Brad4d Savasana

We get easily lured away from our center by our attachments and vices. We all have them. It’s just a matter of whether we control them or they control us. We take a pause, return to the virtues of our spiritual center, then ask, “is this a wise choice?”

We go to a therapist for our mental health, but what about our spiritual health? That’s the job of a spiritual director. Richard Rohr writes that both can be helpful in leading a healthy, productive life. I would also add a third—someone who knows about healing the body.

Tiger Woods’ car accident would have him suffer leg injuries, and people are doubting the future of his golf career. Having back surgery the same time he did in 2014, I was amazed how quickly he would swing the golf club again. People were amazed that I would finish an Ironman five months after my back surgery. We can never underestimate the power of the human spirit. If Tiger Woods wants to retur...

I hate Mondays and the constriction that accompanies it. However, I experience the dread for what it is—just a temporary feeling that will pass just as the moment and the day do. Yes, I still yearn for the weekend when I’m free, but our clinging or aversion to what the moment brings can cause us to lose an opportunity for a new direction.

Confession here: I roll my eyes whenever I see a televangelist whip themselves into an ecstatic state. I can do that, too, if I spin myself around for a few minutes. I can also take drugs to induce visions. But none of these experiences are God. A vision or ecstatic experience isn’t “on demand.” They are gifts, secrets, to encourage us to venture further. We have to be discerning about any of thes...

If we are in a continual state of growth and renewal, can we do the same with others? Do we see people we know as our picture of them from 20 years ago, or do we see the new, evolved person of today? It’s important for us to experience each person, each scene, each moment as ever-changing. This fluidity allows us to open ourselves to bends in the road.

It’s unhealthy for us to avoid our inner conflicts. Oftentimes we consume too much fake news and live in a positivity echo chamber. Eventually, a situation will inflame the kindling of our resentment, which might bring actual harm to ourselves or others. Instead, we are called to be honest with ourselves and our suffering. Rather than sugarcoat what we feel, we can compassionately tell ourselves w...

We often hear the power of gratitude in spiritual circles, but scientists have found that gratitude can motivate you to pursue your goals. When someone does something nice for you, that feeling of gratitude stirs you to do something nice in return. Gratitude gives you the willpower and hope to carry on.

Many hold high expectations about Valentine’s Day, planning special dinners, vacations, or floral deliveries. That’s not love. It’s not a matter of gift-giving or anything material. It’s a recognition and respect of another, wherever they are in their stage of life.

Life can get overwhelming. Sometimes our trials and tribulations can pile up heavy on our hearts. We don’t believe God is near. However, our current feelings about our current state don’t speak much about the whole of our past, present, and future. All feelings are transient, yet God is enduring. Even if we don’t “feel” God, oftentimes it’s because he’s behind us, whispering “just keep going.”

It’s easy to get discouraged and dark, particularly when external circumstances reflect negativity. When this happens, spend time rekindling the flame of love. This means reading or hearing words of encouragement. Find a “go-to” passage that warms you. One of mine is from “The Greatest Salesman in the World.”

It might be easy to love those close to us, but how do we love those who are not? We can at least wish for them to be free from suffering. We can allow a fraction of the love we feel towards those close to us to seep out towards those we don’t know. If we want to feel joy, we can aim to extend this fraction of love. Then, as the Sutta Nipata says, “Your life will bring heaven to earth.”

Many times we suffer twice when we worry. Our thoughts and rumination about something that may or may not occur can do more harm than that something. Practice letting things be in your mind. Allow them to arrive, but refrain from speaking back to them.

We’re often told to “trust our feelings,” but then we’re told that our feelings can mask reality. Which is it? It’s both. To a certain extent, our emotions drive us to do something. When out of control, they drive us out of control. We use time in withdrawal and restraint to sharpen our feelings. We then use reason to help steer our emotions towards things that effect a fruitful life.

People in the US cling to this concept of liberty. We proclaim it when we make choices that defy certain rules or structures. We claim it more as a right rather than a responsibility. We do little to consider the consequences of our choices. Then, when our choice wreaks havoc on our lives or the lives of others, we want to blame others. It’s important for us to own the responsibility of our libera...

Stress and emotion create a toxic cocktail. They work together to wreak havoc over our lives and the lives of others. We see images and videos of others who have sought control over others when they themselves are uncontrollable. We must take measures to harness them so they don’t control us. We can use them as fuel for our actions, using reason as the reins.

Many people go about their lives restless, never knowing the meaning of their circumstances. If we look closely, we might recognize that through our suffering we find our purpose. We can use our voice to complain about our circumstances, or we can use it to inspire others to see through them. We all have a voice, a purpose. Do we use it for our personal gain or for the benefit of the world?

The law of attraction has benefits in that it opens your eyes in ways they might have been closed. However, we can’t be too fixed on the outcome. Even in prayer, we easily get frustrated when our prayers aren’t answered in ways we expect. But each time we ask, we get what we most need at the right moment.

Trees might seem still, but they are continually in a state of change. So are we. When our lives seem still and don’t appear to be moving on the outside, this state of stillness is important on the inside. We should embrace each moment for what it is, learn from it, and open ourselves when it’s time to grow, flourish, let go, or remain still.

When we engage in our efforts, we expect to see progress, particularly when we see quick progress in others. However, we don’t know the story of others. Instead, we should remember what Pierre Teilhard de Chardin tells us: “Trust in the slow work of God.” Timing is always perfect, even if we are impatient.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin writes about how each of us can participate in the work of God. It doesn’t mean abandoning the work of our own soul. Instead, if we are mindful, we can make each act a small piece in the betterment of ourselves and the world. This is because we are all woven together in this intricate web. What we choose to weave is integral to the whole.

Unity and peace will never come if you’re always seeking vindication. People will always wrong us, and if we can’t find an attitude of peace and unity until justice is served, we’re placing our agency for peace outside of us. Instead, if we approach our thoughts and actions in the spirit of unity and reconciliation, we can inspire others to do the same. In that sense, justice will be served becaus...

While we’re enduring great suffering, we feel like God is not with us. Our suffering demands God to heal us. Even in our deepest suffering, God is infused in us. We cannot sense God because He is not “out there,” but “in here.”

As many celebrate the life and teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr., it’s important to also look at how he viewed peace. He believed peace is not accepting the status quo, but recognizing the tension and using peaceful means to arrive at a desired outcome. In his view, peace is both a means and an outcome.

Starting something new or breaking out of routine can bring on anxiety. Our minds grow fearful as thoughts of failure want to dominate. But God is with us always, whether we want Him there or not. By keeping the virtues of peace, compassion and service in mind, we can find courage knowing that by trying, we can’t fail.