There's endless beauty in simplicity...

[purple cabbage]

intention

"For a healthy spirit, you must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life."
                          - Dallas Willard (via Hank Fortener)


Your refusal to rush is bound to tick others off.

That’s a good thing.

It’s a sign you’re chipping away at the status quo. Others might not always find that so comforting. But, blatant adherence to the status quo is far from what this world needs.

Keep defying the norms. Each time you do, there’s a tribe of us cheering. We can awaken real intention in this world instead of blindly scattering. 

step one

Step one – it’s the uncomfortable one we’re far too inclined to skip.

Step one – it’s also the defining one we’re crazy to dare miss.

The absence of step one is obvious in:

the organization without a cause

the meeting without a purpose

the life without direction

the brochure without a message

the email without a point

Scarcity of resources may try to silence your dire need for it. Yet, when resources are scarce, it’s precisely the thing you need.

Step one – that powerful stage of:

considering why you exist

questioning why you’re embarking

determining what you’re after

envisioning where you’re going

All steps that follow benefit from step one – if you’re patient and courageous enough to embrace it.

Muster patience and lean into the power of step one.

break the routine

An ordinary morning is transformed when you:

(a) actively look for beauty

(b) intentionally break the routine

[oatmeal w/sauteed apples]

bakeshop

sans gluten

[apple, oat, buckwheat muffins 
adapted from love and lemons] 

leading with my heart

In yoga the other day, the teacher told me to lead with my heart. I posture my body in a way that puts unnecessary stress on my shoulders – not a good thing. But, that’s no surprise to me. I don’t stand as tall as I should. I carry most of my stress up in my shoulders. Countless times over the years I’ve been reminded – shoulders back.  

The words of my yoga teacher, though – they penetrated much deeper. Yes, my physical body is not leading with my heart. But, the more compelling truth – that physical reality is mirrored by my emotional tendency. At times, I choose not to lead with my heart. Why? The vulnerability is freaking terrifying. I cut myself off instead of connecting. I bar myself from love because it might be imperfect; I very well could get hurt.

See, the fear in my head forgets to tell me a crucial bit about leading with your heart – there’s an upside. When you follow the way of love, you see beauty and opportunity. At every corner, there’s possibility.  Yes, the vulnerability of it all may get you burned along the way, but instead of feeling hidden, you’re alive like never before.

cease the hustle

When did we ever begin to accept that corrupt notion that hustling to please is praiseworthy? You know what I’m talking about – that asinine belief that the most noteworthy folks are the ones that work late and bear endless stories of being martyrs for their jobs.

I bought into that lie. Each time I stopped myself from working later or pushing longer, I let the menacing thoughts creep in – You must lack real determination. If you knew how to persevere, you’d see things through. Stop copping out. Quit idealizing.

I never really openly referenced those thoughts. I’m not sure I even realized they existed, but the fact that they subconsciously sunk in is undeniable given the shame that took control.

A couple days ago, something new took hold though – a glimpse at the other side of the picture. A realization dawned – I don’t say no to the hustle due to a lack of perseverance. In actuality, it’s a decision to stand by the values I hold dear. It takes a heck of a lot of determination to quiet the achievement-obsessed, fear-driven thoughts running rampant in my mind. True discipline is required to defy those powerful threats to my personal value for balanced living and healthy well-being.

See, the truth is far different from the one our world likes to feed us. It takes far greater strength to uphold your core values than it does to give in and hustle to please the masses. When you recognize your inherent worth and the matchless significance of your driving values though, you’re freed from the need to exist in constant overdrive.