True and Useful . . . and Kind
Seek and say what is true and useful with kindness for self and others.
One lesson I continue to relearn is that I can only experience real joy in the present moment. When I think about what’s missing from my life that would bring me joy if only I could attain it, I feel sad or frustrated or fearful about what I may never achieve. Future focus almost always…
If there was ever a time to cultivate gratitude, it’s now. Focusing on what each of us has to be grateful for seems like a viable antidote to the daily news of lost jobs, increasing cost of living, chaos and war on many fronts around the world, and a general sense of uncertainty about the…
If you pay closer attention to your steady stream of thoughts, you may be surprised at how many of them are negative. Fear and its many manifestations, including worry, anger and judgment, can cause an unending flow of pessimistic and downbeat self-talk. The first step in overcoming fearful and unhelpful patterns of thought and emotions…
Expecting our journey of self-discovery to follow a linear process can lead to frustration and confusion. Phrases such as “the path of life,” “the right direction,” and even “stay the course” imply that we grow and develop through a logical step-by-step progression. A more helpful approach may be to understand how our growth and development…
Get quiet for just a moment.
Step back from everything.
It may sound like an obvious reminder, but if you stop and pay attention at any moment during the day, you’ll probably notice that your breathing is often so shallow as to be almost undetectable. Not only are you depriving your body of oxygen, one of its most vital nutrients, but you’re missing many opportunities…
In times like these the advice to “lighten up” seems vital for emotional survival yet easier said than done. If you feel weighed down by your current challenges, try closing your eyes and visualizing one of the following: Imagine the weight you feel on your shoulders or in your heart gradually lifting, as if some…
What we think and say can have a dynamic impact on our attitude and experience. It may seem obvious to some, but it’s taken me many years to fully absorb how my thoughts and words powerfully influence my mood, feelings and day-to-day experience. I used to get buried under clouds of habitual negative thinking and…