Joyful Sadness
Today I am saying goodbye to my little white pony. She’s been with me for four years mostly folded up in the front hall closet. I got her in the spring of 2020 when I discovered that I could finally … Continued
Bardo In Everyday Life
now how to respond to this difficult emotion. Being In A Bardo The word bardo is a Buddhist term often used for the after-death experience. But it also describes the gap triggered by any unexpected crisis. The shock of illness, … Continued
Fear As A Stepping Stone
A cancer diagnosis might feel like the worst thing that could happen to us. But if you want to know the nature of fear, it gives us a great opportunity to work with fear. The step by step instructions … Continued
Three stages of compassion
For the first half hour bumping through the clouds in this small plane I’ve been trying to make small talk with the guy sitting next to me. The weather. Is this vacation or work? Where is home? Short questions and … Continued
The Key to Authenticity: Being Vulnerable
Recently a wind storm knocked over one of my favourite trees in our neighbourhood, a large cedar that must have been about 200 years old. City workers moved in with saws to shave the new stump, revealing the wide and … Continued
The mirror of nowness: feedback you can trust
Mindful Communication; A Mirror for Effective Feedback Kris, the woman sitting next to me on the plane, was returning from what she called a ‘new kind’ of management conference. “What was different about it?” I asked, curious about her … Continued
Outer resolution, inner courage
Last week around 45 people celebrated New Year’s in a silent winter retreat in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Along with plenty of sitting meditation, we were exploring what happens when we make a commitment , like quitting … Continued
Hearts and Blessings
posted in: compassionate communication, Deeply Listening, Gratitude, Love, Mindful Communication, Relationships, spirituality |
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Blessings and Hearts Today my American family and friends are celebrating Thanksgiving. Internet sites are posting stories about all we have to be thankful for. In particular, I was reading a text by psychologist Dr. Robert Emmons about the … Continued
Listening To Joy
posted in: buddhism, Coaching Skills, compassionate communication, Deeply Listening, Love, Mindful Communication, Relationships, spirituality |
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Joy slips into my life by surprise. I click an e-mail attachment and the eyes of my friend’s new-born baby blink open. The traffic’s stopped in the rain at a construction zone– out of nowhere, a brilliant rainbow! A spring … Continued
Listening to pain
Normally we think of mindfulness as a peaceful experience. But there is an unbearably painful side to this practice of waking up. For me, this happens when a story from the news comes to life and pierces my heart like … Continued