Reminders for myself

Overheard on Mastodon

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to think of reasonable sounding ways to blame other people for things I could totally change but consistently don’t.

– @AliceFraser@mastodonapp.uk / HT Dense Discovery

“Managed” Religion, which somehow needs to create co-dependency (“learned
helplessness”) among its members, preferred to emphasize “original sin” instead.
This has kept us united but disempowered in inferiority instead of empowered and
united by dignity—which is our only real future. The negative result, however, has
been the immense self doubt, guilt

The initial basis for that inherent dignity is found in the beginnings of the book
of Genesis, where it says that human persons are actually created in the “image and likeness” of God (1:27)! I always say that, if we really believed it, we could save most people $10,000 in therapy bills! The Judeo-Christian tradition thus begins on an extremely posi

Just stand wherever you are — in the kitchen, in the shop, or in the bathroom — and wrap your arms around yourself as tightly as you can. Rock yourself. Before long you will be able to feel God holding you in the same way you are holding yourself. You will be comforted the way you were comforted as a child when your mother held you in her arms and

There are conditions of blindness so voluntary that they become complicity.

Paul Bourget

“School tests weaknesses. Life rewards strengths.

Spending more time on our weakest areas is tempting, but life mostly rewards us for investing in our strengths. Imagine a student who struggles with math but excels at writing. In school, they might spend hours raising their math grades from a C to a B. However, spending the same time on writing migh

“Without being aware, it’s not possible to really live in a free way. Otherwise we are just in habitual reaction to whatever is arising.” – Jack Kornfield

On a deeper level, I’m always practicing being done, in every sense—because birth, death, love, and life’s turning points arrive unannounced, their timing held close in the hands of the universe. One of my meditation teachers likens us to ships sailing out to sea, destined to sink; we just don’t know when. Another advises, “Stop making stuff.” He m

Tilicho Lake by David Whyte

In this high place

it is as simple as this,

Leave everything you know behind.

Step toward the cold surface,

say the old prayer of rough love

and open both arms.

Those who come with empty hands

will stare into the lake astonished,

there, in the cold light

reflecting pure snow,

the true shape of your own face.

“The price of success is paid in private. Visible triumphs are built on invisible work.”

**

“Most people are interested. Few are truly committed.

Interested people act when it's convenient; committed people act no matter what. Interested people do the minimum; committed people push beyond limits. Interested people wait to be told; committed people tak