​There is no way to annihilate the ego, nor should we strive to. There is only one way to loosen its grip upon us, by tapping into the most powerful "virtue" of all, compassion. We can cultivate compassion for the ego because it is so insecure, rooted in fear; compassion for others because they are struggling with their egos just as we are; compassion for ourself because, in our humanness, we will fall prey to the ego again and again. It is inevitable that this will happen. The ego holds the blueprint for what it means to be a human being. We cannot exist in a body without it.
 
The practice of mindfulness can help us notice when the ego is present; we can see it clearly for what it is—an ego. The practice of compassion enables us to let go of any self-negating feelings we may have about getting "caught" or stuck in ego once again. Compassion invites us to love ourself as we are, then to aim higher so we make the wisest of choices.

​©2025, Janice L. Lundy

Do you ever wonder how you can be more compassionate? Sometimes we get firmly stuck in our intellect trying to reason out how. When we let the ruminating go—especially the "shoulds" of compassion—we can drop into a softer, more welcoming place within us.
 
Compassion carries a slight smile with it, so put one on. Compassion sees through lenses of love, so place an imaginary pair on your face and try to see others with kind eyes. Compassion feels through arms and hands, so reach out and touch someone. This is what is meant by embodied compassion—active gestures of connection instead of simply thinking about how.

Are you being a “soul friend” today? Are you holding someone's hand, embracing his or her heart as a representative of divine presence in the world? 
 
In difficult times, we all need someone who can offer us unconditional kindness. Let us never forget that our extension of kindness and compassion serves as a mirror of the Ultimate. Let us offer it regularly and serve others unreservedly.

​©2024, Janice L. Lundy

One way you can to begin to live the core value of peace and kindness to all is to begin with yourself, specifically, by noticing your internal dialogue. How do you speak to yourself? Do you berate, judge or ridicule yourself? In truth, how you speak to yourself is either an act of self-care or an act of hostility. 
 
Speaking unkindly in this way sets us up to carry it forward by speaking carelessly to others. We perpetuate our inner hurt out into the world and others then suffer. 
 
Today, begin to speak to yourself as kindly as you would your own precious child. 

​©2024, Janice L. Lundy

​Any interaction you have with another person, carefully examined, will reveal how well you are embodying your true self.
 
By noticing the feelings that come up when you are in the company of another, you are given a unique opportunity to take a closer look at yourself. Until now, your tendency may have been to focus on what he is doing wrong, what she is doing to make you feel badly about yourself. As long as you are in relationship, the invitation will consistently be offered to stop pointing the finger at someone else for making you feel less-than-wonderful and look in the mirror of your own perceptions.
 
Pointing a compassionate finger back at yourself is a powerful invitation to let go of false understandings and release them to love.

​The divine is found in every form, in every person with whom you cross paths, even those individuals who appear to be the most difficult. Every human being is fashioned with an all-knowing hand. Each is struggling to live with as little discomfort and the highest degree of happiness that’s possible. We are more alike than we are different. 
 
Knowing this, how shall we choose to treat one another? If I am you and you are me, how shall we live?