How to Meditate
    • Meditation at Home
    • Omaha Meditation Listing
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Health Policy Updates