Resilience

"The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount

of freedom you have in your heart."

Thich Nhat Hahn

If we allow ourselves freedom to explore with uncertainty of discovery, we may unearth both joy and sorrow. If we allow time to expose ourselves to differing opinions and random experiences, we will stretch and grow. It may feel safe to withdraw into secure boundaries, but stagnation will stifle our need to expand.

There is a risk to opening our hearts to new experiences, but trust in the self stimulates forward movement. Accepting that detours will reveal additional information, we can be mindful of unexpected twists and turns. If we are too rigid, our freedom is limited avoiding encounters that would expand our life . 

When we grant ourselves permission to search and discover, a true sense of freedom is created. Replacing fear with curiosity, believing in our ability to navigate whatever unfolds, life is lived to its fullest. When we depend upon our lovely selves to promote personal happiness, dependency is replaced by resilience. 

Options and Choice

"At any moment, you have a choice,

that either leads you closer to your spirit

or further away from it."

Thich Nhat Hahn

There was a time for me that making the right choice was about whether or not to go to church on Sunday. Then there were seasons where I continuously tried to enhance the roles I played like mother, wife, or professional in my career. Somewhere along the line, my perception shifted to my inner being and how this was applied to navigation through life.

It is imperative to realize there is always choice, even though options may not be ideal. To decide upon an option triggers action which hopefully propels me forward. If I am integrated on the inside, my integrity is portrayed on the outside. To become one with spirit, actually makes living a positive journey.

Rather than choosing who to be in specific incidents, once centered, I can easily remain aligned with my authentic self. I am able to present as truth in all situations. No longer do I have to shift into other identities wearing masks to hide who I am at my core. Engaging with the world in union with my spirit allows my energies to flow.  

 

Correct Patterns of Past Generations

Our mother may have suffered throughout her life. Our father may have suffered. Perhaps our parents weren’t able to look after the wounded child in themselves.

So when we’re embracing the wounded child in us, we are embracing all the wounded child in our past generations. This practice is not a practice for ourselves alone, but for numberless generations of ancestors and descendants.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

""With practice, we can see that our wounded child

is not only us. Our wounded child may represent

several generations."

Thich Nhat Hanh

Observing trees while walking on the greenway, I began to notice numerous trees that not only had a gnarly root system, but also held additional roots growing up the trunk. This growth seemed to reflect the intertwining and complexity of life.

Using this as a symbol, speculation developed in reference to my ancestors and descendants.  How did their physical, emotional, and spiritual beliefs impact the life of future generations?  If we live what we know to be true, does that not get passed on duplicating behaviors?

It is curious to think I might be healing dysfunction that had occurred in previous family members.  Would this not be history repeating itself?  If this is true, motivation to heal increases.  Not only will my reframe correct family history, but it will also enhance my life and those who are following me.

Diligent Investments

 

"Dear one, do you think

I understand you enough?"

Thich Nhat Hanh

What if we made a deliberate pause and asked our loved one, 'what do I not know about you that I should know?' Out of habit, we may listen to the first few sentences, but do we shut down prior to the important disclosure?  Do we disconnect from our loved ones just before they are ready to expose their burden?

We tend to quit listening to the people we care most about.  We unplug mired down by our own  routines and the gap between significant others widens.  We can be quarantined with our loved ones all day long, but never really check in on a deeper level of understanding.

How would our relationships improve if we determined a 15 minute space where every day we revered this time as sacred.  A safe harbor where one could be vulnerable and honest.  When was the last time we looked inside of our beloved whether to receive or divulge? Understanding and acceptance requires diligent investments of truth.

Kindness, Example and Love

"Mindful living is an art, and

each of us has to train to be an artist."

Thich Nhat Hanh

The width and depth of intention are immeasurable.  Our motivation can be a life long dream or an innocent hope floating through our subconscious.  We can be relentless in our focus or we can catch the slightest image of miraculous in any given reflection.  To experience either one, we must be awake.

As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there is no competition to mute our personal flair.  We are  beckoned by Spirit to be the inventor of our own life, to be the artist of our own temperament and the designer of our own unfolding.

If we simply aim to bring the best of our lovely selves into the world, our purpose easily unfolds.  Our motivation is kindled by our own doing and satisfaction is our personal reward.  Our aim is to fill our unique spirits with kindness, example, and love.
 

When a Smile is Faster than a Thousand Words

"Because of your smile,

you make life more beautiful."

Thich Nhat Hanh

The simple task of lifting the ends of our mouth to form a smile can kindle hope in the heart of one other.  It doesn't matter where we are ... library, grocery store, church ... the simple gesture of a smile can uplift a spirit faster than a thousand words.

A smiling baby can encourage a stranger to not give up.  Even the nod of the head to a person passing by may elevate self-perception.  Simple gestures change the world around us.  Our kind reflections 

encourage the forlorn there is life worth living.

When a smile just doesn't seem to be enough, it is great fun to play an undetected game in public.  One simply walks down the street or sits in the midst of a crowd and deliberately extends love or light from the heart.  Imagine it spreading from person to person filling them with the warmth of a hug.  In time, surely a smile will slide across the face.

Message Left Behind

"Our own life has to be our message."

Thich Nhat Hanh

We strive to reach our goals even though they may be altered.  We use our creativity to express what we sense to be true in the world.  Then there are the dreams for justice and peace or for a healthy family or spiritual connection.  Our goals, creativity, and dreams compile the message we leave in the end.

Our message is not so much of what we say but how are actions portrayed us as a human being.  We may have opened a peek into our persona if we were creative or lived our dreams.    The message left behind however, is a combination of our entire existence.

So this triggers thoughts of emotions I have displayed and actions I have taken while realizing these are just pieces of my life.  Then there are the many roles I played ... wife, mother, counselor, energy worker and presenter ... but these do not reflect me entirely either.  I find my lovely self sifting through all of these components, wondering when all is said and done, what my message shall be.