Dear Friends,
This would be a good time for a few seconds of centering. Let’s uplift our posture, extend out into the space around us and think of something that makes us smile.
We – Tiphani, her family, and I – have moved from California to Oregon and although we are in a different house, a different city and a different state some things are not so easy to change; habits of thinking for instance, continue to emerge as we are finding our way in this new environment. Even though life is somewhat chaotic, I see it as an opportunity to wake up and loosen fixed views that may have inserted themselves without my noticing.
These habits of thinking are often biases that are trying to keep me safe from loss – habits of trying to be in control, getting the right amount of approval and tightening around what should happen to make me feel that I am right.
Given the challenges that are before us – challenges of Covid and the conflict in political discourse, this is a good time to bring light to my biases and unskillful habits. Change is difficult for the human personality. It takes vigilance and the willingness to smile when I catch myself being judgmental or worried. It takes discipline to keep returning to the intention of gratitude, compassion and inclusion.
These days I use the practices from my new book
Dragons and Power
to keep me focused and inspired. Also I have been reading the Loving Kindness Sutra out loud everyday to set my compass in the direction of the path I wish to walk.
Here is an excerpt from the Loving Kindness Sutra:
Let one not deceive another nor despise another being in any state.
Let none by anger or hatred wish harm to another,
Even as a mother at the risk of her life,
Watches over her only child,
So with a boundless mind should one cherish all living things,
Suffusing love over the entire world,
Above, below and all around without limit,
So let one cultivate an infinite good will toward the whole world.
For those of us who have the privilege of a decent house, a working car and food of our choosing, we can use this time of upheaval as an opportunity to examine our values. We can summon our courage and practice being open and warm when things are unpleasant or confusing. Our Centering practice can help us become a little more Noble, Awesome and Shiny.
We are happy to announce that the
Leadership Embodiment
book is now available in Spanish. You can find it on Amazon along with my latest book
Dragons and Power
.
Tiphani and I wish you health, happiness and safety.
We hope to see you at one of our online offerings and when things have settled, we hope to see you in person – our hands are on your back.
Many Blessings, Wendy and Tiphani
