[Tricia La Bella]

18th January 2021
the topic of listening… thank you Peter, another beautiful and meaningful poem…

Listen

To lose your mind and all you know
Listen to your senses let them flow
It’s to open up so you can grow
All around nature calls out to you
Sharing their voices of endless beauty
To lose your mind and all you know
Creates your inner voice
Let it be the music of your choice
It’s to open up so you can grow
Follow the sounds in your heart
For in that world you can start
To lose your mind and all you know
So that silence is greeted as a friend
Not feared or filled with imagined dread
It’s to open up so you can grow
Listen with your whole body
So you can connect with anybody
To lose your mind and all you know
It’s to open up so you can grow

Now for the expression from the whole group on the evening… WOW! just amazing how much richness is expressed.

We can listen in silence

Many people are afraid of silence
They don’t like to have the silence
They fill the spaces…

Silence in your own mind…
Don’t fear not having a thought…
We somehow feel comfortable to be busy… we wan to have a solution in our mind…

Sometimes we just want to empty our mind…

To be comfortable in silence

Why is it so hard?

Can we let thoughts flow through us…

Holding a scene in silence as an actor, is a sign of a good actor

Depth of silence – how powerful

Just sit and let it be

No clues in silence… Agh! we want clues –

Human want to know…

Writing while listening can capture the essence but do you? if you are writing while someone is speaking – can you really capture it?

Can you listen, really hear when you are distracted by doing other things like writing ?

When you listen you are paying attention ?

To listen is to listen with your heart

I’m sensing what is being said…

I can sense tone, expression, feel the intention,

It’s not what is said… it’s what is being felt, what do they mean?

Silence gives people the space to express… slowly –

That is kindness – giving people the time.

Sometimes I don’t say something because I don’t want to waste people’s time.

We can’t rush it!

people need to speak in their own time,

Don’t fill the gaps for people… don’t repeat the question, don’t jump in…

People just want the space…

I learn a lot through listening – because I wouldn’t otherwise know or have the opportunity to learn.

Sometimes it takes a while to get a message out,

The meaning of the message can be in the response it gets… how others receive it.

What you say brings things, you don’t even know are there.

Listening is delicate… the more in rapport, the closer you get to the edge of their meaning….

You can’t get it all in a small disclosure…

How often do we switch off and not got any part of the message….

Often we are in our minds – listening to that so we can’t listen to others…

Frontline… make fun of current affair with listening as nodding – now that’s listening – haha… I’m nodding now!

Listen with whole body…

With the eyes, the eyes tell you what state they are in when they listening

Look into the eyes… some people feel uncomfortable to do it…

When i talk i don’t look at people –

How do you listen to yourself? I look up…

The eyes are a give away…

The eyes are the gateway to the soul….

How you look into the eyes makes a difference

Eyes that flutter may mean something – Oh no! My eyes flutter….

The voice… a clue to what is being said…

Can you hear it? What do you hear…
Aa

[Tricia La Bella]

1st February 2021

thanks everyone, for the topic on decisions.
thank you Kay, for your written expression that helped many of us…
thank you Peter, another wonderful poem.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Time to consider my position
Before I make my decision.
To draw up my actions
That will be a map of my reactions.

A pause for introspection
Looking for some direction,
A chance for more choices,
Options from other voices.

Firmness in sticking to my purpose
Delving deeper under the surface.
Seeking, deliberating, determining
A resolution from persevering.

Strengthening my resolve
To keep to my goals.
Accepting, acknowledging, my fallibility
Being persistent with my certainty.

Feelings and emotions digested
Thoughts diagnosed injected.
Finding the right directives,
Objective or subjective in perspective.

Positive and negative outcomes weighed,
My future course will be layered and made.
If my decision is Yes, No or Maybe,
This mystery will be left to history.

PJR 22.01.2021

And now for the expression from the session…

Maybe is a time based concept… is maybe a decision?

If you don’t make a decision – the decision may be made for you

If you don’t make it in time… you may not ever get the chance to choose

Maybe is a holding pattern…

It is time based…

It can be valuable or it might not be…

Nigel at the Colonel Light, at Light Square looking towards Montefiore Hill..

All about the squares….

Victoria Square and Whitmore Square… yes that’s cafe outside the square!!

That was Nigel’s decision – people may need to think outside the square… to make decisions…

It’s the uncertainty of what the decisions bring…

In organisations it’s about opportunity costs…

If you choose A you can’t choose B, therefore there is a gain, there is a cost…

There may be a risk either way…

Choose with your heart… following your heart…

The heart has an emotional attachment…
the mind comes up with too many possibilities,

People don’t expect you to use your heart in business…
they may say naive but is it…

The two can work together… the head and the heart…

The consequences…

Is this the right thing for me…

Hard when you know it may let someone else down…

Make a choice that helps you in life in some way…

Don’t let it destroy you… the stewing

Making decisions for others instead of yourself – can be negative…

The outcome of choices that you feel is a wrong choice… when you don’t let go… can lead to regret…

Sometimes we are stuck with our choices… and please be with it until you can make another decision down the track…

Accept we sometimes make decisions, that we can’t turn back…

Within a decision are other decisions and choices that can make the first decision feel not so bad…

When emotional intelligence is low… sometimes it can affect choices

Growing and expressing and learning can always happen at another time… there is hope

You can actually go back on your decision – when your heart was burning for something different – thanks Kay for the stroy

Not the choice of others… yours – it’s not about them.

When you act on it – it feels euphoric – so good to have made the decision…

Be happy and confident with your choices…

When we are at a ‘cross’ road… let’s change it to a ‘happy’ road
Aa

[Tricia La Bella]

Habits
Thanks Nigel and Peter for your poems…

firstly Nigel

What are habits?

habits we do
habits we wear
good habits
bad habits

things we do often
without thinking or pause
without feeling or cause

can we stop them?
what if we did?
the bad ones I mean…

if they harm us or others
can we admit?
can we let them go?

if we did
they would no longer be
a habit within me

(NRS)

And thanks Peter…
Habits.

Settle down you lot,
Many of you I forgot.
We need to have a meeting,
As it’s clarity I’m seeking.

I’m aware of so many of you
And for that care, I thank you.
No questions of your intentions,
You release me from my tensions.

Some of you are in my core,
Or returning unwelcome from before.
Others are brand new,
Thankfully they are few.

So now is the time
When I draw a line,
Good habits line up on my right,
On my left bad habits don’t fight.

Born together, aware of others,
You are my inner brothers,
Deeply ingrained, colliding in my space,
It’s time to give you all a face.

I need to hear from each of you
Tell me your stories and be true,
I don’t want any disputes,
I only want your attributes.

From the moment I awake,
You both strive to partake
In my drive to survive,
Another day staying alive.

I’ve listened and accepted
Both sides seem to be connected,
Not the whole of who I can be,
Only a part of becoming me.

PJR 8.02.2021

And now for the session outcome… just wonderful.
A cow with OCD?

Good habits shape your life

There are some good and there are some bad

What’s a good habit and what’s bad

Habits change when you move from one place to another

Lots of habits to carry out the day….

Rituals for the day

Patterns for the day –

Habit or OCD

What is the difference

Is an OCD an overdeveloped habit

Uncontrolled habit is that an OCD

Unconscious habit

When habits become rituals it feels an OCD

Habits that get out of control can be a problem

Routine or habit

Tram – a routine

Catching the tram is the routine

Routine is more conscious – choosing it as part of your flow

Habit when its unconscious – don’t need to think about it

To make them conscious recognize them and give them a face…

Sometimes I’m not aware that i was doing it…

To notice means you can choose something differently

Before it becomes a habit

Habits are difficult to break

Some habits are comforting

Like twirling my hair

What is that…

It’s sensory… it feels good – it feels safe…

Habits that feel comforting

Familiarity… safety

Nuns wear a habit… why call it a habit…

A nun’s habit is a sign of poverty…. same outfit

Harmful habits

Smoking can harm us and others… and the environment

It may be something we’ve done for years, before we knew it was harmful…

As we become more aware…

Break the habit…

Can we?

Can we break the habit?

Is it laziness, is it awareness, is it belief,

People take more notice of Facebook post than a scientific piece…

global warming – waste management

It can be
Damaging

Be firm with your habits…

If not they can

Habits are you servants…

They either work for you or against you

Are we becoming servants of our habits

Or our habits our servants…

How can we change habits of mind…

Those habits can be destructive…

Habit of negative thoughts

Can you change mental habits…

Train your self talk to change habits of talk…

Habits of mind can create things…

Animals are creatures of habit…

Cows will go to be milked the same time every day…

Cows know they have food waiting… they know how to survive…

Birds waken the same time

What drives that?

They sense the same time each day…

It’s not seasons… it’s a knowing

Habits as innate knowings…

How lovely – magpies visit same time each day… now they come for food, they are creating habits.

What do you feed the birds… seeds (thanks Lesly)

Our ability to change habits plays a role in our survival on the planet …
Aa

[Tricia La Bella]

A great night, with a few personal poems to begin: Peter, Lesly, Tricia and then the group prose of a wonderful discussion…
Peace. 9.02.2021

Within the forest of my mind
I tread unsure of what I’ll find
Feelings clash and fly around
The winds of emotions crashing down.

My thoughts scamper like dead leaves
Rustling scuttling on the breeze
The canopy above a solid shroud
Not letting in any outside sound.

No light penetrates my fog of gloom
My tree of life of life whispers songs of doom
The trunk solid strong and stout
Hiding my shadows of self-doubt.

Careful of where I’m stepping
Avoiding twisted roots so deceiving
My pathway seemingly endless
Leaving me distraught and senseless.

Tasting conflicts sour and disgusting
Smelling turmoils foul and wrenching
Leaves me lost in distortions
Losing all sense of proportions.

Sliding perilously down a slippery slope
I catch my fall on a branch of hope
Holding fast I stop my flight
Giving me pause it’s time to fight.

I force my way up and out
Leaving the forest of self-doubt
Picturing sun filled open meadows
Full of light no more shadows.

The warmth of the sun drenched sky
Opening up my heart letting me cry
Tears run and flow a river down my cheeks
My breathing ragged, chest heaving, no longer weak.

Joy and happiness rise and fly
Released to forge a strong reply
My time to feast now on a new accord
Embrace my new path, my new reward.

Using my strengths to turn the tide
Bravery, hope, fairness and love be my guide
For in this life we have each other
My power rests in the peace I can discover.

PEACE

Oh! for a little peace and quiet,
The peace and tranquillity of the morning light.
When raising a family a Mother needs peace,
Teachers try to bring a little peace to the class room.
Is there peace after a stressful day?
When studying peace and quiet is also needed
.
Peace treaties are signed after war.

Oh for a stressful free life and to give peace of mind.

LMol

Peace

Why can’t there be peace?
Or is there?
What is peace?
Peace – a moment of nothingness.

A mind silent,
A world silent,
No distraction,
No force.

Not your way, not mine,
Surrender to what is,
To feel the nature of existence,
No need for more.

But can we, that’s the question,
In amongst the noise,
The petty, the small,
The tall?

We say it’s peace we want,
But is it?
Or is it to win?
To have our way?

To gloat / float?
Stamp / ramp?
Force / discourse?
Fool / Pool?

And move further away,
From where it lies,
All around us,
Within our reach.

Yet hidden from,
our own eyes,
Elusive yet possible,
With just a breath,
Reconnected,
When we realise… we can.

TLab

Peace 15th February
So many words around peace
Peace of mind
If you get lost in your mind,
You get lost in the proportions,
You may not find the peace….

There are things that may get in the way…
may need a lot from yourself to reach it…

There is always conflict within
When we release it we can find peace

So where do I find peace…
some say peace is silence…

When there is no noise no ambience – it is uncomfortable…. you can hear your own blood

Will there ever be peace for all…..

If there is a winner then there is a loser,

Can there be a search for inner peace so it is available to all…

Japanese gardens can help you feel at peace…

I need nature to feel peace…
peace comes from within…

Even when I am not in a peaceful place…
natural feeling of peace is within…

Doing what feels good can create peace within…

Once something is fixed you can feel peace afterwards

Or you can have pain and peace sit side by side…

All emotions live together – and in that is peace too….

Peace can be a relief

Listening to poetry can bring a feeling of peace…

You can find peace in the country… the silence

Phospheressence by Julia Baird, the natural noise – for wellbeing for peace…

The peace of silence…. stillness, the natural sound – of birds

Peace… is being comfortable,

Finding peace when settled…
peace when running… it’s a rhythm

Rocking a baby can bring a rhythm of peace

We all have our own word to describe the peace

V the sign of peace
V day, victory day

Silence can be noisy…

Silence may not always bring peace,
blocking out harsh noise to hear the natural noise, then blocking out the natural noise to find the silence

Silence to see, to see the bees,
To see what you may not see when there is noise.

As John Lennon said, ‘give peace a chance ‘

[Author]

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