PEBBLE
What if it’s not the life you wish you had but the one you’ve got that holds what you need to reach your highest potential?
~Pema Chödrön, shared by Kelsey in Fond du Lac, WI
BOULDER
Your heart is connected to the entire picture. Your mind cares about temporary circumstances. The more you connect to the bigger picture, the faster that the temporary will take care of itself. Stay in the big picture and life will mirror you.
~Kyle Cease via Facebook shared by Sam in Dallas, TX
PONDER
Last week we were Grappling with Uncertainty because we didn’t know how the U.S. elections would go. With those uncertainties mostly resolved, there are, of course, new uncertainties to wonder and/or worry about. What happens next? Where do we go from here? Some folks in my orbit remain curious about the possibilities while others are growing increasingly concerned about the potential problems. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who can think of good reasons to bring a combo pack of curiosity and concern as we venture into the new year.
Regardless of voting and political preferences, lots of folks are experiencing a mixture of thoughts and feels about how things are unfolding and how best to respond to all of this. One thing that can trip us up is getting so stuck in wishing things were different that we aren’t able to accurately identify the options and opportunities that exist within the actual, current landscape of how things really are. Getting unstuck usually requires taking some time to pause and grieve the loss of how we thought or wished things were. If you and/or people you care about are in this place right now, I hope this week you’ll spare some extra bits of compassion and generosity.
Way back at the beginning of the pandemic, we unleashed a series of Ripples to help us remember that We Got This if we can collectively activate our Curious Minds, Open Hearts, and Calm Spirits while Nurturing Health. Over the weekend I spent some time with members of the Team Ripples Patreon Community reviewing how these four pillars evolved into resilience content that have helped lots of folks survive, revive, and even thrive amid considerable challenge and change. You can watch the 12-minute video, and we also uploaded the audio as an episode of The Ripples Pondcast which you can find wherever you listen to podcasts.
Whatever you’re thinking, feeling, or doing right now, may these ripples offer you something useful right now: solace, hope, and as always….
Peace,
Paul
