Day 16 – How To Make Your Environment Creative [Oprah and Deepak Chopra Teachings]

Getting Unstuck – Creating a Limitless Life – Oprah and Deepak Chopra 21 Day Meditation Experience

 

These are amazing notes – not transcripts –  from Deepak and Oprah’s meditation challenge, Getting Unstuck, Creating a Limitless Life, written by DoinTheGratefulDance .  I have enjoyed several of the meditation series Oprah and Deepak Chopra have shared.  I am not affiliated with them – just a grateful listener too and wanted to share these wonderful notes.    I couldn’t have done a better job!  Thanks for sharing these notes!

 

Day 16 – “How To Make Your Environment Creative”

 

““Accept what is in front of you, without wanting the situation to be other than it is. Nature provides everything, without requiring thanks and provides for all.” – Lao Tzu

 

“I create a space around me that is open and appreciative”

 

Sanskrit Mantra:  

“Akhando Hum (sounds like Ah-Khan-doh Hum )
My awareness is unlimited”

 

Oprah says….

People often pull back and withdraw both emotionally and physically when they feel stuck.  It’s a given that we all want to offer our gifts to the world – we’re here to be in collaboration with each other and the universe, to reach the highest expression of ourselves.  We’re at our best together when we create space in our hearts and consciousness to be harmonious with others, allow transformation and growth.

If we really believe that we all see ourselves in each other and come from a place of willingness to understand and be understood, we create limitless possibilities.  When we elevate ourselves, we also elevate others.  How do I feel when others believe and have confidence in me?  I need to give that same thing to those around me and then witness the transformations.

Oprah says she recently wrote a letter to her younger self as she looked at a picture of a 19-year-old Oprah standing outside WLAC-TV  where she had just been hired and here’s what she said.  “I look into your eyes and I see the hope and light within myself.  You look calm, you look happy but I know how scared you are.  If I could say anything to you, it would be, Relax, it’s going to be OK girl.”  She asks what a letter to my younger self would look like.  She suggests getting still and reconnecting with belief in ourselves and believe that everything is going to be OK.

Deepak says….

We can make creativity happen for ourselves and those around us by creating conscious space, an open arena for the flow of creative input.  This requires two qualities

• Appreciation
• Participation

When we look at families or workplaces that have gotten stuck, there is a closed, tight atmosphere and participation and appreciation are minimal.  We can change this by

• Finding ways to give warm and sincere appreciation to encourage participation.
• Rather than using coercive or arbitrary rule enforcement, give responsibility and a feeling of ownership to those around us.
• Make it known that we value everyone’s contribution.
• Be an example of mutual respect at all times.
• Tailor responsibilities/tasks to the other person’s capabilities – no one can give what they don’t have.
• Give praise and other rewards appropriate for achievements.
• Cardinal rule – give the same things we value when we receive them.

Repeat to myself,

I create a space around me that is open and appreciative
I create a space around me that is open and appreciative

Listen to some relaxing music, breathe slowly and deeply,  become more and more relaxed, and meditate for about 10 minutes using the Sanskrit mantra –

“Akhando Hum (sounds like Ah-Khan-doh Hum )
My awareness is unlimited”

Deepak says the mantra “affirms the limitless unbounded nature of your self-aware presence.  This presence of awareness suffuses the space around us with harmony, calmness and receptivity.”

Continue meditating  for about 10 minutes and then release the mantra.  Concentrate on the centering thought:   being fulfilled and being who you want to be and repeating:

I create a space around me that is open and appreciative
I create a space around me that is open and appreciative

 

Reflections on Day 16 –  write about it…

• What are a few ways I can make the space around me more open and creative?  Give others a chance to contribute in any way they choose – participate in decisions.  (Ask my coworkers for their input on something that is challenging me/us? Plan an event with my family that we’ve never done before?

• Participation …What are 2 ways I could participate more at work and at home?  How can I encourage others to participate more? (Speak up more when I have a good idea? Prepare meals together as a family?)

• Creative space requires appreciation how can I show more appreciation to 2-3 specific people today? (a small word of encouragement or a smile?)

Oprah lessons  written by by DoinTheGratefulDance