When the project or problem seems insurmountable, I go small. Back to basics. Baby steps. The vision may be massive. The path years in the making. The desire for something more aligned to replace whatever old stuff has been weighing me down.

The only way I can find the way through is to take it one step at a time. Simplify and slow down. While I may falter, fall, or fail innumerable times, the intention is strong enough to pull me up. Remember that stumbling makes me stronger, and I learn from each encounter with the ground. Left, right. Left, right. Onward.

Find the helpers so I know I am not alone. Purpose keeps me going. Patience is required to accept the pace over which I have no control. And embracing fierce compassion for myself and others is the nectar that nourishes me with every step.

When can we practice? Always!

I find it easy to ignore the voice that says it’s time to rest. Rest right now? I’m immersed in work, and deadlines are right in front of me. There is no time for rest! I’ve been incredibly well-trained by the overculture to keep keeping on. Letting the signals slip by, even as they gather momentum and intensity, is par for the course.

How many times does the body/mind need to cry out for help until I take notice? Often I can find some way to rationalize each clue as a separate data point, and not recognize the pattern. The collective impact of multiple messages seems to escape my field of understanding.

And then it hits! Take your pick – crash, burn, tsunami, or tornado. There is no more denying I’ve veered off the path of reality. My capacity to function has vanished, and the suffering is inescapable. As I heal into wholeness, I vow to cherish the first signs, to listen deeply and pay profound attention to what I already know within my bones. I can make space to hear the wisdom that is loving and true.

When can we practice? Always!

So often I stop cold in my tracks. Is it good enough? Is it right? How will people react to whatever I am putting out into the world? The internal conversation is brutal and stifling. Doreen has already written so powerfully on this idea, my work will never measure up. My painting looks like a five-year-old could have created it. What will they think of me?

Surely I want to be free of the self-judgment and the imagined judgment from others. I want to create simply as an expression of my deeper truth. Yet I procrastinate. Sometimes I shame. Often I expend so much energy blocking myself I exhaust my internal resources.

Releasing unrealistic expectations feels like movement toward creating space to play. Ahhhhhh. What if I focused on enjoying the process of creation, instead of worrying about what might not be perfect? Simply letting it be. A little tweak and updating along the way is fine. Then I can appreciate when it’s complete, and let its own journey begin.

When can we practice? Always!

I want to leap, to soar, to swing effortlessly like Tarzan from the tree to tree! Why am I sitting motionless on the couch, feeling stuck and frozen? I am called to bring my contribution forward, yet I remain hidden under the rug.

Where is the courage and fierce compassion required to take action? What’s blocking the road? Hmmmm. If I look deeply, I might recognize the fear of rejection, of not being perfect, or thinking I am not good enough. Maybe this time I am over-identifying with the pain of others, so much so that it’s causing me distress.

Breaking through the obstacles is possible. Be real about what stands in my way and name it. Get clear with my compassionate intention. I may not be saving the whole world right now, yet I trust that each brave step, no matter how tiny, is movement forward. It starts a chain reaction that I may never see, but know is happening all around me.

When can we practice? Always!

Life, as I have come to know it, requires a lot of me. Presence, love, curiosity, gratitude, non-judgment, and acceptance are just the beginning. What does it take to wholeheartedly embrace the moment before me?

When I struggle with the vast outer landscape of injustice, suffering, and pain, how might I meaningfully contribute to peace, joy, and harmony for all? How do I quiet the inner disruptor that keeps me swirling with doubt, unworthiness, and shame?

I live with the ongoing question of what it means to simply show up. I’m here! I’m breathing and gifted with this precious human life. Each day I do the best I can with what I have. Not pretending, just being. Listening intently to my heart. In showing up, I step into the flow that carries us all together. That is enough.

When can we practice? Always!

Wouldn’t it be nice to positive think our way around what is broken, challenging, painful, and unjust? Some would advise that we rewrite the story of what has or is happening in a way that simply makes us all feel better.

Unfortunately, this just delays the inevitable. The pain will return, the chasm will grow larger, the suffering will multiply. And yet, we avoid being realistic about what is right in front of us. Sure – its messy, ugly, harmful, and sad. Does that mean I can’t or won’t face reality?

We must show up for what is! Exactly as it is. Acknowledge it. Feel it. Once I start to open my heart to the depth of pain and suffering, I find my way through. I tap into the capacity to hold it, to be with it, and move toward healing with love. As new space emerges in my heart, I now realize I am growing into who I am becoming.

When can we practice? Always!

A deep peace resides in each of us. Really, it’s there. Often I find that hard to believe. Yes, I’ve touched inner peace now and then, for a brief moment or two. Yet my desire is to dwell there more often, even at will, such that it becomes a more regular way of being.

The inner turmoil of daily life is loud, chaotic, and frankly disempowering. The schisms within me become the schisms with others and in the world at large. We are living with the global consequences of our individual inner turmoil.

Peace begets peace. I now seek out practices that help me bring peace home – to access my true nature that IS peace. As I more frequently visit the peace within, it becomes more easily accessible and regenerative. Here is to more practice. Here is to more peace.

When can we practice? Always!

I can feel the energy run through my body when I encounter a brilliant new place, idea, or person. It’s as if every cell in me can hear the call to move beyond my existing edge, and expand with wonder into a distinctly new perspective.

Sometimes it’s shiny, bright, and bold. Unexpected. Massive. Other times it can show up in the smallest of ways, shy, and pretending like it’s not quite worthy of my attention. Was it hiding in plain sight all along? Hello!

The constant stream of life brings it all forward. At times I am able to see, hear, and feel all of it. Yet I yearn to be more open. Can I be curious, always? Then I can experience that remarkable spark of connection with the impossible, improbable, and indescribable.

When can we practice? Always!

Image Credit: James Webb Space Telescope – NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI

I calculate, plan, process, and predict so that my next action has the intended response. I follow the rules. I cast a net of possibilities far and wide to anticipate the outcome I seek.

Ha! If only I had a clue about what would happen next. Seems like this is a newly familiar way of being in these recent times. Did I really know anything more before? Or did I live with the illusion of control and certainty?

Now is the only moment to experience, and then open to the next, and next. My anticipation and expectation only get in the way, creating resistance and suffering. I am learning to allow and welcome whatever comes next – be it unexpected, difficult, or joyful. Such is the flow of all life.

Funny how humankind has explored so much of outer space, but not nearly as much of the oceans that make up the majority of our planet. I must admit, in my personal sphere, I tend to orient to that which is outside and beyond myself. Much less attention is paid to the inner realms.

It’s hard to sustain focus on the interior aspect of our being. We get distracted by the always vigilant outwardly focused threat detection system that is wired for our survival. We have senses that connect us to the outer world, and they tease us with awareness of pleasure and pain.

I want to be better acquainted with the desires of my heart, and the intuition that flows from center of my belly. Tuning into these aspects of knowing are so powerful, and yet often getting a clear and consistent signal is challenging. I’ll practice returning again – with intention, attention, and energy to explore the depths within. I’m curious to see what shows up!

When can we practice? Always!

I get caught up in the head, thinking, reading, watching, discussing. All good. I fancy myself a well-informed citizen of the world. I pay attention to what is going on around me and around the globe. I am always curious, perhaps exploring new developments, and digging more deeply into realms that are already familiar.

So what do I know? In the larger scheme of things, perhaps a whole lot of not much. More importantly, why do I want to know? Because it makes me feel smart or important? Or so I can plan and predict what is coming and going? I want to have clarity and a sense of certainty. Maybe even a craving for control.

Yearn on, my friends. In the most uncomfortable ways, I am learning that control is an illusion. That plans are nice, but life may and will intervene. Outcomes are not as intended. What if I simply show up to what is, without expectation? Surrender. Allow. Love.

When can we practice? Always!

Do I have a way to sense that I am the weeping willow swaying in the wind, the dolphin gliding through the ocean, and the diamonds underground formed millions of years ago? Can I recognize my belonging to the night sky full of stars, or to my human ancestors that first roamed the African plains?

Without conscious effort, my mind automatically labels and organizes. It has trouble, admittedly often, remembering the deeper truth of who I am. Thankfully, my indigenous sisters and brothers recognize the interbeing of everything. I so appreciate their ways of participating in life from this profound and sacred perspective.

I too have moments when I know I am that – the water, the grass, the stone, the creatures, and the stars. At first, the moments were fleeting. I sensed the wonder in every cell of my being. And so I practice, and slowly discover that I can orient myself to this way of being. When I am that, I am whole. When I am that, I am home. When I am that, I am love.

When can we practice? Always!

I have always been ultra-attentive to the needs of those around me – family, friends, colleagues, the wider community. Never did I hesitate to shower my attention or donate my energy to others. I didn’t question this pattern of behavior. Frankly, I knew that’s what was expected of me and how I was judged as good or bad.

Hey now. Is that really true? What about all the overgiving and overcommitting that slowly gnawed away at my mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing? What about the stress and chaos of holding others up, catering to everyone except myself. Why did it take so long to recognize my own value and worthiness? Beneath it all, I feared I would not be enough, or have enough, or belong, or be loved.

Slowly I took steps to ask myself what I needed. At first I couldn’t even locate an answer to that most basic question. With practice, I am learning to listen to myself more deeply. I am hearing what my body, heart, and mind require, and tending to me with a level of kindness once reserved only for others. Surprisingly, I now have more to give, and can do so with a more joyful heart.

When can we practice? Always!

I, too, am heartbroken by the war on display everywhere we turn, and the wars raging in other parts of the world we are less likely to see. I, too, am heartbroken by the chronic presence of injustices we hurl toward each other, toward other sentient beings, toward our planet.

Can we expand our vision to include the goodness of life in ourselves and each other? Might we turn our precious attention to appreciate the ways in which we are alike and interconnected in our humanness?

Each moment offers us the opportunity to shift out of separation and into connection. I choose to practice the return, again and again, to a quiet still place in my heart. There I know peace is possible. That is where I touch peace, within.

When can we practice? Always!

I want the magic wand to miraculously make the pain disappear. Let it all be waved away! I want the profound hurt and heaviness to lift. Can’t the storm be over, the clouds turn puffy white, and the sun emerge with its life-giving rays?

We’ve all been privy to it, sometimes alone, and often as a collective. Each time the pain returns, my instinct is to chase it away or pretend it’s not really there. While averting my attention from the reality of pain may help me avoid it for a brief moment, the deeper truth of the pain is very present in my inner landscape.

The voice within knows that I really do have to pay attention to it, acknowledge it, and ask what it needs. Hold me, comfort me, love me. Remember I am not the pain – I am so much more than that. Remember I am not alone – I belong to the circle of all humanity, to the infinite universe. I am nurtured by all of it, and healing is possible.

When can we practice? Always!

The question has come up again and again. How would life and the world be different if we all felt safe? What if the separation and fear that inhabits all of us, on some level, was somehow transmuted into connection and love?

When I stand at the doorway of a choice point – reactive or responsive – it distills down to “Am I feeling safe or fearful?” Despite my best intentions, reactive moments arise. I am human, after all, and this is part of our innate wiring.

Moving from a sense of safety and interconnection, however, is the response that brings more peace and joy. Yes, it takes cultivating attention and practice. And hell yes, it takes courageous action – not only to recognize and name the fear, but to conquer it with wholeheartedness.

When can we practice? Always!

Oh where, oh where is my heart, my home? Oh where, oh where can they be? I find that as more obstacles and challenges come my way, especially in rapid succession like a pile-up on an icy highway, it gets harder to find my way back to center.

You would think we’ve had plenty of opportunities to practice the skills of resilience, reclamation, and restoration over the past few years. I, for one, have experienced no shortage of disease, isolation, darkness, and struggle. How easy it is to forget I am not alone! We have all been on this profoundly difficult journey together, and somehow that helps me process my own grief.

Summoning the intention to focus away from the car crash, I remember that recognizing our deep connectedness helps me appreciate the joys of life that have been hiding under the covers. Nature. Pleasure. Ease. Love. The fire in my heart and home continue to burn brightly – I simply turn my attention toward their light, and all is well right now.

When can we practice? Always!

We are so adept at labeling and categorizing. This is what our minds do. Black, white, good, bad, mine, yours, right, wrong. In each nanosecond of awareness, we tend to judge and label – often without conscious attention to how our mind is beholden to the idea of separation.

The natural world, however, organizes around different principles. Connectedness, mutuality, support, and flourishing are just a few of the ways we witness nature unfolding. Surely there are moments of survival of the fittest that play out. But more pervasively, it is survival through cooperation that has brought everyone and everything to this precious moment in time.

Bringing attention to connection takes practice. Moving past the conditioning of our modern minds may seem like an impossible task, yet shifting attention is well within our control. In fact, it’s about all that we control! See what happens when you focus through the lens of interconnectedness and love.

When can we practice? Always!

Woosh! An amazing idea just flew in, showing up from nowhere. Download, inspiration, impulse, knowing? Where did this notion come from? What caused it to arise? Has this always been within me? I observe with curiosity and wonder as these sparks sometimes move into form and spill out into the world.

Perhaps I am tuning in to a blank canvas of infinite possibility. Is there a cosmic backdrop that can and will lovingly hold anything I can dream or imagine? Or do I remain boxed inside the lines thwarted by fears and doubts that snuff out the nascent spark before it ignites? How do I get past what seem like hard-wired limitations and beliefs that negate a new direction, path, or potential?

I yearn to inhabit the unexplored territory that is about to emerge. The space is fertile and ready to expand. I desire to try it on, smell it, touch it, taste it, and feel it – whatever it is – in a way that wraps the ethereal notion in tangible meaning. With courage and compassion, I can choose this route, and peek behind the curtain of the unknown. Only then can it become known - to me and others - in service to all.

When can we practice? Always!

Often my heart wants to step out, yet has a knack for shutting down along the way. The brilliant mind and ego are fast to intercede with beliefs and stories dictating that the heart must scurry back to its cave.

How can I allow the heart to stay receptive, vibrant, and courageous so that my highest intentions have the runway to move into action? At times I bring focused attention to the heart, listen tenderly, allow it space to speak, and gently bow its deepest desires. Or if I’m sensing that more trust is required, I journey further inward to the endless river of pure truth that flows within. There I find the strength to surrender unconditionally. To love. To compassion. To heart.

When can we practice? Always!

The cool earth supports my whole being as I lay prone on the grass, feet facing the winter solstice noonday sun. When the sun’s warmth has waned, I rotate my body like the hand on a clock to keep aligned with the sun as it travels west. My body softens into the ground beneath me, knowing I am completely held and nurtured.

As the distant ocean crashes against the shore with rhythmic precision, I realize the tempo of my breath is in perfect sync. Soon I direct my attention to the back of closed my eyelids, the holographic screen that displays whatever is currently streaming in my mind’s eye. Today there is a richly detailed and multidimensional performance of brilliant jewel-like colors that shapeshift through different configurations of the same elements, almost as if I were turning a kaleidoscope in my hands. I smile as I notice the feeling of joy that fills me from within.

Next I direct my attention to the back of my eyeballs, and sense their weight as they melt into their sockets and towards the back of my skull. Time stops. Eventually I notice that the hammock of earth beneath me has chilled. Slowly I move attention to the physical edges of my body, and then back to the rise and fall of the breath. Appreciating today’s journey to nowhere and everywhere all at once, with boundless love.

When can we practice? Always!

If I truly lived in my imaginative truth, who would I be in this moment? What wild possibility would I create? What might my heart feel like as it bursts with boundless and unconditional love?

Instead, I sit with many resistances, fears, limitations, and inhibitions. I get it’s not just my own dilemma. All of us are a product of this time, our society, culture, communities, and families. Yet I know in my bones I am full of unrealized potential. How do I compassionately bridge the gap between my deepest expression and everything I was told I am not?

Can I let go of judging others, and especially the judgement I pour upon myself – especially that which is hidden even to me. Might I be able to feel into an embodied sense of freedom, where the points of resistance dissolve from my being? Where I inhabit my full and complete self, whole and perfect in its naked presence to all that is. I allow. I am love.

When can we practice? Always!

For way too long, limiting beliefs defined my life. I felt as if I were confined to a tiny, teeny box. I was never even aware that my overwhelmingly negative ideas, thoughts, and fears were anything other than the truth. Turns out that most of these beliefs were buried deep below the level of my conscious mind. This extensive subconscious collection of shadows ran my operating system – how I behaved, interacted with others, what I felt, and how I viewed the world and my little box in it.

In the lowest of times, I finally started to unravel the riddle. Are these beliefs true? Are the fears real? Where did they come from? What might I start to understand that would calm the suffering and incessant negative mind stuff?

Simply noticing, acknowledging, and naming the beliefs felt like a giant step forward. Learning to have understanding for all the separate and negative selves was another leap in growth. These aspects of me were just trying to survive in hostile, dark environments. I now realize I did the best I could at the time, not knowing any other way to protect myself or process what was going on.

As I attune to my truth in the present moment, I am gifted with joy, wonder, and appreciation for the reality of this life, just as it is. I can welcome the separate and limiting aspects back home with compassion. The old beliefs no longer hold sway over me. With love, they have transformed and merged with my wiser self. The little box is now an infinite field of potential. With practice, I am becoming whole.

When can we practice? Always!

Over the years, I’ve struggled to eliminate many harmful behaviors and cultivate new ways of being to create more love, joy, and contentment in my life. Hard as it sometimes still is to be vulnerable and open, I do my best to greet strangers on the street with genuine loving attention – a nod, a smile, and a hello. Even if I’m having a difficult day, this simple act of acknowledging another person from the heart lifts me up. My wish is to share a spark of human connection. Whether or not it is received, I’ve done what I can in that moment.

How curious then, that bringing that same sense of lovingkindess to myself is the hardest practice of all. When I look into my own eyes, can I acknowledge that I too am just human? That I am deserving and worthy of love, just because I exist. Can I turn toward myself with the same love I extend to others? I practice generously accepting my joy and suffering, along with all the other emotional waves that flow through my day. I practice so that I remember “I am love.”

When can we practice? Always!

We marvel at the magic of creativity within ourselves. Do we know where it comes from? What emerges in any given moment in time? How are we influenced by our past experiences or the feelings and emotions moving through us right now?

Sometimes we can identify that which sparked us to create. Maybe it was a confluence of inspirations that prompted us to jump bravely off the cliff into the great unknown. Each creative act has its unique origins and journey. Each a cause for celebration.

Imagine the inklings of two or more people connecting to create in harmony, aligned in shared intention and purpose. Such collaborative explorations might be an even more complex and mysterious unfolding of creative energy. When we gather to weave and bob through an organic sense of play – allowing, honoring, and growing together – we courageously surrender our ego to the energetic flow. Does it really matter what emerges? Perhaps. Or that we find joy in sharing our heart, soul, vulnerability, and brilliance to experience the gift of the alchemical dance.

When can we practice? Always!

Unbounded by the physical world as we know it, we find a whole new territory to explore just below the surface. The deeper we go, the more we come to know – both about ourselves and the infinite canvas of all that is. How is it possible that such a magical environment has escaped the attention of so many for so long?

Most of us recognize the potential inner exploration holds. And yet, taking this detour from our outer experience can feel remarkably uncomfortable. Do we really want to commune with all that we’ve stowed below for so long?

Slowly we cultivate more comfort and ease with everything we encounter, with ourselves. All that is challenging, all that is joyful, all that is – has brought us to this moment. Here we also find our desires, our dreams, and our deepest intentions that keep our compass pointed in the direction that is uniquely ours. Practice takes us there and gifts us with each new insight. What arises from our intuition will change the world.

When can we practice? Always!

So many of life’s moments rush by, without any attention paid to the beauty within. Why do we pretend we are too busy to notice? What might we be missing in the 1440 minutes that tick by every day? Yes, we are called to attention when we stand before a stunning work of art, watch two butterflies dance around each other to their very own rhythm, or feel the tingle of every cell when we are caressed by our lover.

Yet every beat and breath is an opportunity to open ourselves to wonder. Every drop of water, ray of light, hand on a shoulder, leaf alone or entire tree, and grain of sand holds the potential for sparking wonder and awe. In these “ordinary” components of life, we can explore the mysteries beyond our senses. We can expand outside our notion of self, and encounter the vast potential in the infinite field. When we greet each moment with generous awareness and curiosity, we feel the presence of our own being in connection to all that is. Boundlessness. Freedom. Peace.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo by Vlad Chețan from Pexels.

In the gallery of human relationships, old friends occupy a special section. They may have known us as kids, as we started out together in our first job, or watched us walk down the aisle. Maybe they cried with us in a time of profound loss, or flew 3,000 miles to surprise us at a significant birthday.

One day something new is at play. No, it’s not expansion or growth. Or the familiar, comfortable sense of complete trust. At first it’s barely perceptible. Before long, the space holding love between us starts dissolving before our eyes. As the world shifts, so we shift too. Values diverge. False meanings and judgments start to permeate our conversations. Our precious pod of safety is no more.

Grieve the loss. Give yourself permission to witness the emotions flowing through you - the pain, anger, sadness, and whatever else arises. Forgive. Compassion for yourself and each other will pull you through. Now see if you can also sense your deep appreciation. Such an important relationship was a gift on your journey, and is forever a part of who you are.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo Credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash.

Alone. Many of us relish time for ourselves to tune inward. The quiet inside space that nurtures, restores, and fuels our creative juices. We sit in our aloneness, and simultaneously sense our connection to all there is. This place at the intersection of our inner and outer selves is a rich resource for our wellbeing. Both alone and connected – whole.

Yet sometimes we feel alone and isolated. Or maybe we are in the physical presence of others and suffer from feeling apart or not belonging. Separate. Unsupported. Loneliness can literally be the death of us. Our basic human instincts drive us to overcome the profound lack of emotional or energetic connection. Sadly, sometimes we lose our capacity to connect and then we withdraw and wither.

Especially in these times, we need the support of our fellow humans – those with whom we resonate and who offer us a safe connection and a sense of belonging. A community that is like-minded, understanding, and aligned with our deepest values and desires. When the old structures are broken or no longer serve you, find new communities or create your own. Meaningful relationships are the lifeblood that will enable us to build the next chapter of our emerging world. Reach out, with love and compassion for all.

When can we practice? Always!

When the quiet is deep and all-encompassing, it feels profoundly generous. Within each of us is a personal sanctuary of stillness that opens to a vast portal of intelligence. Can we enter with curiosity and wonder? Might we release all of our certainty before entering into the space?

Open all the channels to listen deeply and recognize what is there for us. Open all the doors to receive the gifts that are sent to us. Now we hear what is meant for us.

This loving guidance is always present, and yet we often need a reminder to visit. Tune into your compassionate heart to enter the path inward. Our small still voice will coax us onward.

When can we practice? Always!

Notice how little humans know exactly what they want? They will scream and fuss until they get exactly what they need or want. They don’t need to think much about saying, showing, or spitting up a big, clear NO!

Along the way from early childhood to any life stage beyond, we often lose our sense of certainty about what we need or want. Sometimes we actually do know but suppress it. Perhaps we believe we are not worthy, deserving, and don’t honor our own needs before we attend to the needs of others.

A simple no should be easy enough to proclaim. But if we are not in touch with what we want, how do we clearly state our preferences so that others can respond in ways that work for us and them? We can’t set boundaries without clarity and a strong sense of agency.

Good boundaries keep us nourished, safe, seen, and appreciated. They support our physical, emotional, energetic, and mental wellbeing. We can focus our precious time, energy, and resources in alignment with our values and choices. Intentional boundaries allow us to orchestrate and integrate our work and personal selves with grace and ease, instead of stress and overwhelm. Get to know your no. Befriend your boundaries. The power of your inner truth will show you the way.

When can we practice? Always!

Look up at the constellations and imagine the trillions of stars we cannot see with the naked eye. Feel the light of the sun on your face and know that it shines for all of us. The shimmering gentle glow of moonlight on clouds or water signals its presence for all beings. When we consider the cosmos from our human perspective, it can certainly be challenging to wrap our heads around the idea that we are just as much a part of that as any star, sun, or moon.

Why then, do we often feel apart from all that is? We are composed of the same building blocks. We are in a constant state of flow, expansion, and change, as are all aspects of the universe. Yet many of us reject our connectedness and the comfort it provides. We expend precious energy striving to be recognized for our accomplishments and possessions. Why not savor the contentment and joy of sharing our unconditional love and unique capacities? We pretend something is other than it is. We pretend that we are something other than we are.

The paradoxical gift of cultivating a deep, joyful inner life is that it also creates a joyful outer experience. We yearn to be a part of the whole. Science and intuition are aligned – what nourishes us is connection. Connection to our true self, to each other, and to all there is. Starting with compassion for self, we can experience the most profound sense of wholeness and belonging. We are that. We are all that.

When can we practice? Always!

Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/UMass/Q.D. Wang; Radio: NRF/SARAO/MeerKAT

We are ninjas at protecting ourselves from ourselves, not to mention from others. Perhaps you are aware of your masterful skills in this realm, or maybe your unconscious is steering you along.

Let’s consider what makes this possible – carrying the enormous weight of protective layers, the vast amount of energy we devote, and the gnawing feeling that something is not in alignment, amiss, or lacking.

Might we explore other possibilities? Consider that the parts of ourselves that are too uncomfortable to recognize are exactly those that require the tender attention of our hearts. That it is only when we welcome all of us in – brilliant, imperfect, beautiful, critical, courageous, fearful, creative, stuck, caring, and failing – that we start to integrate and heal. We accept and honor all of it. Now we can reclaim and embrace our wholeness.

We start by offering ourselves compassion for all of who we are. We learn to love each and every part of our being, unconditionally. And that is how and why we are able to bring our empathy and compassion to others. Integrated. Authentic. Whole. Flowing with love.

When can we practice? Always!

We each show up in life with our unique combination of strengths, weaknesses, gifts, and talents. What is present in our DNA, passed down from generations that came before us? What is learned in our formative environments from our parents, caregivers, and friends? To what extent do societal norms and cultural practices also shape us? Our thoughts, beliefs, and expression of who we are become a compilation of all the internal and external exposures we’ve encountered up until this very moment.

So much of our human experience is particular to our individual circumstances. And yet so much of our experience resonates within our shared humanity. When we find ourselves on opposite shores of the ocean, we remedy separation by feeling that which we know is deep within each other. With courage and curiosity, we cross the divide. No judgment. No expectations. Wishing for understanding and compassion, we offer lovingkindness. We let go and trust in love. Peace.

When can we practice? Always!

We can all recall moments when we surmounted the odds, overcame what seemed impossible, or crossed a distant finish line with record speed. Often in times of trouble or tragedy we rise to meet or exceed the occasion. Surely we have all witnessed the remarkable capacity within our human body, mind, and spirit. Why then, are we so readily available to be our worst enemy and create our own obstacles?

The innate pull into our negative thoughts, beliefs, and emotions is a powerful force. Just the anticipation of an upcoming difficult situation may cause us to envision a bad outcome before it ever happens. Can you feel the discomfort or contraction in your body before even dealing with it?

The key is to notice what is happening as it is unfolding. Then you can choose to bring in a different response and feed a new narrative. What if we stay open and curious instead? How might we show up differently without expectation? With intention, awareness, and courage, we can learn to shift our focus. Each time we see even a little progress, let’s savor it. Soon enough, we come to understand that anything is possible.

When can we practice? Always!

We all wear robes of protection – identities and behaviors that keep us safe, secure, and connected to what we already know. Maybe your robe keeps you isolated or stuck with trauma. Perhaps your robe shields you from imposter syndrome. Some of our robes are more like armor, impervious to the shift shaping of our outer environment. But the same robes of protection create separation, suffering, and limit our opportunities to reach our full potential.

We can only relate to each other when we fully relate to ourself. Deep connection requires that we let go of the robes, and not only those that can be seen by others. Shedding the inner layers are the hardest of all.

Be daring and courageous as you acknowledge and name your limiting beliefs. Yes, you will likely be uncomfortable when you rip through the fabric and burst out without the robes. Bravely welcome change as you venture into the unknown territory of vulnerability and openness. All while practicing patience and kindness for yourself. Only then can we bask in the rich field of connection with our own heart and the hearts of others.

When can we practice? Always!

No longer will you be driving through the quiet, pristine neighborhood where every lawn and garden is perfectly manicured. Dare we open the door, and visit with the parts of us that have been in storage for days or decades? We know it may get messy, raw, and oh so uncomfortable. But there is no more pretending that what has been hidden is no longer welcome in the living room.

When you are ready to enter, notice what is creating fear and limitation – likely old emotions trapped in your body as trauma. It can be painful to unearth what has been buried in the basement for so long. It takes immense courage and fierce compassion. It takes resilience and practice to feel it all. But know that all the wisdom you will ever need is waiting for you to bravely venture into this trove of trauma. Treat each difficult emotion as buried treasure. Handle with care and allow the trauma to surface into the light of love.

One by one, reclaim these isolated fragments, these parts of you that have ripped apart from your true presence. Now with intention, awareness, and compassion, we work to integrate our separate selves into an aligned whole. Only then are we free to be fully human. By daring to heal the internal barriers and separation, we can liberate ourselves and become the whole of who we are. And at last, who we are meant to be.

When can we practice? Always!

When have you completely let go so that every cell in your body was at ease? When was the last time you had the feeling of melting into the trusting arms of life? Sometimes we feel safer in our apartments than in our hearts. Without the hammock of love holding us, it’s no surprise that we anchor into the sense of disconnection and loneliness that is so potent.

Perhaps we are fortunate to receive a sense of safety and love from a parent, friend, partner, or caregiver. Perhaps we are one of many humans who long to be loved just as we are but have yet to experience that moment of unconditional love with another. Know that our own safe harbor resides deep within us. It might be tangled up in trauma, blocked under old beliefs, or buried like unknown treasure. Know that unconditional love for yourself is only a breath and a heartbeat away. With intention, self-compassion, practice, and patience, we can reclaim infinite love and trust within ourselves.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo Credit: William Fortunato on Pexels.

While navigating an unintended route, did you ever encounter the sweetest little country café, or find yourself ooing and ahhing a breathtaking landscape? When the roadblock forces you to seek new directions, it might also bring some unexpected joy.

Interesting how when we hit an obstacle in life, we typically view it as a negative impediment – a clear signal that we’ve done something wrong or screwed up. Perhaps our inner critic has a field day, speaking to us with harsh, unforgiving language. We blame ourselves, looking for more evidence of why we are not good enough or made a bad decision.

What if we viewed each obstacle along the path as a detour, a delicious opportunity to explore a new approach? Or a nudge toward an even better solution? If you look back at many previous life challenges and curveballs, you might find that this has even been true for you. See if you can welcome each step with curiosity, open to any and all possibilities. Perhaps your next obstacle will be replaced with a magical detour. Explore the unintended territory to chart a new course with courage. And wrap yourself and all involved with fierce compassion.

When can we practice? Always!

When life turns upside down, and nothing is the same as it was, how do we navigate the road ahead? The only way to return to wholeness is to honor what has shifted and to intentionally chart a new course.

Look courageously at what has changed in your life. Imagine stepping out of yourself and taking inventory of how you live in each moment – both what you are doing/not doing and how you are being. Dig into how the rhythm of your day flows. What no longer serves you or your family? Have you lost boundaries? Do you feel more or less pressure? Have you been kind to yourself, attending to your own self-sustainability, or taking care of everyone around you?

Take stock of your needs and desires right now. Name what sparks joy and contentment. What feels natural and easeful? If you lived out a day that contained only your wish list, what and who would it include? Keep everyone and everything that matters, allows you to grow, and thrive. Let go of the rest. Toss out old habits, limiting beliefs, patterns, attachments, stuff, and even some relationships. Feel into the space you can create. Enjoy filling it with love.

When can we practice? Always!

Surrounded by the dark shroud of shame, victimhood, loneliness, anxiety, and/or depression, we often feel like we are the only ones sitting in the deep puddle of muck. In those difficult moments, we want to run away from the painful feelings and emotions. So we avoid it all by numbing ourselves, tuning out, or blaming others.

As much as we want to drive around our own car wreck and avert our eyes, the exact opposite is how we will move through it. Pay attention to how you feel. Name it. Sit with it and feel all the feels. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But if we don’t allow it to move through us, it will stick around. Maybe it will dissipate temporarily, but the same emotion or limiting belief will be back for you to see and feel again and again and again. Allow yourself to be fully present with the heaviness of difficult emotions and acknowledge that this is part of our common humanity. Their power will diminish and eventually fade. Be especially kind as you learn to hold yourself with compassion.

When can we practice? Always!

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Our days are filled with alerts, beeps, notifications, clocks, buzzers, appointment bells, ring tones, robotic voices, honking horns, and meeting reminders. The endless tug of “to-do” constantly gnaws away at our already limited fuel tank. Can you feel your body contracting just at the mention of the incessant demands on our daily existence?

What if…there was no pressure, no rush, no deadline, or no hurry? What if you allowed life to flow as the tides gently move in and out, or the sun rises and falls? What if the rhythm of our days, weeks, and months was as easeful and intentional as the changing of the seasons. Even our cells and metabolism function according to a natural cyclical rhythm.

Make a choice to reclaim control. At any and every opportunity, slow it down! If you don’t see any space in your day, schedule it now. Make your wellbeing your utmost priority. Especially if you are caring for others and caring for the world, you are most likely not to be as caring to yourself. Be fierce and intentional. Breath in. Exhale slowly. Restore.

When can we practice? Always!

As creatures of nature, we are innately aligned with fundamental truths. The impulse to create and protect life is transcribed in our very being. We share this powerful impulse with all beings that share the planet, and with the planet herself.

Take a moment to honor this profound vibration of love. The universal intensity we feel as humans to love and be loved. The depth of feeling that mother love conveys is like no other sense of belonging. It is the essence of our connection. Basking in the radiance of unconditional love opens us to imagine all that is possible. Gratitude for this life can not be diminished, only celebrated as the profound gift that each of us has been fortunate enough to receive.

When can we practice? Always!

We call on ferocity when survival is at stake - accessing a wild and untamed aspect of ourselves that we summon only when we must. As parents or loved ones, we can all relate to that intensity of the feeling when someone we love is endangered and the lengths we go to protect them.

We can also harness the energy of that innate ferocity when our strength and courage need a boost. Holding ourselves with fierce compassion and love allows us to expand beyond the stories and limiting beliefs that keep us small. Tapping into this source of remarkable power requires discernment to distill our impulses into wise action. Access your fierce self and see your potential blossom.

When can we practice? Always!

Appreciating the beauty and bounty of earth is one of the most healing things we can do for ourselves and others. While other species continue to interact with the environment in their organic way, we humans seem to forget that the Earth is not here to serve us. When we believe we are separate, we behave with a level of disregard and disrespect that has brought Earth to the brink.

Truth is, we are Earth. We are part of Earth, and Earth is part of us. There is no separation. The science is as clear as a brilliant blue sky – we are not only connected, but we are also interconnected with every aspect of our ecosystem here on Earth as well as the cosmos beyond. When we have the courage to truly love ourselves, the inner knowing is powerful. We can’t separate loving ourselves from living with love and compassion for everything and everyone. This is how we all thrive.

When can we practice? Always!

Most of us can recall a time in childhood when someone told us “you are bad”– at home, at school, or both. Our tender hearts didn’t know how to respond other than to assume the grown-up in the room knew best, so we must be bad. As a young child, we took on the label, and became one with that identity of being a bad person.

That voice of the adult shaming us soon became the tape of our own inner critic. How often do we think we are not good enough, not worthy, or not lovable? If we do a great job of beating ourselves up, and then hide, withdraw, or just give up trying, we save ourselves from facing the painful criticism of others.

Only our inner wisdom can quiet down the inner critic. Cultivate the deep whispers of wisdom with trust and courage. Each new moment allows us to strengthen our sense of self. We recognize we are simply human and show ourselves compassion. We are both imperfect and worthy. We are love.

When can we practice? Always!

Out beyond the edges of our planet and our universe, the nature of expansion changes the scale of space. Now, notice each time a new in-breath follows the exhale. If we listen closely to the inner workings of our physical home, we feel areas of expansion throughout the body beyond the lungs. Our deep desire to evolve is yet another expression of the natural force of expansion. We are the seeds of our future selves, and we yearn to blossom into our full expression.

We expand into our potential by acknowledging our inner longing and responding with a willingness to challenge our comfort zone. Trust in yourself, trust in the process, and trust in the goodness of life. Show up with fierce compassion for yourself when times are tough, and know you are not alone. Let in the support of others and the support of your practice to lift you up. Replenish often. Stay true to your deeper knowing and the power of love. This is how we grow.

When can we practice? Always!

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Nature shows us so clearly. The roots of fungi, plants, trees and colonies of various species naturally connect and support each other – sometimes in close proximity, and often at a remarkable distance. This is as true up in the cosmos as it is on our Earth.

We too are wired in exactly the same way: To relate, to connect, and to support all the people we come in contact with, even with those distant and unknown to us personally. Our innate nature is a deep knowing of how we are all intertwined. As humans we know and feel one another no matter our circumstance. Find your way back to that recognition that so often gets lost. Clear away the mental and emotional debris for this fundamental sense to emerge. Sit with this knowing and allow it grow. You will benefit. We will all benefit.

When can we practice? Always!

One of the most fundamental ways we thrive is through connection to other human beings. This innate drive to connect is encoded in our cells, so deeply embedded in our bodies and minds. We are gifted with a neurological reward every single time we have a positive interaction. Negative interactions have the opposite effect and can lead to emotional and physical suffering and even disease.

Given the clear response signals, might we pay more attention to how connections contribute to our wellbeing? Observe what happens when you next encounter an uplifting, warm, or supportive connection with a loved one, colleague, or stranger. Let’s be intentional about creating more positive interactions for ourselves and others. It’s how we love, learn and grow, and infuse more meaning and joy into this one precious life.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo Credit: Nathan Anderson on Unsplash.

The moments of life dart by. Sometimes they happen without much notice, and occasionally there are moments fueled by intention and awareness. What’s the difference? Everything, and nothing. Moments are moments are moments. That we know. We also know that entering each moment with intention can make all the difference about the quality of this moment, and each subsequent moment – how we feel, our thoughts, our relationships, and our actions.

The essence of a compassionate life is to approach each moment, each choice point, with an intention toward compassionate action. That might be as simple as being intentional when we greet one another, or how we speak to a colleague or family member. Bringing compassionate intention to each moment doesn’t take any more time or effort. But it does take practice. Then we can show up with the awareness of compassionate intention and let that flow throughout each and every day.

When can we practice? Always!

Life has forced us apart. From each other. From pieces of ourselves. From our profound connection to the planet. Where is the chasm that creates the most struggle and disorientation? Are we destined for a future that continues to unravel?

We each own the choice to grow and thrive, even though the path to wholeness may not yet be visible or may appear as too hard. When we venture into the deep space within, we find the magnificent integration of all that has shattered. We awaken to what has been our truth all along. We remember. We return home.

When can we practice? Always!

What do we stand for? What do we care so deeply about that it inspires us to action? Anchoring into our truth reveals our unique gifts and how we can contribute as only we can. This clarity of vision and mission is such a powerful awareness. In every moment we have a choice, and choosing how and where to focus our energy in alignment with our north star allows us to grow with grace and ease.

Clarity and focus are especially useful for the long haul. While we can muster up the motivation to address most challenges on a short-term basis, we are truly tested in life to sustain our focused intentions for a long, uninterrupted period of time. Make life a practice, and you will find the strength and discipline to carry on. That said, remember to be kind to yourself. Practice requires patience, and infinite amounts of self-compassion.

When can we practice? Always!

There is a self that has always been and will always be. The self that knows it is connected to everyone and everything. The self that lives in harmony with nature and thrives on love.

Most of us struggle to access the spark of our inner being. Our lifelong conditioning and negative experiences have left us challenged and looking for answers outside of ourselves. Just when we feel we progress past some obstacle, we find ourselves pulled back to an old pattern or limiting belief.

Practice allows us the safe space to acknowledge what has been and dissolve that which we are ready to release. We practice to surrender the struggle and heal our wounds. To let go of the attachments that stand in the way of who we desire to become. In any moment we can choose to create the future and shed the past. Finding our deepest truth and freedom. Becoming fully human from the inside out.

When can we practice? Always!

We get caught so up in the swirl. Challenged by the pace of our lives and the complexity of all that surrounds us, we feel anxious and incomplete. The constant pull to go this way or that does not encourage us to believe we are in charge of our experiences. Rather, it feels like a constant barrage of interruptions that distracts us from whatever is in front of us.

Believe that you have the capacity to unravel the energetic chaos. Stop “doing” for a few minutes. Pause. Breathe. Slow down. Allow the mind and body to settle. Now, with a backdrop of calm and quiet, check in with your inner compass. What is your intention in this moment? Where can you place your attention and focus for the greatest benefit? Let the choice that arises be just for now. The next step will become readily apparent, and then the next. In this way, we can move more easefully through our day, and find a simple path to contentment and peace.

When can we practice? Always!

Are things spinning out of control? Do you feel a sense of dread and overwhelm that can accompany so much of what life has become? Yet we don’t dare slow down. If we do, how will we keep up? What will people think if I’m not too busy, crazed, or stretched too thin?

Listen to the lunacy of the culture that values overworking as a badge of honor. A culture that expects us to sacrifice relationships, sleep, wellbeing, pleasure, play, and so much more of what used to be “normal” parts of life. We need not be judged or valued by the enormity of our sacrifice and output. We are human beings with basic needs, feelings, and desires. We need to breathe. We yearn to be well, whole, and connected. We yearn to love and laugh with abandon. We yearn to be free.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo Credit: Ishrona from Denver, Colorado, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

In times of uncertainty and doubt, many of us start spinning a tale that takes us down a rabbit hole of fear. That fear is a natural human response to a threat, fine-tuned by evolution to keep us safe. Many people still encounter life-threatening situations where the defensive response of brain and biochemical circuitry is necessary for survival.

We also respond to unpleasant emotional cues in the same fashion. These less serious assaults gnaw away at the edges of our self-image and question our worthiness. In these situations, see if you can soften this automatic threat response that will only add to your sense of chronic stress. Be curious! Look carefully at what has triggered you. Play with different approaches to quiet your internal storm – pause, explore, touch, ground, breathe, reframe. As you practice letting curiosity guide you, notice the release of old patterns and new ways of being emerge.

When can we practice? Always!

Image Credit: Illustration by John Tenniel, wood-engraving by Thomas Dalziel.

For many of us, the loudest voice in the room is our own. It’s the critical voice in our head that creates doubt, blames us, shames us, or lets us know we are just not good enough. Not only is the voice harsh and unkind, but it also rarely stops to take a break. Ever notice what happens right after you pat yourself on the back for something positive? Before your body gets to soak in all the yummy chemicals and good feelings they produce, our incessant inner critic comes roaring back with the next problem or drama.

Where is your inner ally hiding? For a moment, try speaking in the loving voice that you share with a friend in need of reassurance or support. Likely this part of you is well developed. We know how to be caring and kind to others, especially those we know and love. Now turn that level of loving kindness towards yourself. Literally pretend you are talking to a dear friend. See if you can believe the positive encouragement. See if you can receive the love – for you! Know that this is hard, but with practice, you can rely on your inner ally to show up more each day.

When can we practice? Always!

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The stillness, the essence, and the presence. There is a state of being we find in the quiet that is at once energizing and calming. Where we embody full awareness of all there is. We are not overstimulated, activated, or triggered with fear. Nor are we withdrawn or hiding.

Goldilocks got it right. Not too big, not too small, but just right. This is the state where we are at our best, alive in this moment. From this centered place, we have the capacity to give and receive in response to what is in front of us. Our next step might be in any direction we desire – we are free to orient towards any possibility that beckons. Practice leads us here, and always brings us back when we need to return.

When can we practice? Always!

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Emotions can be painful and get the best of us. We are often conditioned to deny our feelings by stuffing them down, pushing them away, or ignoring them altogether. Perhaps they fade for a bit, and then pop back into our lives with even more intensity and intractability. Our bodies know the truth of our feelings. Think about the times emotions have “eaten away” at you. Less volatile emotions beget fear, shame, anger and hate when they return again and again.

The more we practice, the more we learn to handle our difficult emotions. We observe. We acknowledge what is – feel the feels and accept that which is present within us. Not easy, but worth the effort. Emotions are energy in motion. Allow the emotion to ride its own wave and be with it until it dissipates. The charge will wear off and we return to harmony.

As you witness the anger and hate in others, have compassion – they have yet to reckon with their emotions swirling beneath the surface of their dangerous outer expression. Only love can transmute hate. Let your love be contagious so that others can feel the safety and security deep within you. This is the road to healing, and peace.

When can we practice? Always!

So often we feel it’s our role to give, and give, and give. Especially when there is so much need in the world for support, healing, and peace. We might think our part is to carry so much responsibility for bringing change to the forefront. For fixing what is broken and unjust. For building a new way for all people and the planet to move forward.

We can only give what we have. We may be exhausted or burnt out with a tank depleted long ago. Notice when you require deep rest, replenishment, and be open to receiving whatever it is that you need. Return yourself to equilibrium – when giving and receiving create a sustainable flow. Perhaps it’s time to discern when/how to limit your gifts, resources, and life force so you can show up as your compassionate whole self. Interesting that we think that we will change ourselves by changing the world. In fact, we change the world by changing ourselves.

When can we practice? Always!

How astounding that we have the perpetual opportunity to begin again. Whether it comes at the turn of the year, with each new moon, the sunrise, after a difficult argument, or living through a great tragedy. The precious gift to begin again also rides on every breath, and in every moment.

As you encounter each new beginning, how might you choose to respond? With love, joy, courage, and forgiveness for yourself and others? Or are you prone to whip up more fear, anxiety, and blame? Try bringing your awareness and gratitude to each new moment without judgment and see what happens. As we honor and flow with each new spark of life, we naturally expand into our full potential. How is this moment?

When can we practice? Always!

Photo by Robert Lukeman on Unsplash.

As the calendar turns from year to year, we often look ahead with anticipation, vision for the future, and create resolutions and intentions to do this or that. Yet leaving the year without a sense of completion often makes us feel like we are already struggling to catch up. It’s so easy to hear our inner critic cast judgment upon our shortfalls. We tend to remember what we didn’t do, where we fell short, or how this year in particular was devastating for so many people on so many levels.

What if we took time to flip the equation, and consider all that actually went well. How did you grow? What transpired over the year that you are proud of? Where did you make a difference in the lives of others, or in your own life? Write it all down. Say it out loud. The smallest wins as well as the bigger successes. Take time to acknowledge all that you have accomplished. And now pause to appreciate who you have become. Honor the deep wisdom that has emerged. Take time to celebrate the compassionate and courageous being you truly are.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo Credit: Will Harrel.