“Somewhere there is an ancient enmity between our daily lives and the great work. Help me in saying it, to understand it.”– Rainer Maria Rilke There is a profound tension between the mundane and chaotic aspects of daily life and the pursuit of significant, transformative work in each day of our lives. This "ancient enmity" … Continue reading Meant to bes & have to dos
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Transformations
The Layers By Stanley Kunitz I have walked through many lives, some of them my own, and I am not who I was, though some principle of being abides, from which I struggle not to stray. When I look behind, as I am compelled to look before I can gather strength to proceed on my journey, … Continue reading Transformations
Tough enough
Tough times never last, but tough people do.– Robert H. Schuller Keystone Tough times are a part of life, but the resilience within us defines our lasting strength. Challenges may feel overwhelming, but they are extended painful moments in time, not permanent states. Tough people endure because they adapt, persevere, and find inner resolve to face … Continue reading Tough enough
Within
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."– Ralph Waldo Emerson Keystone The largest territory any person will ever inhabit is the one inside themselves. Many people never fully move in. We don't have to be the product of what happened to us, nor what … Continue reading Within
What is precious
Our mind is a brilliant instrument. It categorizes, analyzes, compares, and concludes. But our mind focuses on what is useful, what is logical, what is safe, what is efficient. The heart finds what is precious. Those are not the same search. They do not use the same tools. They do not even ask the same … Continue reading What is precious
Practicing self-control
"Emotional self-control is the result of hard work, not an inherent trait." - Travis Bradberry Key takeaways This quote comes from Bradberry's broader body of work on emotional intelligence (EQ) - the cluster of skills that govern how we recognize, understand, manage, and apply emotions in ourselves and in our relationships with others. His research consistently … Continue reading Practicing self-control
Sunny disposition
If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams, and you will always look lovely. – Roald Dahl A sunny disposition reflects the power of positive thinking. When you maintain a cheerful outlook, it often stems from nurturing good thoughts and a hopeful mindset. This positivity influences your interactions, making … Continue reading Sunny disposition
Mightier still
"Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power."- Lao Tzu, Chapter 33 of the Tao Te Ching Living a life that requires an enormous amount of sustained inner resources can create the temptations to focus entirely outward, on managing circumstances and other people's needs, while … Continue reading Mightier still
Letting go
"Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness." – Thich Nhat Hanh Keystone Holding responsibility for people whose needs are real is often unpredictable, and sometimes heartbreaking. I have the kind of life that requires continuous engagement. In this kind of life, the temptation is to grip harder and to … Continue reading Letting go
Finding peace
"You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them with courage and compassion." Running from difficulty does not bring peace, facing it does. People instinctively want to escape pain and avoid suffering. We scroll, we stay busy, we overwork, we numb. Gently we need to look at what it … Continue reading Finding peace