Sarah hamilton's Blog

This is where you'll find my musings on Gratitude, Inspiration, Stillness and Awe…. "Transform your thoughts, transform your life"

New Years Intentions! December 31, 2015

Happy New Years everyone!!  And being that it’s new years eve I’ve been thinking a lot about New Years resolutions.  We hear a lot about making New Years resolutions…. which, so many do not keep (as she smiles sheepishly).  What if we changed them to intentions? Like: My intention is to be more compassionate or My intention is to be more aware of what I put into my mouth…  So this got me thinking… What is the difference between a resolution and an intuition… Well the definitions are:

resolution: (noun) 1. a firm decision to do or not to do something 

intention is: (noun) 1. a thing intended; an aim or plan. (and intend: 1. have (a course of action) as one’s purpose or objective) 

OK… so the difference is that a resolution is a definitive decision and an intention is an objective for change…. To me the intention is a kinder plan for forward movement and the resolution doesn’t allow for life to happen. An intention is a plan to create change.  It sounds as if  I’m saying an intention lets you off the hook, but it doesn’t.  If you intend to do something you still can be held accountable by yourself, friends or a Life coach.  When resolutions are made and then dropped by February we feel a bit like we failed… So how can you create an intention that is kind and loving towards yourself and the world around you? Do you want to be more compassionate, loving, aware of your time, aware of what you put into your mouth?  What…

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What is your intention going into the new year?  What new awareness will you bring into your daily life that you hadn’t done before?  What are you willing to do to keep your forward movement?

 

Happy Happy New Years!  Talk to you next year!  (that never gets old for me 🙂 )

Lot of Love!

~SHC

 

Letting Go Of The Temptations Of The Flesh September 1, 2015

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I was a vegetarian for over a decade in my teens through to my 20’s simply to be healthier but I ultimately succumb to the temptations of the flesh…  I succumb to the yum…  But alas things change.  I have been really working towards the belief of ‘Do not harm’.  This has been a focus for me in thought, word and action towards others (which is the easiest for me) for decades.  But where I was getting caught up was in those insidious little niggling thoughts that slip in sideways about myself.  I may not use the word should verbally but I find myself thinking it.  They would come up when I felt I wasn’t being enough in one way or anther. When they would and occasionally still do come up I remind myself to be gentle then let it go and move forward (perfectionism discussion for another post 🙂 ).  After some kind work I was ready  to take the step forward to truly doing no harm.  And that took the form of letting go of the temptations of the flesh.  Because doing harm for me, meant the discomfort I felt in regards to consuming animals and harming the animals.

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I live in a Very rural area with many many cow farms.  I fell in love with the local Highland cows at a neighborhood farm.  I renamed them ‘My People’ because of their red hair… bad idea for a compassionate meat-eater because who would want to eat their people??!!  I am very aware of wanting to  always walk the talk in my life.  I don’t want to say one thing and do another.  So in the attempt of doing so I let go of the temptation.  I thought I’d have trouble but I feel great physically and karmically feel great!  So when I drove by my people today and stopped and said hello my heart felt free! I love knowing that I am yet one more step towards truly doing no harm.

 

 

Energetically,

Sarah

 

More Love Letters… August 23, 2015

heart-in-handsI came across the website More Love Letters a while back and fell in love… A woman named Hannah Brencher had an exceptional story that took on a life of its own.  Here’s the back story of Hannah’s project:

“I moved to New York City after graduating from college. I thought I was going to walk straight into my dream life. I practically thought a red carpet would be rolled out for me. That didn’t happen though. In fact, it was basically the opposite. I found myself grappling with depression, unable to tell my family and friends because I was so ashamed. Depression is a scary thing. Depression, when you make yourself journey through it alone, is terrifying.

So I started to get really honest in the pages of my notebook. And eventually those thoughts morphed into letters and I found myself ripping the letters out and leaving them all over New York City for people to find. I left them everywhere: Coffee shops. Libraries. Coat pockets in department stores. I liked to imagine who might find those letters.

Somehow that idea took on a life of its own after I blogged about it. My inbox was filled with the most heartbreaking stories I’ve ever encountered after I published a simple question on my blog: Do you need someone to write you a love letter today? Just ask.

That one question changed my life forever as I spent the next year writing hundreds of love letters to strangers in all parts of the world. More than just the letters– that question is the reason you and I are here in this space right now. I started More Love Letters three years ago and we’ve become the only global organization out there that blesses individuals–young and old– with bundles of love letters during a time in need. We basically want to create the most miraculous experience for people when they need it most: hundreds of letters of support and encouragement showing up at someone’s door all because someone in their own life loved them enough to just ask for those love letters. In fact, we need you here to help us make this whole “life” thing better for others. Life is hard. And yes, it breaks your heart. But you don’t have to go it alone. We’re right with you. It matters that you’re here. In fact we really want you here! It’s my hope that you’ll get involved in the writing & the mailing. I mean, we’re already counting on you. And we’d really like it if you decided to stay. ”

 

 

Here’s her Tedtalk:

 

 

What a wonderful story and I love how it inspired her to take the step in creating a way to give back on a larger scale!  I have always felt a need to be of service in one way or another.  When one enters a volunteer situation with an open heart it is remarkable what can happen!  I write love letters and hope that you might consider to do the same.  Open your heart!

 

 

Sending Love

~Sarah

 

Being Lazy By Doing Too Much August 10, 2015

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Unknown“There are different species of laziness: Eastern and Western. The Eastern style is like the one practised in India. It consists of hanging out all day in the sun, doing nothing, avoiding any kind of work or useful activity, drinking cups of tea, listening to Hindi film music blaring on the radio, and gossiping with friends. Western laziness is quite different. It consists of cramming our lives with compulsive activity, so there is no time at all to confront the real issues. This form of laziness lies in our failure to choose worthwhile applications for our energy.”

Sogyal Rinpoche

This made me think about how we all spend our down time and what is the most conscious choice? Or what is the most supportive choice we can make for ourselves? I for one am guilty of being lazy by doing too much.  I consciously have to stop myself and ask what’s really going on?  How are you feeling?  🙂 Why are you cleaning, yet again.  And trust me one can clean too much.  I had a friend when I lived in England who when she called and heard I was cleaning would ask me what was wrong.  So I’m wondering if this shows up for you and if so what may be going on that you are not hearing.

It’s just a thought….

 

Energetically,

~Sarah

 

Art. August 6, 2015

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I think that creativity is an essential part of our being. It shows up in myriad ways, whether it’s fine art or kitchen art or musical art or the art in the way we are with people.  Art is every where.  As an artist I thought I’d share this beautiful youtube clip with you (yet again 🙂 )… It just, makes me smile.

 

Native Wisdom… July 8, 2015

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Grey_wolf_3DNative Wisdom:One evening an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people.

 

He said, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.  One is evil.  It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his Grandfather:

“Which wolf wins?…”

The wise old Cherokee simply replied,

“The one that you feed.”

 

I simply love this parable because one of the greatest gifts we’ve been given is the one of free will.  The freedom to choose any direction we want! I coach a lot about choice.  Where do you want to go from here? If you don’t like how you feel make a different choice… What’s another way of looking at your situation?

So…. which wolf do you want to feed today?

 

Energetically~

~Sarah

 

Flexibility May 12, 2015

Today was day were flexibility was needed.  And I don’t mean flexibility like a gymnast.  I mean flexibility of the mind and spirit.  Sometimes plans are made and they don’t come to fruition.  How do you respond and feel? I’ve had to work be flexible.   It was not always in my nature.  A plan would change and I’d be thrown.  I didn’t go with the flow, I’d melt down.  Having to recalibrate didn’t come easily to me.  I could have an entire day thrown even by the smallest of monkey wrenches.  And then I chose a career that required flexibility, acting.  To not make plans until the day of and even then it may even change moments before an audition.  Being and actor meant that your agent would call regarding your next day up until 6ish the day before and you might even get a call the day of.  And if you wanted the job you’d say,”Yes Please!” or ” Of course I can change my plans!”.  Flexibility became an art.  Learning to be able to move forward and go on the fly meant I had a better chance of getting the job. And I did.

 

This ultimately helped me in all areas of my life.  Let’s say friends couldn’t make dinner or plans simply changed it became my responsibility to find the opportunity in the situation and not the obstacle.  Knowing that I am the sole proprietor over my feelings and responses is incredibly liberating.  I know for me I’d rather live in the moment and not get caught up in the drama (Now what am I going to do!!), victimization (Ohhh this will make it so hard) or blame (If they had only called me sooner!) of it all.  By not buying into the finger pointing I’m given the opportunity to stay at ease.  Which is were I chose to live.  That place of Universal flow.  Because you never know what gift might come along by letting go of the stress.

 

So how flexible are you?  Where might you be able to let the blame go so that you have more room for the good stuff?

 

Happy Spring!

~Sarah

 

Inspiration from Jill Bolte Taylor! March 12, 2015

I have blogged about Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor in the past but I wanted a little inspiration today!  It is amazing what can happen when we neurologically align our Brain with our heart!! Consciousness: The way we perceive ourselves and others in the world.  Here’s her most exquisite sharing at the TED Talks!

 

 

 

Pema Chodron March 9, 2015

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The last few weeks I have shared with you a couple of amazing thinkers and radical peace activists.  Today I would like to share the next one with you… Pema Chodron.  Now I am certain many of you know her for her teachings and pod casts already so that said I’d like to share a YouTube clip of her with you. A Brief note on her history:

“Pema Chödrön was born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in 1936, in New York City. She attended Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught as an elementary school teacher for many years in both New Mexico and California. Pema has two children and three grandchildren.

While in her mid-thirties, Pema traveled to the French Alps and encountered Lama Chime Rinpoche, with whom she studied for several years. She became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to England at that time, and Pema received her ordination from him.

Pema first met her root teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Rinpoche, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection, studying with him from 1974 until his death in 1987. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full monastic ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong.”  The Pema Chodron Foundation.  I highly encourage you to study her teachings.  Her sense of humor is wonderful!

 

Sending Love,

~Sarah

 

Limiting beliefs create a prison of the mind…. March 2, 2015

We all have some sort of limiting belief system in our make up.  Often this is created from how our past has formed us.  Our past has taught us to anticipate the future, whether it is either healthy or not and the painful episodes create limiting beliefs, assumptions and/or obstacles.  Just because something has happened in the past doesn’t mean it will happen again.  The healthiest thing for us to do is to reframe the situation or experience in a way that is supportive.

As I wrote last week I am introducing you to remarkable humans who have helped frame me and my thought processes throughout the decades.  This week it’s Tara Brach, a remarkable human who I thank on a regular basis.  She often talks about the release of limiting beliefs and where they come from. I invite you to take a look at this YouTube clip when you have the time.

Sending warm loving thoughts,

~Sarah

 

 
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