Dear Friend,
I have been away for the past 3 weeks due to a sick pup, covid running through our house, and then the devastating news in Texas.
I have debated what to say or to say anything at all. It wasn’t until yesterday I felt like anything here would have any impact or be of any service at a time like this.
But the least I can do is believe I can do something. The same is true for you.
I’m horrified, angry, sickened, and grieving right alongside you. We are not supposed to live in a constant state of fear and trauma. And I cannot understand how money, guns, and power are more important to anyone than innocent children. It does not make sense and it will never make sense.
What the practice of mindfulness has trained me to do is be with “what-is”. To really be all the way with it. It takes bravery to really sit with what is happening in our country and to sit with what is happening with yourself. So many of us have the luxury of running away or ignoring the realities of our world but if we truly sat with “what-is” we would be compelled to make a change, take action, and to help.
The practice of loving-kindness towards yourself and towards others ignites the place within you of connectedness. The practice goes like this, I wish myself love and kindness and I also want the same for those I love, those who I’m neutral with, those I have difficulties with, and all sentient beings. It starts to awaken the idea that not only are we interconnected but you’re powerful AF in practicing love and kindness. It’s transformative for you and for others. These are not “woo-woo” fluffy practices. These are acts of courage to change the world. To believe we can make an impact because you can.
Love gets a bad rap. We think of love from what’s portrayed in movies but love is a force. Kindness is something we hear about but a wise teacher once told me we do not need to know how far the ripple of one act of kindness goes, we just need to start it.
I want to teach you a practice that respects your pain and the pain of others. I have practiced this exact breathing exercise many times. It is a Tibetan Buddhist practice called Tonglen.
Here’s how you do it.
Breath in: Your pain and the pain of others.
Breath out: Spaciousness and relief.
**You can repeat the words “spaciousness and relief” to yourself as you exhale.
Repeat x 5 times or for 5-10 minutes.
This practice is an exchange (giving/receiving). By breathing in your pain and the pain of others you’re acknowledging its very existence, embracing it, and offering it relief. Transformation of pain helps us respect and move through it, so we can continue to be of service.
Remember, the least you can do is believe there is something you can do. It doesn’t matter the size of the action or even if it’s a simple shift within. The point is, that the change we want starts with us.
Do not stop making noise.
Love you,
Join this week’s meditation practice here. There is so much power in remaining calm. Join a 10-minute guided meditation practice to carve out space to regain your peace of mind. Sometimes just one conscious breath is enough to bring you back to your center.
Calm point is a soft landing we deserve. Created for inward reflections, powerful pauses, and cultivating well-being. Drops every Wednesday.