Two Quotes Every Parent / Teacher Should Read

"We all carry wounds in us that we received as children, and taking the path of healing these wounds makes it much easier for us to relate to and understand the children in our life. Whatever we haven't transformed, we're likely to pass on to our children and to our students. Our suffering will become their suffering. This is why practicing mindfulness in our daily lives is so important. It is not just to avoid burnout; mindfulness allows us to transform in the depths of our consciousness. If you are not at peace, how can you impart peace to your children and students?"

-Thich Nhat Hanh, Planting Seeds, Practicing Mindfulness with Children

"Children who are raised by parents who are conscious, and therefore both at peace with themselves and connected to their inner joy, discover the abundance of the universe and learn how to tap into this ever-flowing source. Viewing life as their partner, such children respond to life's challenges with curiosity, excitement, and a sense of reverent engagement. Brought up to be inwardly peaceful and to know their inherent joy, they in turn teach their children to live in a state of joyful abundance."

-Shefali Tsabary, The Conscious Parent

These two quotes speak volumes! I just had to share them here because I find them so incredibly important and inspiring. What do you think?

There is one more thing I'd like to share. The Himalayan Meditation Centre in Edmonton will be offering a 10-week mindfulness class for kids aged 5-13 starting next January (2019). One or more parents are invited to attend and participate. The class will be held on Saturdays from 1-2 pm. The Conscious Kids curriculum will be used, which means that all the concepts are taught through creative short stories and fun, engaging activities for families. The course is designed to help kids develop their emotional intelligence, lower their stress, boost their confidence & improve their mood and focus. You may have guessed that I will be teaching this class, along with my kind and very gifted colleague who came here all the way from Tibet, Dr. Kunga. Openings are very limited and are based on a first come, first serve policy. For more information and to sign up, please visit conscious-kids.ca. 

Warm regards,

Lise Villeneuve

www.lisevilleneuve.com

Are You Game?

Are we really all that different?

On the surface, it may look like we are all unique and have very different needs, challenges, desires and ambitions. However, once we have the courage to dive a little deeper into the heart of who - or what - we are, we soon discover that what we truly crave is universal : inner peace, joy, unconditional love, and freedom from our negative states.

Many of us intuitively know that these qualities are nowhere to be found in the world « out there », yet we continue to search for them by constantly rearranging the circumstances of our life. This is like trying to change the reflection we see of ourselves in a mirror, without being willing to modify or to question the source of the image itself - who we are.

What is at the root of our constant restlessness, our agitation and our psychological suffering? It is this profoundly distorted image we have of ourselves. Are we merely separate entities made of flesh and bones, or are we interconnected spiritual beings having a temporary human experience? As long as we hold on to the idea of a separate self dominated by the survival instincts of the ego, then lasting freedom, inner-peace, joy and unconditional love will remain out of reach.

To be honest...

Frankly, I am not interested in helping people simply rearrange the circumstances of their life so they can feel temporary relief, wordly success or superficial self-confidence. I am not interested in patching up the cracks in their wounded ego so that they can « function normally », like everyone else who is sleepwalking under the trance of their ego. Rather, I am interested in helping individuals wake up permanently to their full potential as a spiritual being. This is where real emotional, physical and spiritual healing begins. This is where true, unwaivering Self-confidence is born. This is the realm of miracles.

Wanting to transcend the ego takes courage, dedication and humility. It’s not an easy or popular route. At first, the ego thinks « yes, that’s what I want, that’s what I need to feel fulfilled», but this is a trap. It’s not about making our personal selves better, stronger or more powerful - although paradoxically, this often happens as a result of raising our level of consciousness. Disidentification from the ego is all about stripping away our programming and the limiting beliefs that hold us back as spiritual beings.

How is it done? By developing an awareness of what we really are; by surrendering negative emotions; by healing old wounds; by letting go of what holds us back; by opening our hearts and by humbly trusting the ever-present divine grace that guides us back to wholeness.

As difficult as it has been at times, this has been my journey for over two decades. I discovered that my entire life was essentially an illusion that kept me trapped in unecessary suffering. At first, I understood this with my mind, then, little by little, I experienced it through my heart. Because I have been through and continue to move through this process of spiritual surrendering on a daily basis, I am now able to hold that space for others to do the same thing. I do it by sharing a sacred space that includes creativity, some moments of silence, breathing, laughter, warm beverages and a whole lot of love.

Spirituality is not like working out at the gym. We cannot learn how to raise our level of consciousness by « doing » , or by simply trying to fix the problems our minds cling to. We have to allow ourselves to be. We have to find the courage to feel whatever comes up, as unpleasant as that might be sometimes. We have to learn how to be at peace with what is. It’s not enough to sit in meditation and chant mantras three times a week, because life happens outside of these bubbles of isolation. How do we react when things don’t go our way? Is the ego still completely running our internal programming outside of meditation class?

The good news is that every second of every day, as our life unfolds with its inevitable ups and downs, we can practice being more spiritually aware. We can allow ourselves to be what we truly are. We can wake up from the dream over and over again. Are you game?

If you are in the Edmonton area and would like to know more about the private sacred spaces I hold, you can reach me at consciouslivingsolutions (at) gmail dot com.


Warmly,

Lise
www.lisevilleneuve.com

Are You A, B or C Today?

Which One Are You Today: A, B or C?

-A-

Some days I feel so inadequate.

My heart is restless, forlorn and heavy.

Like a prisoner trapped in a cell made of flesh and bones,

I am unable to escape the dissonant noise of my own cruel mind.

My past wounds and fears keep me confined, confused and paranoid.

Life feels like a burden, my days are filled with angst.

Self-loathing, I begin to wonder if there is something deeply wrong with me.

-B-

Some days I feel so confident.

My heart is filled with joy, I feel competent and fortunate.

The world is my oyster, I have everything under control.

My mind flatters me with kind words, I feel fantastic!

My past wounds and fears have been tucked far, far away from my consciouness

I feel strong and invincible. 

I am in love with all these positive aspects of myself.

-C-

Some days I feel so very aware,

My heart is peaceful, I feel alive and present.

I hear the noise in my mind and watch the thoughts go by without clinging to any of them.

I notice the positive and negative feelings in my body and let them pass right through.

I observe my unconscious human programming and feel compassion for myself and others.

Instead of running away from them, I allow my past wounds to come up to the surface.

I fully feel the trapped emotions, surrender and release them so they can permanently heal.

Life feels more gentle and more predictable from within

I remember that I am a spiritual being living in a temporary human body.

I am not my thoughts, my emotions or my conditioned responses

It makes no sense for me to cling to these or to even want to defend them

With this understanding, I remember to be patient, kind and forgiving with myself 

Especially when I fall back into the trance of duality (A,B or a mix of both)

What I truly am is a Love so pure, so powerful, so miraculous that -when allowed to shine through the layers of ego, instantly obliterates this illusion of who I think I am. Once the illusion is shattered, there no longer is a personal self. No more suffering. Only freedom, joy and deep peace.

Which one are you now?

Peace, my friends. Peace!

Lise

www.lisevilleneuve.com

Confessions of a Homeschooling Mama

Yikes! We're about to dive into our seventh year of homeschooling next week! I absolutely LOVE this lifestyle and truly believe it was one of the greatest and most empowering choices we could have made for our family.

Emma is starting grade 9 and Théo is now in grade 4. They are both receiving all their education en français. Over the years, we have developed a system that really works for us, and a wonderful support network of local friends and other homeschooling families has organically grown around us, enriching our journey along the way. Knowing where to find the best resources and educational materials has made the task of planning each academic year much less daunting.

Homeschooling allows us to integrate education as a fun and natural part of a balanced life without having to compromise our physical or emotional well-being. In our household, learning happens all the time, and it's associated with feelings of joy, passion, enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity, as opposed to stress, pressure, competition, anxiety and resistance.

I am very grateful for the flexibility we have in our schedule that allows the kids to self-regulate their moods by trusting their inner-guidance system, or emotions. Nobody can perform like a robot! Sometimes, we're just not in the right state of mind to learn anything, and that's OK. Other times, creativity flows through us like a raging river and we could write an entire play, or a song, or paint the Mona Lisa all over again. Although we do have a weekly schedule, the kids are always encouraged to follow their hearts and honour their true feelings.We make a point of spending lots of time outdoors too. The kids know more about gardening and plants than I ever did at their age.

Every day is not always smooth and perfect, because life naturally has its ups and downs. That's one of the things I love the most about homeschooling: we can take the time to allow and work through the tough emotions, the resistance and the negative thoughts when they show up, because they will, and they are welcome here. In fact, they are healthy, whereas suppressing, repressing or projecting negative thoughts and feelings are extremely unhealthy strategies, but they are often used unconsciously as coping mechanisms when there is no room for an alternative. Releasing or dealing with negativity directly is generally frowned upon or considered too "disruptive" at school or at work, so we learn to tuck it into our little box until it busts open again by the next unpredictable trigger.

In our home, there is space for imperfections and disruptions. Actually, some of the greatest learning happens when we work through our tough, uncomfortable emotions. Once these are understood, surrendered and released, magic happens. Boundaries are removed. Fears are overcome. Energy, joy and lightness return. Chez nous, holistic well-being is valued over academic perfection. Individuality and curiosity are encouraged through a curriculum that is flexible and adapted to a unique child, not a system. Compassion, mindfulness and kindness are taught and valued over popularity, or conforming to the current norm or trend.

The purpose here is not to criticize the actual education system, as it is simply a by-product of our current society and its values. We're all doing the best we can right now. I know many wonderful teachers who give their hearts and souls to their students daily. Many children thrive in schools, and as the world becomes more conscious, I believe our social structures will radically change as well. In the meantime, I am grateful to have the option to enjoy this very special time with my kids.

Simply watching the daily news is enough to see that we live in a world that values productivity and relentless hard work above joy, well-being and inner-peace; competition over sharing and cooperation; success over compassion and mindfulness; materialism over spirituality. There is hope for the future, as we are changing it this very instant with our collective thoughts and intentions. But are we aware of this? Are our children aware of the power they hold?

Here, in our humble home and school, we learn that the most effective and direct way to change the world is to start by changing ourselves first -to fully embody the changes we wish to see outside of ourselves-, as Gandhi expressed so eloquently. So each day, we learn with love, with presence, with patience and forgiveness. We learn to love and accept ourselves fully so that we may love others unconditionally. We aim to raise our level of consciousness so that the world may also become a wee bit more aware and loving. Class is never dismissed at our school of life. Thanks for reading!

P.S. I recently wrote about emotional intelligence and self-regulation in a printable document called "Dealing with Strong Negative Emotions: A Guide for Parents and Teachers." It is free to download on my website.

All the best,

Lise Villeneuve
Creator of Conscious Kids (aussi disponible en français!)
www.lisevilleneuve.com

What I Never Had The Guts to Express...

I love these guys, Y and C. We've known each other for years, possibly even lifetimes. We used to sing and tour everywhere together. Somehow, when we are reunited -even if it's been decades- there is instant harmony between us. It's as though our individual quirks are simply allowed to be as they are, and this authenticity oozes out as a kind of glue that bonds us into whacky and joyful chemistry.

Feels Like Pretending

But to be perfectly honest, I feel the need to express something. This journey of awakening has transformed life from the inside out, and I find that my relation to "other", any other, has shifted tremendously. Now that I have found the clarity to describe my perspective in words, I'd like to share it because I know that I am not alone. However, I have often felt like I was on a very lonely road. I was unable to fully comprehend what was happening and I didn't quite understand how that affected my interactions with others. But now I see that I was simply caught in a little dance. I was being pulled from one side to the other, spinning between the perspectives of duality and oneness. Sometimes I still feel like I have to pretend, or play along to something that is complete fabrication. I want to talk about that.

My World Has Collapsed

But before we can go any further, we have to go back to the essential question. What am I ? This simple question has completely transformed how I live each day. As I have slowly been letting go of deriving a sense of identity from my mind, body, emotions or perceptions, as I have been continuously and painfully surrendering false ideas of separation, individuality and control... the world has changed. It seemed foolish and terrifying to even want to go there at first - to "lose everything" that I spent a lifetime building and polishing. But now that these superficial structures are crumbling, I can feel the wind in my hair, the sun kissing my skin, and it feels like my true home. It feels like peace. It tastes like freedom.

Never Going Back

I would never go back to living in that hypnotic trance that convinced me that I was something other than pure awareness. This truth that I have come to know is so simple, yet so easily forgotten. Our human conditioning  is so very strong, so entrenched. The world is not there to support our awakening, to encourage us to  melt into the oneness of existence. On the contrary, everything reinforces the idea of personhood and individuality. I say bullshit, because life - surrendered to the Divine - has never tasted sweeter. No need to even mix religion into this. Religion is of the mind. God doesn't need religion to exist. We don't need the mind to FEEL, to KNOW what we truly are in this very moment. We have always felt it. We are life itself, unpolluted by the misperceptions of the ego. It is powerful, pulsating and filled with love.

Yet, how we cling to this illusion that we are the "doer of actions." We cling out of fear, but once we let go, once we trust the deep wisdom that is essentially what we all are under our layers of constructs, life takes care of us. No (restless) mind, no problem. Miracles everywhere. No more "me" and "you", only blooming love. Simple.

Just a Play?

Still, everyday is like a dance, as I get pulled between duality and oneness. I forget, then I remember again and my heart fills with joy and peace. Being with the ones I love brings me back to the familiar conditioning -duality and personhood. In this perspective, I feel like I have to play along, to almost pretend, in order to relate to others in a compassionate and socially appropriate manner. Honestly, I often sense that there isn't much to converse about. The past and the future are not alive in this moment. I have no strong opinions or beliefs, I let things be as they are, and I'm not here to convince anyone of anything, because we each have our own path that will eventually lead us to that freedom that is already within. I'm quite comfortable with silence, and I don't mind listening deeply -although I do it with my entire being, not just the mind, and I won't always say what people want to hear. Sometimes it's  best to say nothing at all. I don't need to be entertained or distracted, I am quite content in solitude.

Boring, Boring, Boring...

So I guess that makes me pretty boring in the eyes of many, but that's OK. I'm not as invested in the changing forms of this world as I once was. I see people as what they truly are -pure love and unlimited consciousness. Sometimes, that makes it hard for me to buy into the little stories our minds cling to. Still, I am deeply respectful and grateful for all the wonderful people in my life - whether their acceptance is present or not.

It feels good to be able to freely express my genuine perspective, as I slowly and gracefully learn to shift from a life of duality to one of unity. I know that as these roots grow deeper and deeper into my being, eventually there will be no more dance, no more gear changes from one perspective to the other. There will only be stillness. Thanks for reading.

Much love to you,

Lise
www.lisevilleneuve.com

Who Is More Intelligent?

Life is but a dream. Just ask our Balsam poplar tree who has been producing these beautiful balls of fluffy cotton lately. One minute they are there, hanging from the branches like a sweet display of cotton candy, and the next they are broken apart and sent off to dance in the sky, swept away by a breeze that will ensure their reproduction. In just a few days, there will be no sign of these soft white creatures. They will have come and gone, served their purpose and returned to the earth. Everthing comes and goes, just like a dream.

What's the main difference beween us and the cotton balls? Essentially, we go through the same cycle of life, but they do it without resistance. They don't care if nobody notices them. They don't see themselves as separate from everything else. They have no expectations. They just go with the flow. They have a primal, innate wisdom -a knowing, that they don't "have a life" but they ARE life itself, just naturally doing what it does. We may be smarter than them, with our complex thinking processes, but they certainly don't suffer like we do, do they? So who's really more intelligent I wonder?

More and more, I am experiencing that it IS possible to live like that -free from the prison of our ego. But at first, I went through the process  kicking and screaming. To the ego, it seems absurd, ridiculous even to consider that everything we have carefully constructed -our so-called "life", our persona, our biography- are fundamentally complete illusions. When we are brave enough to let go of our thoughts, our beliefs and expectations, we discover the deep peace that the natural world has known all along. Isn't nature a wonderful teacher?

As long as we cling to this idea of who we think we are, we suffer. I find it helpful to keep asking  the question "what am I?" I don't look for an answer that comes from the mind, but instead from the body. I connect with that feeling of beingness, not just in a meditative setting, but in everyday life situations. What I discover is that I am dreaming! From that place of awareness, I go ahead and play my part in the drama of life. I plant the seeds I wish to harvest and I remove the weeds without having to get angry with them. Most of the time, I eat them, actually.

Wishing you a wonderful summer,

Lise
www.lisevilleneuve.com

Words of Wisdom from Mooji

"There is going to come a time when you will say...

I once believed that everyone had to like me,
but now this belief is no more.
I once believed I had to be the best person
I could be in order to be free, but no more.
I once believed that I had to first do everything
I needed to do in the world,
and only when I had done that and I was satisfied
could I turn my attention to Self-discovery.
I once believed that.

I once believed that it was up to someone else
to make me happy.
That seems a long time ago.
I once believed that I was not worthy,
but I see now that was nonsense.
I once believed I was not ready,
but I see now it's not true.
I once believed that I had to practise more,
meditate longer, be more sincere,
but I saw it's not like that.
Life is not so strenuous or cruel.
I believed so many things that were not true.
Then I realised nothing obstructs the freedom I am. "

"Go for the greater, and the lesser will be taken care of.
Don't worry. Life is not a puzzle.
It is the ego that gets puzzled.
You don't have to work things out.
Simply keep quiet and let it all unfold.
If you think you can work life out,
you create an identity as a solver of life. Big trouble!

Nobody can work it out. It is not to be worked out.
As one surrenders one's ego,
one automatically comes into harmony with life.
Watch as life takes care of life.
If flows spontaneously and perfectly in each form.
Let go to the dance of existence.
Why miss the best show on earth?"

-Mooji, White Fire

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful week my friends! We are One.

Lise Villeneuve
www.lisevilleneuve.com