Mental Oasis

Heart of Compassion

This is a painful time in our society and communities, full of fear and anxiety and disconnection. As human beings we need each other, we need to feel connected, to support one another and to feel that we are supported.

Part of our purpose as humans is to have this connection, to relate to one another, to ensure the survival of our communities and societies. Now is a moment to embrace this purpose fully and find meaning in it.

The foundation of having true compassion for others is having compassion for ourselves as imperfect, at times struggling, but also trying to improve and grow. We then can begin to radiate this compassion outwards towards others, those around us, those in our communities, those in the world as a whole.

If you find today's meditation helpful, please do leave a review and subscribe. Your support is so important to this podcast! You can find more information at www.forteklotz.com or on the Mental Oasis Facebook page. 

For those who would like to learn more about how to advocate for equality, here are some resources:

31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance

Black Charities to Donate to as a Family

Anti-Racist Reading List

Processing Judgment: Softening the Gaze Through Which We See

Passing judgment on the choices of others is one of the extensions of our human critical thinking mind. But it can stand as a block in our relationships, make it difficult for us to be open and warm towards others, and also can create blocks within ourselves. When judgment is directed towards ourselves it can become even further painful as we struggle against ourselves instead of working towards loving and accepting ourselves.

In today's episode we reflect on how judgment is a part of our current mental landscape and how to work on releasing the judgments that we hold against ourselves and others and instead soften our gaze. 

Loving the Questions and Living Everything

If we're really honest with ourselves, we all have many questions about our lives and about the future. What if, instead of demanding immediate answers, we could learn to love the questions, to have patience with them in order to give time and space for clarity to naturally unfold in our lives?

Moving in the Direction of Your Dreams

Anyone who’s ever had a dream or set a goal for themselves has likely also had the experience of being unsure how to move towards that goal, or at some point feeling that they were procrastinating taking what they thought were the necessary next steps. We may know what we want to have happen, to be able to see the future picture, and yet the path towards it feels unclear or we find that we are feeling stuck.  

In this episode we reflect on how to shift our attention towards a sense of expansiveness of what could be, of possibilities and then channeling the inspiration that comes from that so that we can feel new energy towards figuring out next steps.  

Letting Go of Comparison

Comparing ourselves to others is a part of being human and in some situations be an important part of how we learn. But there can also be a point at which it creates stress and negative energy. In today's episode we reflect on how to let go of the distress and jealousy created by putting too much energy into making comparisons.

A Walk in the Forest - guided meditation

Staying in can have us longing to linger once again in nature. If we can't go there in reality, our imagination can be the vehicle to transport us. Join me in this episode for a guided meditation that will take us through a restorative walk in the forest.

Understanding and Organizing Mental Scatter

We've all had the experience of feeling overwhelmed by too many things going on at once: whether its too much to do, or multiple demands on our attention at the same time. In today's episode we take a look at better understanding this feeling and together practice relaxing the sense of overwhelm in order to have clarity in the moment.

Many thanks to DJ Charp for the background music and editing. soundcloud.com/charp

Finding Inspiration and Hope in the Future

This episode of mental oasis explores our daydreams for the future. How can these help to keep us inspired and hopeful in the present where they feel out of reach? A guided meditation follows for developing your own ideas about this.

Specials thanks to DJ charp for providing the music track https://soundcloud.com/charp

Productivity and Accomplishment: A Quarantine Reflection

We live in a culture obsessed with productivity and doing. Even under quarantine, when we likely have more than enough to cope with emotionally, we may also find that we pressure ourselves to "be more productive." Certainly taking action is an important part of feeling empowered and satisfied in life, it is not what determines whether or not we are good enough. Join me in this episode for a reflection on doing vs. being and the sources of our drive towards achievement. 

Unmet Expectations: A guided meditation practice

We are all struggling with re-adjusting our expectations during this time, with letting go of what we thought we would have or how we wanted things to be. Join me in this guided meditation for directing compassionate awareness towards this part of our lives.