Move Heal Awaken Newsletter Gabriel Shaw

“Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.” - Reinhold Niebuhr (From the Serenity Prayer)

Hello Friends,

There is no such thing as an easy life. Even if we have certain privileges, we all face challenges and struggles. Even if I could, I wouldn’t wish an easy life upon my worst enemy. Because I know in my heart that hardships are the pathway to peace.

Accepting that fact creates the opportunity to turn towards our limits and wounds. As well as to process them as needed - without feeling like “who am I to complain”. We can do this while simultaneously granting that, yes, I do have it easier than many, maybe even most. And I have compassion and desire to eliminate unnecessary suffering where I am able.

Contrary to what I often hear, those who are LESS likely to process their inevitable challenges are the MOST likely to remain in a state of victimhood. Speaking for myself (although I’ve also seen this in countless journeyers), every single time I have taken an honest and thorough tour of my struggles and shortcomings, I have concluded by finding new wisdom, gifts and appreciation for them.

Witnessing this type of transformation over time has developed a certain amount of trust in that process and eventual outcome. I’m not able to see that in every moment, and I still find myself sliding into frustration or victim mindset from time to time. But more and more often I’m able to find genuine gratitude for even present hardships.

These days, the challenges of parenthood and global instability are teaching me a whole new meaning of the word Surrender. For that I am divinely grateful. It’s something I practice reminding myself every single day. Because remembering is the way.

My hope is that, by sharing these thoughts, I can inspire a little more compassionate curiosity in you. And that we might come together to heal and reduce unnecessary suffering, first in ourselves, then in the world.

On this journey with you,

Gabriel

Ps. If your struggles have got you tense and overwhelmed in mind and/or body, that may be your invitation to explore deeper.

​Book a clarity call for help finding the next step on your healing journey.

Deepening Flow: Virtual Qigong + Breathwork Ceremony
Fri, Apr 17, 5-7pm PT

Join us for an evening of movement, breathwork and healing. This is an opportunity to explore the stuck places within you, to help you release what is ready to let go, and open to more of the living flow of who you are.

The process includes reflection questions to deepen embodiment, qigong movements to open up and breathwork ceremony to release where you’re stuck.
$37

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Healing pages

• ​Compassionate Guide to Tax Day (5-min read)
  A financial therapist I admire, Bari Tessler, published this blog post to help you shift your relationship with tax day and come home to yourself. Enjoy.
• ​Full Serenity Prayer (5-min read)
  Did you know the Serenity Prayer contains more wisdom than just that first, popular sentence? Here is the original version plus a bit of history.
• ​The Art of Survival, Lessons from Nomadic Tribes, Hardship as the Pathway to Peace (135 min podcast)
  Jordan Jonas, the Champion of Alone, on the Tim Ferris show will inspire a whole new way of looking at nature, your life and hardships.
  ​Apple Podcasts | Spotify​
• ​Fernwood Soup Club! (community share)
  One of my clients created a Community Soup Club to share rotating soups made with lots of local, seasonal vegetables, grains, pulses, and (sometimes) meats, with homemade stock. Each soup is intended to be a complete, meal-worthy portion with a good ratio of protein and veggies.

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