Growing Strong Through Life’s Challenges

No-one has it easy, all of the time. You see that girl with a lovely smile and perfect teeth on facebook? The one who posts photos of herself where she´s always glowing and radiant? She doesn’t have it as easy as you imagine. You know that woman you went to school with, who has an immaculate house, three beautiful children and a well-paid job? Well neither does she. Neither does the richest nor the most spiritual guy you know. In fact, everyone’s fighting their own battles. Some are minor, others are great big monster battles that are consuming on every level. Life is not always plain sailing, and at some point, each one of has to face something they’d rather not. Pain and suffering, they say, are an inevitable part of the human experience. Whether it be a hard conversation with your boss; discovering your partner has been unfaithful; being told that a loved one has been involved in a fatal car accident; or being diagnosed with terminal cancer, you know what? Although we may not see it at the time, each and every small or large battle you face is an opportunity for spiritual growth. When we are faced with hardship and suffering, we are forced into delving into our own inner resources in order to survive. We may be surprised to discover inner strength we never knew we had, or wisdom, forgiveness or compassion. When we emerge from battle, these are the qualities we bring with us.

Facing life’s challenges with openness and understanding in place of mis-directed blame and anger, allows us to shift our experience of upheaval, pain and suffering into an opportunity to know our strengths more fully; and to approach all of our relationships, including that with ourselves, with a greater awareness and empathy, bringing radical change into our lives.

So next time you feel the world is crashing down around you, or you are silently screaming, “why me?” allow yourself to smile from within and know that this experience is shaping who you are meant to become.

Millie Brereton is a certified yoga teacher, fitness and nutritional advisor and general lover of life. She is the founder of The Kula Centre of Learning and Personal Development and co-founder of Project Huerta. She lives in rural Northern Spain and delights in nature, Tantric philosophy and seeing the good in everyone who crosses her path. She can often be found in her kitchen blending juices and cooking up tasty treats from her organic farm, or bounding through the mountains with her two dogs, Bonnie and Kin. You can connect with her by visiting her webpage,www.thekulacentre.com or connect with her on facebook.

The Kula Centre - Yoga in Pamplona

Project Huerta - Txoto Hill Farm

Spirit-Soaring in The Great Outdoors

I know I’m not alone in feeling rather like hibernating during the winter months. From my kitchen window I look out at the rain lashing down on the mountains and shiver at the thought of being out in the cold and wet.

View of the village from the lane

Living in rural Northern Spain, and having animals to look after (goats, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, dogs) and an acre of land to farm, means that “venturing out” under any weather conditions is a normal part of life. Whether it's to feed the animals, collect firewood, turn soil, or plant garlics, there is always an outside job that needs doing.

During the winter months I often feel more like staying in my comfy pyjamas by the roaring fire, than donning boots and waterproofs and tramping down the lane. Like so many of us, my body craves the warmth.

But over the years I’m learning more tricks to brave the cold and the wet: to wear more clothes, to remember my gloves and, most significantly to adopt a bright, optimistic attitude. Regardless of the weather or season, there is always a part of me that craves movement, to be in the Great Outdoors, to connect with the earth and to dance and soar freely under the vast sky.

The pleas of my spirit generally outweigh the nagging of my body to stay inside, and I don the wellies and waterproofs, and venture out. My body reacts: the tip of my nose tingles and reddens in the cold, my shoulders hunch up closer to my ears, my fingers curl into fists in an effort to stay warm. Yet, after some minutes of brisk stomping, I find the cold air exhilarates me. My breath deepens, my lungs fill as I take in that good country air. Arms and legs pump with every stride, inviting oxygen to flow around my body more efficiently. My cheeks are refreshed by droplets of rain.

The latest addition - baby goat

As I walk, I become struck as if for the first time, by the magnificent beauty of the mountains; by the carefree playfulness of the baby goats; by the grand stateliness of the prancing cockerel. A golden eagle soars overhead, seeming to reflect the uplifting joy of my expanding spirit. And I feel a deep sense of peace and oneness, an interconnectedness between all things.

Finding delight in nature helps us to live in a more conscious way. When we are more conscious, or aware of the natural world that surrounds us, we not only raise our personal vibration, but it also raises the collective consciousness of earth in an irreversible way.

Friends of ours getting to know the chickens!

If you don't have nature on your doorstep, search out a nearby forest/ field/ beach/ park. Stomp around in mud. Put on your wellies and splash in puddles. Roll in the snow. Take off your shoes and feel the earth or sand between your toes, or the grass underfoot. Do some gardening. Get your hands in the earth. Pause to watch animals. If you don't have a garden, find a friend who does, or join a land share like ours & connect yourself back to the earth. 

We welcome anyone who wants to visit us and lend a hand on the farm. Details on how to connect with us are below. 

Millie Brereton is a certified yoga teacher, nutritional advisor and general lover of life. She is the director of The Kula Centre of Learning and Personal Development and co-founder of Project Huerta. She delights in nature, Tantric philosophy and seeing the good in everyone who crosses her path. She can often be found in her kitchen blending juices and cooking up tasty treats from her organic farm, or bounding ecstatically through the mountains with her two dogs, Bonnie and Kin. You can connect with her by visiting her webpage,www.thekulacentre.com or connect with her on facebook.

The Kula Centre - Yoga in Pamplona

Project Huerta - Txoto Hill Farm