Sharing My Values as a Meditation Teacher
One of my last tasks before I finished my portfolio was to write my credo and to write about the things I value as a meditation teacher. My credo will soon be on the About Me page of the website. My values, however, I wanted to share here with you.
I sigh in a deep, grateful breath. I have finished the coursework portion of my studies. What’s left is a 50-hour retreat to meditate, do yoga, and learn how to build my meditation teaching business in Sedona, AZ in late July and early August.
Choosing the words that emulate my values
As I created this list, I looked to several sources on the internet for words and ideas for “values.” I came across hundreds of them. I poured over each word, silently letting my heart decide if I should include it or not. When it felt good, I did so. From hundreds of words, I narrowed them down to fourteen. These fourteen words capture what I believe and what I hold close to my heart – they are my values in life, as well as my values as a meditation teacher.
Cheerfulness
Humility
Love
Self-actualization
Autonomy
Spirituality
Wisdom
Creativity
Balance
Compassion
Determination
Meaningful Work
Vision
Fortitude
Cheerfulness and Love
In every interaction with another human that I have, I strive to emulate cheerfulness (because I don’t want to be the person that brings someone else down) and humility. I smile, I laugh, and even when I’m not in a great mood, I still make myself smile to improve my mood. I do my best to send out love to all the people I meet (I try, but sometimes with challenging people I don’t always remember to do that).
[bctt tweet=”I consider myself to be a self-actualizing individual and rarely take the road more frequently traveled. ” username=”n2itvnspiritual”]
Self-Actualization, Autonomy, and Spirituality
I consider myself to be a self-actualizing individual and rarely take the road more frequently traveled. The road less traveled is where I cultivate my autonomy and spirituality. Perhaps along the way, I’ll collect a bit of wisdom that I can share with the world.
Creativity
With valuing creativity, I employ my skills as an artist (a painter), as someone who loves to draw, and who loves to write. But this value carries over to things like creating unique gifts for people or baking something for a potluck. I also love coming up with innovative ideas for the work that I do, my house, my garden and more.
Compassion
Compassion: the value that keeps me from swatting a fly or eating animal flesh. It’s the value that has had me crying every day in the past week as I feel – deeply – for the humanitarian crisis at the southern US border. Perhaps my own Latin American heritage is at play here. I can empathize with the plight of a refugee.
It is also compassion that I feel when I no longer berate or hate on myself for not succeeding on some task. In fact, it has been quite awhile since having those kinds of thoughts. It is compassion that allows me to humanize my enemies – I can send them blessings even though at one point they may have hurt me deeply.
Balance
Finding the balance is something else I highly value, though I’m not always great about balancing work and leisure time. I work part time out of my house (at least right now until I get my meditation teaching in full swing) to give me the time to do more work that I love to do. I often do not leave myself enough time to “just be” on most days. But it is something I will intentionally bring into my life more and more.
Meaningful Work and Determination
Finding meaningful work in all that I do (and using mindful living exercises to enhance these experiences) is important to me and I often do not feel like I am “working.” This website allows me to explore all aspects of meditation and my own spirituality within a community.
I’m often aware of how it might be hours since I took a break during the course of a day. Knowing that I actually need to put my work down sometimes to do other body-balancing activities doesn’t mean that I automatically will. I suppose I end up working and pushing myself because of an innate determination I have to succeed at the things on which I put my focus.
Visionary
I have a natural orientation towards the future: when I think of my dreams and ideas, I have learned to temper “living in the future” with being more present in my daily life. But this “visionary” tendency does serve me well: it allows me to strive to become the best version of myself. It allows me to keep going when I have wanted to quit. Quitting is not an option, though. I have stepped through the proverbial door of self-evolution and know there’s no turning back. Even if I wanted to, the door is sealed shut and I have no choice but to move forward on this journey.
Fortitude
I value fortitude when I see it in others and smile when I discover it in myself. This is one value I have always found a bit elusive. I know I am strong. I know I have it within me to be more – to be a pillar. If I am a wooden statue now, because of my life experiences, I know that I have the potential to turn into a marble sculpture, capable of weathering all of life’s storms and blows, and yet welcoming the warm light that shines on my face – with nary a scar or mark. As a wooden statue, I am still vulnerable to taking things personally, or getting scarred by other painful experiences. I see evidence, however, of marble replacing the wood as I continue on my life’s journey.
What are YOUR values?
I’ve shared my values that I hold dear – in life, and my values as a meditation teacher. What are yours? Or, what are your top three things? I would love to know because we all value different things. It’s fun to see what others feel are their most important values.
*As a last note, thank you for your patience as I work on comments and catching back up a bit. With finishing the coursework and scheduling in a 24-hour retreat, and an energy healing class, I was not able to share a blog post last week. However, you knew this if you were on the mailing list. 🙂 You can sign up for that below.
Loved reading about your values of which many I share here, especially compassion as I have been truly unsettled and upset by the refugee situation the past few weeks with the current administration making this truly unbearable to watch and hear about. Seriously my heart has been breaking for the young kids and their parents, too. Not sure what it will take to get through to certain people in our government. But trying to have some hope. While knowing full well that it may be futile until they are no longer in office to be honest. Thank you though for sharing and giving me some hope that their is still some good left in our world with people like you my friend. Hugs and Happy Monday now xoxo <3
Janine – thank you for your sweet thoughts and comments! The compassion piece. Ah, yes. It tears at my heart when I see anyone or any being suffering at all. Those people are refugees seeking help. I think also of the Tibetans who were forced from their lands in the 50s at the hands of the Chinese army and still marching to take back their lands. They all became refugees to India. I’m not sure what it will take, either, but I can say that one of the best things we can do is focus on peace within ourselves and then radiate it to the world, and then vote with our hearts when it comes time to do so. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and sending you so much love. You are a light and such an incredible person! I’m glad our paths have crossed sweet friend. So glad. Hugs to you and have a wonderful week!
Wait a second! You are moving to Arizona??? How did I miss this news? You are a wonder, you know that? I don’t know about your value as a meditation teacher, but your value as a human being is priceless.
Hey, Arizona is closer to Olympia. Who knows, a road trip north for you in a year or two? I may still be alive at that time. lol
hugs, Lil Sis!
Hehe, Big Bro, WAIT! Haha. No…not moving. But I am smiling from ear to ear at your comment. HAHA. What I meant is that for the last 50 hours of my training, I will be in Sedona. They are going to teach about yoga, meditation, AND how to start a meditation business. But who knows? Maybe your statement is prophetic. I’ve fantasized about moving there. And I smile to think that one of these days I WILL be ale to come see you and say hello and give you a great, big hug!! You just make me SMILE!
Thanks for sharing more of who you are and what’s important to you Cynthia. Kudos on following your dream to teach meditation. I value honesty, vulnerability, peace, love, compassion, play, communion (especially with nature), and living simply. May we learn to live as one loving world family.
Brad – thank YOU for sharing some of your values here with me (us). I can so tell that these are values you hold near and dear. You ARE honest. You bravely share and have shared some of your vulnerabilities on your blog. You speak and live peace. You have a big, compassionate heart. You often commune with nature, and have built a vibrant community around your blog. And the power of living simply is so underrated – I wish everyone would do that. We don’t need much, but our wants can be infinite, to the point of detriment for ourselves and others, and for the planet. You walk your talk and that is why I respect you. Have a wonderful week, friend!
What a beautiful and kind response Cynthia. Thank you!
Your set of values is magnetic, Cynthia. They will draw students to you and help you retain students once they experience you. When I contemplate the word ‘visionary,’ I don’t separate past/present/future, for they exist simultaneously, like overlapping dynamic circles. When envisioning a future event while remaining grounded in the present, we create an energetic conduit connecting past/present/future and realize that all is occurring now. You are a grounded visionary, my lovely friend ❤️
Tina, sweet friend! Thank you for your comments here. 💜❤️ I hope my values and convictions will do exactly as you say – I hope I can inspire and help change lives. 😍 As for the word visionary, I LOVE that word. I love the meaning you attributed to it. “Future event, ground in the present thereby creating an energetic conduit”…WOW. Are you a writer or what!? 😁 To have this word attributed to me, well there’s an emoji for that: 😊 (blush, smile) Thank you for these kind, kind words. I don’t know what to say other than to express appreciation for you, for this journey, for love, for visionaries❣️ THANK YOU❣️
Love and hugs, dear one ❤️
Tina – love and hugs to you Dear One. You are a light.
Dear Cynthia,
As I read each of the values you connect with, I was shaking my head in agreement.
Values clarification is also important to me. I use a similar exercise with my students and have them reflect on personal
versus professional values. The heart – centered nurse / student tends to have much compatibility between the two lists,
just as you have shown us.
Hugs and have a peaceful weekend,
Maria
Mar – thank you sweet friend! Thank you for coming by to read and I hope your summer is going well! Looking at values is a good exercise, I think, because they can inform how we move forward with the decisions we make in life. I mean it when I say that the value you bring to your nursing students is changing the world! Hugs back to you and sending you love! xo