No matter that anger laps at your feet,
No matter that fear and distrust appear to form walls around you,
No matter that hope feels smothered,
Spiral upwards, out of the ashes of perceived despair,
Fill the air with compassion.
As long as the flames of compassion dance,
We can know only peace and joy.
Meek is not to be cowardly, rather it is gentle, patient, non-violent, and creates a soft space from which your power emerges in its most natural form – one of compassion, vision, abundance, and joy. Be meek.
True power comes not from the words you say, but in how well you listen. The value is in the listening.
Can I ask “How are you?” for the sake of simply caring?
Can I learn of your pain, your mistakes, your successes, without judging?
Can I know that your different opinions, ideas, and ways of doing things are exquisite because they are you?
Can I trust that all of your decisions are yours, not good or bad, but those necessary to lead you along the path that is you?
Can I resist the urge to selfishly invade your experience just to feel more powerful from the distant shores of my perceptions?
Can I love and respect you enough to allow you to mind your own business?
Can we all just live freely and in peace to exist in the space of our own decisions, to learn and grow in our own unique ways, and just go to work at the task of being what we were made to be…our own selves?
Find your safe space, your inner refuge. Close your eyes for a moment and notice what it look like, what is all around you. Feel the comfort, peace, and ease this space brings you. Know that your safe space is always there for you.
Now, share the peace, and ease of this space with those around you. Through your thoughts, your words, your actions, today create a safe space around you inviting others to experience comfort, peace, and ease in your presence.
a painting by Susan Kerr
Instead of calling it work and begrudging it, what if today you call it play. Approach the to-do list with curiosity and wonder as if something new and exciting were about to unfold. Carry a smile in your pocket and wish genuine happiness to all those around you. Treat your space of work as a playground. Let your mind play tag with creativity. Flow through tasks and conversations as if gliding across the monkey bars. Delight in small accomplishments with the same flutter in your belly as when you first learned to swing. Invite play into your day. Feel big, free, and happy.
Artwork by Susan Kerr (www.susankerrinspiration.com)
Stand strong no matter temperature or conditions.
Shed the occasional brown needle with the wind.
Be nurtured and inspired by the earth, sun, and rain.
Stay evergreen with love and kindness.
And you will stand out in the forest amongst the trees.
The world is full of givers and takers. I’m a giver. On some days it seems there are a whole lot more takers. I used to get upset about that. Now, I just spend more time with givers. Unless I want to feel useful…then I hang out with the takers.
Do you really need to be right?
Is there just one answer to the question?
Can’t we find space for both our opinions?
Perhaps in this complex Universe
We are intended to have different perspectives.
Perhaps through our varying views
We can impact the greatest change.
It’s easy to partner with those who share
The same point of view.
Divinely powerful to embrace that which is different.
Could it be that our opinions intertwined,
Instead of butted against each other,
Can lead to greatness beyond each of us
As we stand in our opinions alone?
Let’s partner in our differences,
Nod to each other’s strengths.
Let’s meet at the top of that mountain,
grow the Universe stronger and brighter
With love, compassion, and respect
For one another and our opinions.
Have you ever noticed how birds fly? Not just how they propel their bodies through the air so magically, but how they so effortlessly get out of each other’s way. Flying through wide open spaces in the sky, they maneuver instinctively, kindly, and gracefully as a community. Each has their assigned space, so it appears, but even when one veers off course, the group gathers in and keeps on going, supporting that one that briefly faltered. Sometimes hundreds of birds will be circling, swirling, and moving through the air at the same time — no collisions, no hurt feelings, no judgment. Every one honoring their own path and that of the birds that fly across theirs.
What would happen if we went through the hustle and bustle of our day more like birds? Instead of issuing judgment or disparaging remarks as someone flutters across your path, can you simply find another current to ride… tilt a wing…show them the way…and keep on going?
Soar on the wind with kindness and grace…and make it a great week!
Monday Mindfulness 