Dimostrazione: a commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence and a willingness to learn from mistakes. “If you find from your own experience that something is a fact and it contradicts what some authority has written down, then you must abandon the authority and base your reasoning on your own findings.” Leonardo da Vinci   In this final blog post of Dimostrazione, consider these questions...   9. Who is the most independent, original thinker I know? What makes that person an original?   10. Do I learn more from role models (people I wish to be like) or anti-role models (people who demonstrate what I never want to do or be like)? Which one most inspires me towards positive change?   11. Who are or have been the three most influential people in my life? What positive traits have I learned from them?   12. What are the most 3 influential experiences of my life? What did I learn from each experience?   In this final post [...]

  Dimostrazione: a commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence and a willingness to learn from mistakes.   "The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions." Leonardo daVinci In this second part of Dimostrazione, we continue to question and challenge our long-standing opinions and beliefs towards being established in wisdom.   Take one week to consider each question based on your life experiences. 5. When was the last time I changed a deeply held belief? What did I notice after changing that belief?   6. What sources do you rely on to determine your beliefs and opinions? How do I know I can trust these sources?   7. What are 3 of my most fundamental beliefs? Can I clearly articulate these beliefs and the reasons why I hold them?   8. Have I ever been deceived by my own opinions? How do I know my opinions and beliefs truly my own?   As you continue to test your knowledge, note your observances of Dimostrazione!   Hari [...]

  Dimostrazione: a commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence and a willingness to learn from mistakes.   "All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions. ” Leonardo daVinci This blog post was inspired while reading the book, “How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci” by Michael J. Gelb. The second da Vincian principle, “Dimostrazione”, is very much like gyan yoga, the yoga of self-study.   Dimostrazione offers us the opportunity to question and challenge our long-standing opinions, assumptions and beliefs so we can continue to grow in wisdom and towards self-realization.   Take one week to consider each question based on your life experiences. 1. How do I act or react to my mistakes? How do I act or react to the mistakes of others?   2. Do I learn more from my success or my failures? Which has more of an impact towards healthy change?   3. How do I react or respond to adversity? How can I be more resilient when faced with adversity? [...]

  Curiosità:...a curious approach to life and quest for continuous learning   "One can have no smaller or greater mastery than the mastery of oneself." ~Leonardo da Vinci This blog post was inspired while reading the book, “How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci” by Michael J. Gelb. This practice of “Curiosità” is very much like gyan yoga, the yoga of self-study.   In Part 3 (weeks 9-13) of practicing Curiosità, try to consider each question for one week and note whether your answers change throughout the week or if they remain the same.   9. What is my greatest passion? How can I use what I am passionate about to help or inspire others?   10. What is one positive thing I could do today for another person? What is one positive thing I could do today for myself?   11. What is something I have always dreamed of doing? When will I allow myself to do what I dream?   12. What are the blessings of [...]

  Curiosità:...a curious approach to life and quest for continuous learning   "The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding ." ~Leonardo da Vinci   In Part Two of Curiosità, we deepen our inner understanding of the first of seven DaVincian principles in effort to reconnect with our higher truth...   In weeks 5-8 of practicing Curiosità, try to consider each question for one week and note whether your answers change throughout the week or if they remain the same.   5. How do I most connect and relate to the world around me?   6. Who inspires me? How can I begin to integrate their positive qualities into my life?   7. Am I living the life I pictured for yourself or dreaming of something even bigger?   8. How am I perceived by diff people in my life? Closest friend, enemy, boss, children, co-workers, etc. How would I like to be perceived?   On the quest of self-study, note your observances of curiosità!   Hari Om [...]

  Curiosità:...a curious approach to life and quest for continuous learning   "Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets." ~Leonardo da Vinci This blog post was inspired while reading the book, "How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci" by Michael J. Gelb. This practice of "Curiosità" is very much like gyan yoga, the yoga of self-study.   In Part One of Curiosità, we begin to ask confounding questions to move beyond our conditioning and reconnect with our higher truth...   Take one week to consider each question and note whether your answers change throughout the week or if they remain the same.   1. When am I most naturally myself? What people, places and activities allow me to feel most fully express myself?   2. What is one thing I could stop, start or do differently - starting today - that would most improve the quality of my life?   3. What is my greatest talent? How can I best use [...]

      "My body is a precious temple and I treat it with respect." ~Louise Hay In Part Two of "Coming Home," we endeavor to have a deeper understanding of the physical form we live in 24/7... our body home.         Week 7: Unconditional Friendliness This week, set an intention to be unconditionally friendly to your body. Treat your body like you would a good friend.   Week 8: Gratitude and Appreciation Find or name at least 3 things about your body that you love, appreciate or are grateful for. Throughout the week, recognize the ways your body serves you well!   Week 9: Just Experience Can you allow yourself to just experience your body? In this process, can you allow the tension as well as the ease to be there? The strength as well as the weakness? In week 9, just experience your body home.   Week 10: Thank You Body... Take time to scan through your body and appreciate all that your [...]

    "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." ~ Jim Rohn   How often do we pay attention, listen to and nourish our body, the physical form we live in 24/7?   In Part One of "Coming Home," we challenge ourselves over the next 6 weeks to pay attention to our body home.     Week 1: Sensations in the Body In the first week, take a few minutes each day, mentally scan through your body. Notice any sensations. Notice if the mind skips over certain parts of your body and connects easily to other parts. What do you experience with mindfulness centered on the body?   Week 2: Come Home to the Pause When engaged in an activity (reading, working, eating, cleaning)... STOP....just pause for a few moments. In this stillness, tune into your body. A tightness? Release. Stress? Let it go. When we stop and inhabit the pause during week 2, we can release dis-ease in the body before [...]

    "We can be sure that the greatest hope for maintaining equilibrium in the face of any situation rests within ourselves." ~Francis J. Braceland   In Part Two of "A Life in Balance," we continue our practice to bring balance to daily life.     5. Dualities Notice life's dualities... hot/cold, joy/sadness, restlessness/stillness. In the spectrum of duality, can you find the balance between the extremes?   6. Movement vs. Stillness Observe the moments of when the body and mind are in movement and when the body and mind are in stillness. Is one more predominate or is the experience a balance of both?   7. Introversion vs. Extroversion Be aware of the length of time when you are engaged and disengaged with the world around you. Are you more introverted, extroverted or is there balance?   8. Talking vs. Silence (mouna) Be mindful of the amount of time spent talking and the amount of time spent in silence. Where are you on the spectrum of the [...]

  "Life is a balance of holding on and letting go." ~Rumi Some time ago, a student shared that yoga lends balance to the volatile daily pace that his work and personal life create. We may not realize we need balance until something is out of balance, like our health, mental state, relationships or emotions.   In Part One of "A Life in Balance," we explore ways to live a more balanced life.   1. Balance of Body Direct your attention to your physical body in how you stand, how you hold your body and how you move it. Is your weight balanced evenly between your right and left side? Is there a tendency to lean forward or back? Is one side of the body used more than the other? Observe any imbalance in your physical structure to bring unconscious physical disparities back into balance.   2. Balance the Breath At some point in the day, be mindful of your breath. For the next minutes, breathe in a [...]