​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?

​Learning to live through your spiritual identity takes time. As children, we first had to learn to crawl, then to walk. When we took those first faltering steps we were down on the floor more than we were up walking. We'd fall, get up, try again, and, inevitably fall some more until our body/mind system came together to perform the astounding task of balancing perfectly while standing, then moving about with ease on two legs.
 
The same is true for learning to walk in the world as a loving, compassionate presence. It takes practice, and a divine readiness of body, mind and spirit coming together in exactly the right way. Let us be patient and kind with ourselves as we learn to let go and live into Love.

​©2024 Janice L. Lundy

As we spend more time with others this holiday season, I offer this gentle reminder:

​It is easy to love those who love us, more difficult to love those who don't. The invitation of Love is to develop our inner being to the point where we see and experience "the One" in all its forms. 
 
We never know where sacred messengers will be found. The Persian poet and sage, Rumi, counseled us, "Be grateful for whomever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond." Divine connection is found in every form, whether it is a fellow traveler with whom we have instantaneous connection, the irksome stranger who tests our patience, or the loved one who is a perpetual thorn in our side. All are of the One. 

​©2023, Janice L. Lundy

​As we journey inward, we may be urged to examine the true nature of our relationships. Seldom do they resemble the photos on greeting cards depicting lovers passionately entwined before a glorious sunset. In real life, our relationships are full of ups and downs, periods of challenge balanced with periods of great joy. If anything, these periods are our greatest teachers. 
 
Our personal journey to awakened living is validated not by being alone, but in relationship with others. Learning how to love, teaches us how to live.

What do you do when your wisdom eludes you? When you feel overcome with emotion or ill equipped to handle life as it is? According to Buddhist teacher and author, Thich Nhat Hanh, our safest course of action is "indirect embracing."
 
Most of us have a difficult time embracing all of our emotions, especially the volatile ones. It is a genuine spiritual practice to embrace anger, greed, jealousy, and the like. But we can, with the help of our breath and an attitude of loving-kindness.
 
Thich Nhat Hanh suggests that you recognize the emotion by simply saying hello to it, offering it a slight smile, just like you would someone you're not fond of, but don't want to be impolite to. Allow this hello and an inner smile help you rest into your breath with gentleness. Relief can be yours.

©2023, Janice L. Lundy

The older we get the more we may realize that not much in life matters if we don't have love. Love of family and friends. Love of work and creative expression. Love of the Earth and her bounty. Love of growth and the opportunity to be all that we can be. But in order to receive this love, we must have an open heart. We must be able to fully give love, too.
 
Today let us re-dedicate ourselves to living with wide-open hearts as best we can; to not shut down or close off to others; to not judge or discriminate or neglect. Let us extend ourselves to others as best we can. Let us live with unconditional friendliness toward all beings, both animal and human. Let us we be kind.
 
This is a life worth living, one rooted in love.

©2023, Janice L. Lundy
​

​How can you be with yourself in a more kindly way?
 
Would it be to quiet yourself and rest? To let go of a pressing deadline? To re-engage a spiritual practice you've been too busy to enjoy? Choose one. Do one.
 
Do a good deed today by being good to you.

These days, this is very much where I find myself:

The older we get the more we may realize that not much in life matters if we don't have love. Love of family and friends. Love of work and creative expression. Love of the Earth and her bounty. Love of growth and the opportunity to be all that we can be. But in order to receive this love, we must have an open heart. We must be able to fully give love, too.
 
Today let us re-dedicate ourselves to living with wide-open hearts as best we can; to not shut down or close off to others; to not judge or discriminate or neglect. Let us extend ourselves to others as best we can. Let us live with unconditional friendliness toward all beings, both animal and human. Let us we be kind.
 
This is a life worth living, one rooted in love.

Let us be kind when it comes to how we speak. We can learn to speak directly, to make our thoughts and needs known, yet do so with grace and dignity.
 
Gentle speech is sourced in confidence and self-knowledge. We can express ourselves clearly, aware that each word we speak has the power to help or heal the situation. We choose wisely for we wish to be known—but to cause no harm.

​©2023, Janice L. Lundy

Many years ago I did a kind thing for myself. I stopped trying to create balance in my life. Instead I made a kinder choice: create inner harmony.

Balance, by its very nature, is impossible to achieve. Nothing is ever balanced (I'm thinking of the see-saw [teeter-totter) of my childhood here ...). It's either up or down. Too much or too little. Trying to achieve balance for me was a self-defeating choice because no one can ever get anything "just right." I experienced trying to get my life in balance as pressure, resulting in failure (of course!)—a misguided attempt at perfection. 

But harmony, oh, that had a lovely, gentle ring to it. It reminded me of musical notes coming together in a pleasing way. More like rhythm. A delightful blending of elements that just flowed.  Now this I could get behind. I decided to pitch balance and opt for harmony instead. 

Instead of striving for and struggling with balance, how can we shift our efforts to focus instead on creating inner harmony? Here's  an idea, a simple starting point. 

You can begin to create greater harmony in your life by paying close attention to what your body is trying to tell you in any given situation, honoring that revelation, then making choices that foster your well-being. 
 
You can do this by literally listening to your body through the vehicle of your senses. Pay mindful attention to what you are seeing and hearing. Note your body's response. Ask yourself, 'Is this experience creating feelings of peace and well-being in me, or is it causing me stress, worry, pressure or fear?'
 
When we listen mindfully, we can make healthy, new choices for ourselves—choices rooted in loving-kindness. 

And new choices are easy to make and implement when they are sourced in self-kindness. 

​©2024, Janice L. Lundy