Contrast arises in our experiences as a guide. Like bread crumbs scattered on the path, contrast draws attention, redirecting us back to the path, pointing out the direction in which we should head so that we can find our way back to what nurtures and restores us.
When I am truly present, I feel each experience within my body. I receive it with my breath. I prod it with my thoughts and explore it with my feelings. Then, as I peel away these aspects of experience, these many layers of me, my inner wisdom welcomes that experience, absorbing it like a sponge, until that experience becomes me.
When the layers dissolve, all that I experience is me.
Brave hearts do not express courage with reckless abandon, fearlessly, wildly lunging forward. Rather, with discipline, wisdom, and awareness they intentionally explore a space that feels unfamiliar, unsafe, and with trust in themselves they willingly go there anyway.
The embers of the fire need tending to keep them bright and strong, to share their light, to give off their warmth. They are not intended to be smothered, but to be gently stoked and shared, to be given a safe space to fully express themselves. Nurture those burning embers and know the power and joy of that light within.
You are light. I am light.
You are happy. I am happy.
I see you — the vibrant, perfect energy that is you.
I don’t need you to have struggles in order to feed my stories.
You are loved. You will prosper.
You will release patterns that hurt you.
You are released from serving my insecurities.
Be free of the shackles of my faults, my fears, my challenges. They are not yours.
Thank you for carrying them, for holding onto them so dearly, but you no longer need to.
I don’t need them anymore and neither do you.
We can just exist in the pure and natural state of joy that we are…
no stories, no struggles…
just light and love.
What if the darkest times, the largest struggles, and the greatest grief were treated as gold, jewels, and trinkets? A treasure box shoved deep down underneath brings richness, bright and full of promise when opened. Shadows that no longer remain hidden sparkle with hope, prosperity, and joy when realized as buried treasure.
The dark of night gives way to the brilliance of the morning sun.
Shadows peel back to reveal the light and then at times the light yields to the shadows.
They dance, taking turns at center stage, spotlighting each other’s beauty, celebrating each other’s gifts.
Both always there, bowing to one another, essential to each other’s greatness.
Thankful for the contrast.
The morning after a big snow storm so often arrives with visions of beauty, inspires feeling of hope, and brings a sense of aliveness, courage, serenity.
The true challenge comes in experiencing those things during the storm.
Look for the contrast…the inordinary combination of experiences that color your life, that offer surprise, that stand out and remind you that anything is possible, and so much more striking with distinction. Seek and find joy in the contrast that makes life pop.
Strength is not born of rigidity or impenetrable barriers.
Strength is open, flowing, embracing…a constant balance of contracting inwards and expanding outwards.
Strength is resilience, peace, ease.
Strength is the unstoppable force of love.
Monday Mindfulness 