Spirituality

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. – Viktor Frankl Buddhism is considered by many to be a religion or a spiritual practice. Yet in its…

Try to see your so-called limitations with clarity and kindness. You didn’t ask for this suffering. Yet, here it is. Welcome it as part of the practice, accept it, experience it fully and then release it.

Each of us was born with the perfected wisdom of the awakened mind. We ate when hungry, slept when tired and laughed when playful. By the same miracle that we forget the memories of birth, do we gradually forget the truth of our being.

So powerful is the practice of gratitude that others will be lifted by being in your presence, helping them become different and better as well. Gratitude is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

A friend sent me a copy of her rabbi’s Elul. It speaks eloquently to a personal belief of mine that carries over professionally. Namely, that we are born inherently good and that we heal by connecting with others.

Most of us are satisfied with the lives we lead. We may not be happy with what life has done with us, but we are mostly content with what we have done with life. By leaning into discomfort and shaking up our complacency, we get back in touch our aliveness.

As odd as it may sound, we truly can’t love others unless we first love ourselves. It’s a bit like math. The depth to which we connect with others correlates to the degree to which we love our selves.

It takes courage and heart to face pain. During difficult times, these qualities can be a challenge to find. In such cases, it is not unusual to borrow another’s compassion until we are able to resource it within ourselves. Therapy is good example of this type of “borrowing”, as is reaching out to a friend for comfort.

I’m a huge fan of James Hollis. He speaks well to the second passage of life. So often midlife is characterized as a humiliating attempt to hang onto our fleeing youth. James Hollis sees this time as a great spiritual awakening.

People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.