Dear Listeners,
When I think more change can’t be packed into a single week, this past week happens. It is not just people, its also environment, nations… it seems as if everything has some kind of new spin to it. Attempting to observe this movement in its totality—is mind boggling. So when I see patterns like this, even if its new (but somehow related to old ones) I suggest slowing down, quieting the mind, renewing the heart.
As patterns tends to catch my eye- the one of late is on the theme of major shifts: long-standing issues in people’s lives come to a head. This could be a thing previously avoided popping up declaring a presence, or situations finally resolving after years of effort to improve. It is one shift after another. Long-building dreams find doors open, and others left dying on a vine- finally fall off. To spell it out, it’s homes lost or sold, bought or moved into, relationships ending, beginning, legal cases settling, people in good health taking tumbles, products launching, contracts signed, labs normalizing/symptoms resolving… you get the picture. It is such a curious time! People in the past who held back, are now using wisdom and taking action.
As time seems to speed up—with a sprinkle of intensity about it— how we can navigate? While in this whirlwind together, we might as well make the best of it. The question becomes: What practices can help us through these times?
I continue to return to the importance of clearing or quieting the mind and opening the heart. Sometime in 2024, I personally began leaning into more heart-centered practices. While the brain computes, analyzes and can dwell in memory—often complicating things with interpretations or stories that may not even be true—the heart offers wisdom, love and compassion. The two need to work together, but in my opinion, the heart leads.
Our minds have a habit of dividing experiences into parts, at times in disjointed ways. A common tendency among people is to label things as “good” or “bad,” “us” versus “them.” This binary thinking, often referred to as black-and-white thinking, has become amplified in recent years, driven by politics and other divisive mediums. I strongly discourage this approach. It separates us not only from one another but also from our deeper sense of connection and understanding (within and throughout). It divides us on many levels. The outer battles taken with ‘other’ more truly reflect our inner divide. Many don’t want to hear that. It is easier to look at the outside as something to ‘fix’. I suggest unity- from within, which arises from the heart.
I propose living from the heart as a solution. This re-orientation involves a re-training of consciousness, a practice cultivated through meditation and contemplation.
The heart embodies unity.
It’s challenging—if not impossible—to remain in fear, anger or judgment when living from the heart. If you find yourself stuck in those patterns (not simply feeling them, but trapped by them), ask yourself: Where is my heart?
If you’re facing hurdles or challenges, or even opportunities that feel exciting yet scary, consider change may require a leap of faith—in yourself. This perspective extends beyond psychology, though it includes it on some level.
As we move through 2025 with any of the change (turbulence or drama) it may bring, consider how you can use this momentum to change or uplift yourself. In the meantime, I encourage you to reflect on the habits, practices and settings that help you live from the heart. Heart-centered living translates to living with more compassion, love and gratitude.
May you go about your days in peace.
I thank you for your support and application of the principles I share. —SL
my dog jumping (with joy) in the snow
Share this post