Integrity means not only honesty and trustworthiness, but wholeness, soundness. Integrity is not just a lovely human quality, but an active, divine power. Pause to feel the presence of Integrity. Feel the power of Integrity establishing sanity, ethics, order and love in your thought and actions. Feel the power a of Integrity establishing health and wholeness in your relationships, your career, your body, the environment, the structure of your day. When confusion or fear muddles you, stop and feel the activity and presence of Integrity.
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From Jack Kornfield's A Lamp in the Darkness:
"It is necessary to learn that you are worthy of being loved. Buddha put it quite simply: 'You can search the whole tenfold universe and not find a single being more worthy of love and compassion than the one seated here--yourself.' Self-compassion and self-forgiveness are not weaknesses, but the roots of our courage and magnanimity . . . . And it is by first practicing self-compassion that you find not only a way to hold your own struggles and sorrows in your heart--but through them you learn how to connect with the sufferings and sorrows of all those around." Today, feel yourself held in Love's embrace, an all encompassing hug. When your thoughts get agitated, feel the hug. Rest in it. When you are tired or hungry or lonely or afraid, lean into that hug. Trust it. That hug wraps you in unconditional love and forgiveness. That love restores and renews you.
Today, when any agitating thoughts arise, answer with "I love you." That "I love you" is from yourself to yourself. That "I love you" is from Love to you.
Worried about global warming? "I love you." Criticizing your appearance? "I love you." Feeling regretful? "I love you." Fretting about your latest faux pas? "I love you." Unable to make a decision? "I love you." Concerned about a relationship? "I love you." Fearful about finances or the future? "I love you." Of course, there are times to make decisions and take action, but today answer every complaint with "I love you." Love is intelligent and creates with intelligence. Love does not make us stupid. Love creates us with the ability to hear Love's wisdom and to follow it. Love gives us the ability to discern, to recognize right action, to take right action, and to see ourselves and others with divine eyes. Love protects us from manipulation and ignorance. Love gives us clarity and power.
Today, whenever you feel rattled, anxious, riled up, confused, or lonely, pause and feel Love hugging you. Feel the presence of Love wrapping arms around you, soothing your nerves, restoring your calm, wrapping you in unconditional love. Stay in this hug until your equilibrium returns. Do this many times a day.
Divine Love has the power to reveal order. To still and order your busy thoughts. To reveal next steps in a problem that seems intractable. To calm and clarify your seemingly chaotic emotions. To show you how to organize your schedule and possessions. To rank your priorities according to Love's values.
Today, acknowledge and feel Love's ordering and organizing powers. From Jack Kornfield's A Lamp in the Darkness:
"You know that you don't possess anything, even your own body, but you know that you have to care for it or you'll create more suffering. You look at your children and realized that you don't own them, and that you cause them and yourself suffering by thinking that you do. Instead, you fully love and care for them and let them live their own lives. And with this simple but profound realization, you become both spacious and more loving." Today, love without owning. Today, know that you are Love's beloved. Love loves every molecule of your being, deeply and unreservedly and without interruption. Love delights in and cherishes you, as a wanted and adored child. When you feel worried, rest in this love. When you have a question you can't answer, rest in this love. When the world's sorrows seem too heavy to bear, rest in this love. Begin in that love and return to it over and over throughout the day.
Humility is open-minded, curious, willing to learn, willing to change, willing to listen, willing to grow. Humility also recognizes its own strengths. Humility does not mean lack of confidence. Humility does not mean doubting your own insights or abilities. Humility can means the courage to do or say a difficult thing - which from the outside might look like confidence or self-assurance. Self-doubt is the flip side of arrogance, both of which focus on the self. Humility and true courage and confidence remembers, "it is not about you." You are serving Spirit's activity.
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AuthorTarn Wilson is the author of the memoir The Slow Farm and numerous essays. You may read more of her work at tarnwilson.com. Archives
September 2020
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