Escape From Escaping

Last week I heard an inspirational interview with Buddhist nun Pema Chodron done by Oprah Winfrey on her Soul Series XM radio show. The discussion is also transcribed in an here on the Oprah website. I'm touched by how simple life can be if we can agree to put ourselves into a realm of acceptance rather than resisting anything negative that comes up.  Her advice to simply notice when you're "hooked" (aka: getting taken into upset about something), and then pause, take a few mindful breaths can make a difference in how we are able to move forward - with power -- instead of defeat/stress. I'm not going to be able to paraphrase all the great words of Pema here, but wanted to take my "entry a day" self-assignment opportunity to share and appreciate her teachings.

Unexpected Inspiration

A small commandment I spotted on the Happiness Project Toolbox gave me a lightbulb moment. It said to "be the person you want to be with and fall in love with" (emphasis added). I love two aspects of this commandment: 1)It focuses on being as the active means of "having"...a truth in life I've found hard to comprehend at times, but impossible to avoid; 2)I can't think of a better motivation to be your best self, than to put yourself into the shoes of a person who loves you, an iteration of the golden rule most appealingly put.

Perhaps this inspiring thought has been out there for me to notice before and I've either missed it or dismissed it. I'm noticing now. Sending a thank you to the "interwebs" and all of its participants for this gift of sharing wisdom.