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  THE DISTORTION OF SADNESS   #1:  Sadness Isn’t a “Thing” The first thing to know about sadness is that it isn’t tangible… it’s not a “thing.” Sadness is a state of mind based on your interpretation of life. When you feel sad, who you really are isn’t sad. It’s your limited perspective that’s sad.…

  NAVIGATING BY INTUITION #1:  Be Present       We’ve all had the frustrating experience of having to decide between right and right… two alternatives, both of which we can make solid, logical cases for choosing. Faced with having to decide, our mind typically becomes a two-faced, devil’s advocate that talks us into – and out…

  HUMILITY IS KING #1:  Have Modesty with Confidence      Humility is a trademark characteristic of spiritual maturity. It comes across as a modest yet confident disposition that has nothing to prove. It’s also an antidote to humiliation. When you feel humiliated, what hurts is your ego, but your ego is not who you…

  THE PRISON OF GUILT #1:  Regret is Good      Regret is a useful tool that encourages us to forensically examine our mistakes. When we embrace regret, our mistakes can’t define us. Instead, our willingness to learn and grow from our mistakes is what defines us. Guilt, on the other hand, is a useless emotion…

  THE POWER OF BOUNDARIES       #1:  Decline Ultimatums      One of the most challenging things to do in life is to set and enforce boundaries for friends and family. The complicated thing about boundaries is that everyone’s boundaries are different. So, it follows that some people – even those who are close to us…

  THE FREEDOM OF FORGIVENESS #1:  Forgiving Leads to Inner Peace      Forgiveness is not about excusing bad behavior; it’s about becoming bigger than the bad behavior. “I forgive you despite what you’ve done” is not an absolution from consequences; it’s an act of compassion that seeks to move on. When we refuse to forgive,…

  THE PITFALL OF JUDGMENT   #1:  Recognize the Judge Within     Since childhood, many of us were taught to judge. We witnessed those around us judging each other, and we also felt the bitter sting of being judged. You’d think that experience would discourage us from judging others. But when the human mind is threatened -…

  THE SCENIC ROUTE #1:  You’re Always Home   Turtles are remarkable creatures. First emerging 260 million years ago – even before the dinosaurs – turtles, relatively speaking, haven’t evolved that much because their design works really well. Some turtles can hold their breath for 10 hours. Others can go for months without eating. And a…

  DEFINING YOUR NORTH STAR #1:  Decide What’s Most Important      Before the advent of satellites and GPS – even before the invention of the compass –  our ancestors could find their way by looking up at the night sky to see Polaris, otherwise known as the north star. Despite Earth’s rotation, Polaris is the…

  COMPASSIONATE POLITICS #1:  Bring Compassion to Your Politics      Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, once famously said… “Our maturity will be judged by how well we agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another, to care for one another, and to seek the greater good of the other.” The power…