10 Buddha Quotes to Inspire & Motivate
13 Inspirational Quotes from Buddha
Confession: I AM A QUOTE JUNKIE! Seriously. I love quotes. Since I was a little girl I cannot count the number of notebooks that I have filled solely with quotes. Strange? Maybe. Truth is, I STILL DO IT!!! Yep. I do.
Some days I just need some motivation. Other days I need to know that someone else has felt the same way I am feeling. Then there are days that I just need the beauty of another’s words rolling off my lips. Ok, ok, is that a little to artsy, and weird? Maybe that is true too.
When I am down, when I am lonely, when I am emotional, when I feel lost, when I feel infinite…all of these are times that I find myself reaching for the quotes. Quotes bring me peace, motivation, new mantras, new outlooks. I just love them ok?!?!
I’ve been reading a lot on Buddha and his thoughts. His quotes are classics. I know that some of these will be familiar, but I hope that you find motivation for your mind, body and soul in # of my favorite Buddha quotes
#1
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
#2
#3
“In the sky, there is no distinction of east & west; people create distinctions out of their own minds & then believe them to be true.”
#4
#5
“The darkest night is ignorance.”
#6
#7
“True love is born from understanding.”
#8
#9
“If your passion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”
#10
#11
“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
#12
#13
“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.”
If you haven’t OD’ed on quotes yet, check out 10 more quotes from the ol’ Enlightened One!
50 Reasons Exercise = Magic
I’m constantly saying, “Don’t you wish there were a magic pill you could take that would immediately make you healthy, happy, and HOT?” You may be laughing but I bet you’ve said the exact same thing!
I’m happy to inform you today that there IS a MAGIC PILL!!! One that cures just about anything that might ail ya! One that EVERYONE has access to! One that has NO nasty side effects! One that is FREE, even if you don’t have awesome insurance! One that begins working IMMEDIATELY!
Yep, you guessed it…EXERCISE = MAGIC PILL!
Look, I know this is not rocket science. I know that most everyone on the planet has heard the benefits of exercise over and over.
My question is, WHY AREN’T WE LISTENING?
I read an article in TIME magazine discussing the science behind exercise. Exercise is scientifically proven to alleviate and aide in numerous body functions. Exercise can regenerate neurons in the brain…holding off nasty disease processes like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Exercise boosts your brain power!!
Exercise is really the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH! Who doesn’t want to stumble into that and come out with shiny hair, glowing skin and a toned, firm body?? I do! I do! Exercise reverses aging on a cellular level!
This information has my mind going in a million directions…
Why do we run to chemical medications to heal our body, instead of doing our best to prevent the illnesses in the first place?
Why do we fill our bodies full of junk and then expect them to function normally?
Why do insurance companies pay for preventative medicine, but not gym memberships?
If we know how to prevent sickness, if we know that exercise changes a person all the way down to their cells, why are the masses not taking advantage of this miracle cure?
The excuses are always hanging around. Not enough time. Too hard. Not fun.
It’s time to kick those excuses to the curb. Exercise doesn’t have to be a marathon. You don’t have to take on CrossFit or American Ninja Warrior workouts. If you are new to the world of movement, start small. Take a thirty minute stroll through your neighborhood. If you are pinched for time, make it snappy. Doing a 10 minute high intensity interval workout is just as effective as a longer, lower intensity, workout. Do anything that makes you feel good, the only requirement = MOVE YOUR BODY!!
You are now my witnesses. I am going to do my best to educate every person that I know about the miracles of exercise (even though that sounds super cheesy). I am going to sing it from the rafters (ok, maybe not the rafters because I’m scared of heights)! A magic, miracle drug is out there! Waiting for you to take advantage of it!!!
Who’s with me? Let’s dive into the fountain of youth!!!
If you aren’t convinced already here are 50 more reasons to get that body moving!!
Common Weight Loss Mistakes
Being in the fitness industry for over ten years has definitely opened my eyes to LOTS of mistakes people make when they begin a new routine. Weight loss seems to be super easy for some and then for the rest of the world it is a GIANT mystery! Why does this work? Why doesn’t this work? Is this healthy? Can I eat that? Etc. Etc. I am in the process of putting together some SIMPLE tip sheets for my personal training clients. I thought I would share a few with you guys as well!! Here is the first one! Let me know what you think!!! Comments? Questions? Suggestions for my next Tip Sheet?? I want to hear from you! 🙂
Change
Yoga Girl by Rachel Brathen
I confess I am a wannabee Yogi. I don’t practice nearly enough. I am a professional procrastinator which has taken a toll on my yoga goals. Those times that I do make it to my mat to practice, my soul is revived! Yoga is like medicine for me!
When I grow up, I want to be a 20-something tan, blonde chick living in Aruba teaching yoga & rescuing animals, okay?? Seriously, doesn’t that sound fantastic? The author of this book meets all of that criteria!!
Rachel Brathen
I discovered this bad ass Yogi through her Instagram posts. Her name is Rachel Brathen, aka – Instagram’s @yogagirl. What I love most about her is that she is full of honesty. Her Instagram posts can be quite emotional; therefore, they aren’t always pretty. She has bared her soul more than a few times to her followers. That’s what made me buy her book. That’s what this world needs more of. Raw, honest, emotion. So before I climb farther on top of my soap box, let’s talk about it…
The Book
(This cover makes me want to head on over to delta.com and book a flight to Aruba ASAP!)
While reading Yoga Girl, Rachel gives readers a deeper glimpse into her life. Openly sharing childhood tragedy, troubled teenage years, and her struggle with labels. She talks intimately about her triumphs and her failures. She shares beautiful pictures, yoga routines and even some delicious recipes!
As I stated earlier, I am a WANNABE. This chick is the real deal! No worries though, her book is written to ANYONE who gets, or wants to get, on a mat (in fact, she says so in her book dedication).
PHOTOS: Just like the book cover, the photos included within these pages are breathtaking! There are candid shots, yoga poses, and the most beautiful natural scenery! They are truly a feast for the eyes and add even more impact to the message of the book.
YOGA ROUTINES: The yoga sequences are written so that anyone can master them. They are beautifully depicted and underneath each movement is a description that when read aloud sounds just like your typical day in yoga class. “Inhale to lengthen the spine…” “Exhale to step back one foot at a time…” “Come to a standing position…” Seriously, you can just have someone read these to you while you do them and save your $15 drop-in yoga class fee for the day!
RECIPES: Rachel includes step by step instructions on how to make some of her favorites dishes! I have already tried a couple! The carrot ginger soup is YUMMO!!!! Her holistic approach to food gives you permission to enjoy eating while at the same time fueling your body with healthy nutrients!
KEEPIN’ IT REAL: I love that Rachel talks about real issues that everyone faces. Body image. Expectation. Disappointment. She is open to the fact that we are all human. We will never be perfect. We may never live up to someone else’s expectations, but she also lets the reader know, that is okay. We are all here for a purpose. We are here to live our lives in a way that produces health and happiness. We don’t have to settle for anything less.
Rachel encourages readers to shed the weights that have been holding you back. She encourages living! True living! This book is truly inspiring!!! I have read it at least three times, and each time I discover another truth to carry with me as I journey through life.
If you need a boost, a pick me up, a smile. If you are looking for direction in life. If you are searching for peace, but aren’t quite sure how to find it. This book is for you!!!!
After you check out the book, head over and check out Rachel’s website oneoeight.com. It is an amazing tool with yoga videos, guided meditations, advice, recipes and so much more!!
Meditation: No Experience Neccessary
Monkey Mind
If I don’t have a notebook beside my bed, I may as well just forget about sleep…
I suffer from multiple ailments…
Writer’s Brain.
Dreaming up characters, scenarios, story lines, poems.
Artist’s Brain.
Do I have another piece of furniture to work on? Where did I put that giant canvas? Do I still have enough paint?
Anxious Brain.
Let me list 5 gazillion things that I need to get done. Do we have enough $$? How much is it going to cost to fix that car? Are the kids really ok?
Depressed Brain.
Poor pitiful me. Why me? Nothing ever works out like it should. My heart aches.
…and this is just my brain at NIGHT!
Monkey Mind
Heard of “monkey mind”?
“Monkey mind” is a Buddhist term for a mind that is restless; confused; uncertain; irrepressible (a term I use to describe those times I am in desperate need an OFF switch in my brain, which happens to be quite OFTEN).
My monkey mind rarely takes a break, like everything, it’s worse during the night. I try to write down my thoughts and get them out of my head. No matter the effort, my Monkey mind brings hours of unrest. Incessant thoughts and sleep deprivation lead me right into the waiting arms of Depression and Anxiety.
When my Monkey mind is in control, chaos ensues. So…
I have to FLIP THE SWITCH myself. I have to CHOOSE the calm. Be present in my NOW. FEEL my body. Take heed of my breathing. In short, I have to leash the Monkey.
Let me be transparent, I have NOT been able to TAME the Monkey (striving for progress here folks, far from perfection). For now, my successes are when I am able to, if even for a short time, slip a leash on the Monkey. In order to sneak up on the Monkey Mind, slip that leash on and get a little peace, I meditate.
Meditation is the only time that the Monkey is silent. I started practicing meditation LONG, LONG ago (ok maybe not THAT long ago…I was 22 before I ever gave a second thought to meditation). My problem then was that I only used meditation as a last resort! When my brain felt like it was about to explode, when I thought I may need to sit in a padded room for the sake of me and everyone around me, only then would I sit with myself in silence.
Recently I discovered the power that comes with a regular meditation practice. It is still a struggle for me. I am working on it…. but that’s all we can do right? Work on it…
Manifest Your Reality
When I am able to keep my mind still, I am able to quiet the Depression that snarls at my soul. When my mind is quiet I am able to see that Anxiety is simply manifestation of my fears. Fears that I have allowed to take root deep in my thoughts.
“The mind is a powerful thing” …I don’t know who said it first, but I know we’ve all heard it a million times. Why is it so hard to believe that our thoughts can manifest our reality?
I do believe. I believe that the energy we release into the universe returns to us. If that is the case, it only makes sense to me that our thoughts (energies) are directly related to our reality. Wake up thinking you are going to have a crappy day…chances are you will. Wake up worrying you won’t have the money to cover the bills…. you probably won’t.
Could this be the mumbling of a crazy girl? Maybe. All I know for certain is that there are times when the Monkey runs wild and as a result I am barely able to function. I am held captive to the swirling thoughts. I am swept away in a hurricane of confusion and raw emotion. I am unable to live in the now.
When the Monkey is in control:
I worry about the future. Regret the past. Feel hopeless about the present.
When the Monkey is in control:
My mind is clouded. Sluggish.
Meet My Pals (with friends like these…)
Perhaps it is the incessant thoughts of my Monkey Mind that first introduced my ol’ friend Depression & I. I’m quite sure that they also opened the door and invited Anxiety to take up residence.
These two have been companions of mine since the age of 18. There have been times when these two and I were inseparable. There are also times that they seem to hibernate for months and I won’t hear a peep from them. So far it’s been a no go on finding ways to shake them completely. Threes company?!?
Depression and Anxiety are really shitty company to keep! They are selfish and draining, sneaky and cunning, not to mention physically painful! So many people deal with these issues, yet so many misconceptions remain.
Here are a few words for you well-meaning folk that think anxiety/depression is just an excuse to throw a pity party: Yes, I know I have SO MUCH to be thankful for! Yes, I know that the majority of things I worry about will NEVER HAPPEN. NONE of those things matter when the Monkey is in control…
Put a Leash On It
So I sneak up on the Monkey. Through meditation, setting my intentions, and maintaining awareness of my thought patterns I am able to slip a leash on my Monkey mind. I choose to run my life instead of letting the Monkey run me.
I sit in silence, breathing in, breathing out. Letting my thoughts flow over me like the tide. Good thoughts come in, I let them go. Bad thoughts come in, I let them go. There is freedom in the letting go. I am learning to let go of the things that no longer serve me (much easier said than done). I am growing stronger in my confidence of who I am. I am learning that I can create the peace I need.
I can control my life, if only I remember to keep the Monkey on a leash.
Need a little help getting started with your meditation practice?
20 Minute Stair Workout
My Fitness Journey: Part Two
I’ve been a personal trainer for 10 years now…whoa…. it’s been a minute!
Thanks to personal training I’ve had the pleasure of working with some pretty cool folks! I landed my very first personal training job working for two professional bodybuilders John DeFendis and the late Mat DuVall (…talk about an intimidating interview! These guys are HUGE!). I owe my start in the business, and a lot of knowledge about training/nutrition, to them. They gave me a foundation that to this day remains timeless. In a world of fitness fads, they taught me that new isn’t always better.
Many trainers and individuals have served as inspiration for my fitness journey. Each and every one of them pushed me to break past intimidation and reach for what I wanted out of life. There is one trainer that does happen to stand out from the rest…
Love this guy!
I met my handsome husband, Brent, at the gym. He was a fellow trainer, just some crazy guy that tended to loiter in my office a little too long. He and I began working out together and to be honest I stole a LOT of training ideas from him (shhhh it will be our secret).
Fact is, no one has been more inspiring/encouraging to me than my hubs, Brent (note: no one has ever driven me more crazy either!). He has taught me tons in our crazy life together. He helped, still helps me, face my fears. My fears of not being good enough. My fears of being left behind. My fears of other’s opinions. He taught me it was ok to fail (in & out of the gym). He held my hand and led me to accept myself for who I was.
Enough of the sappiness…he also taught me proper form, weight-lifting technique, how to use hand wraps, the importance of having a decent spotter and a TON about eating to be lean. Brent is an old-schooler when it comes to fitness. If you wanna know how to get the best physique quickly and efficiently he’s your man! He is responsible for the fact that I am, and forever will be, a lifter at heart. I mean for real, I like the movie Pumping Iron. I blame him completely.
I have lazy days (ok, weeks). I am a real person (with real shit to deal with). I work a full time job. I am no longer able to spend hours and hours at the gym. But…
I still love all things fitness! While Brent is an old-school iron pumper. I am random. Especially in fitness! I get bored with the same ol’ routines, same ol’ classes, same ol’ results. I am constantly switching things up. I am a lover of Crossfit, Yoga, Zumba, Kickboxing, Boot Camp, Bodybuilding, Tabata, Cycling, Hiking, etc.
I have recently been slacking off in my eating and exercise routine! What a difference in how I feel. I am dragging!! I am logging off now, I have a hot date with my stairs…Look for a full body stair workout post soon!!!
I hope that by sharing my story I can inspire someone else to push past the fear! Take charge of your life! If I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
Give me a shout out! Tell me about your fitness routines!
Kristal McEwen 