"‘How strange it is. We have these deep terrible lingering fears about ourselves and the people we love. Yet we walk around, talk to people, eat and drink. We manage to function. The feelings are deep and real. Shouldn’t they paralyze us? How is it we can survive them, at least for a while? We drive a car, we teach a class. How is it no one sees how deeply afraid we were, last night, this morning? Is it something we all hide from each other, by mutual consent? Or do we share the same secret without knowing it? Wear the same disguise.’"

Don DeLillo, White Noise (via glassrib)

(Source: fortunatelyunfourtunately, via nouvelle-nouveau)

"It’s a most distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind."

Naguib Mahfouz, Sugar Street (via les-jours-pluvieux)

(Source: itsfromabook, via nouvelle-nouveau)

"

Here are four ways of surfing the waves of change that work for us:

1. Recognize that nothing is permanent.

Nothing lasts, whether money, jobs, thoughts, feelings or loved ones. Everything is constantly changing, life never stands still. As Yoga Master Swami Satchidananda said, “Life is all about coming and going.” Everything that’s happening now will change into something else, every structure will one day collapse and new forms will be created, just as the cells within our bodies are constantly dying and recreating.

Without change in ourselves we become stifled and stagnant. Without change in the world we will not survive. Such impermanence means that every difficulty, challenge, joy or success will, at some point, be different: this too shall pass.

2. Be With What Is.

Even when times are tough, resistance is the quickest route to further discomfort and unhappiness. When we resist we put up walls or try to push the anxiety away, but this inevitably leads to unfulfilled desires and further discontent. Acceptance enables us to be with what is, to create spaciousness and room to breathe. Then we can make friends with our circumstances, instead of longing for things to be other than what they are. Being with what is means we release any need to know what the outcome of a situation might be.

3. Know that each day is a new beginning.

Just as palm trees transform muddy water into sweet coconut milk, so we always have the opportunity to transform fear into courage, selfishness into kindness, and loss into a new beginning. We are capable to creating a new life for ourselves with every breath, word and action. We just need to put one foot in front of the other.

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
~ Maria Robinson

4. Stay grounded and calm.

As every wave has both a crest and a dip, the clue to surfing is being able to paddle in the dip so we are ready to ride the next crest. Two of the best ways that we have found to help ourselves cope with the dips are yoga and meditation. Yoga releases physical and mental stress and relaxes the body, while meditation develops a peaceful and joyful mind. They enable us be present with what is, as well as to accept and live with change.

Here’s a meditation to help you stay calm and present. It’s based on the flow of breath, which is like an anchor that gives us stability and steadiness. And just as the breath comes in and goes out, so it is like the coming and going of all aspects of life. Practice for a few minutes or as long as you like.

"

From my sweetest friend on twitter —@marseelee

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/4-ways-to-surf-the-waves-of-change/?utm_source=pulsenews&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ElephantJournal+%28elephant+journal%29

(via parkstepp)

(via nouvelle-nouveau)

"I wish I could have the ability to write down the feelings I have now while I’m still little, because when I grow up I will know how to write, but I will have forgotten what being little feels like."

Sylvia Plath, age 8  (via littlebluepenguin)

(Source: cartographically, via nouvelle-nouveau)