We might have the will to change our lives, to get into shape or to purify our minds and spirit through meditation. Yet when we think about going to the gym and looking awkward on a Smith machine, we get uncomfortable. Looking at the meditation cushion or yoga mat, suddenly taking that first step seems so daunting.

Also important is the concept of self. If we don't see ourselves as fit, healthy people, as relaxed, focused individuals, we may prefer inaction.

Perhaps we don't have to do it all at once. In Atomic Habits, James Clear recommends starting small, even with the absolute smallest action we can take. One single pushup, one line in the journal, one minute or even one second of seated meditation could begin us on a journey, starting to see ourselves and the world differently. Piece by piece, transforming our identity, by starting small.

For the transcript: Start Small A Beautiful Thought

You might have heard the expression "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." Sometimes it's attributed to the Buddha, but it's much more likely that it originated from an unknown source, coming from some member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

However, the phrase is consistent with the Buddha's teachings, as we see in this quote from the Sallatha Sutta:

“When touched with a feeling of pain, the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person sorrows, grieves, & laments, beats his breast, becomes distraught. So he feels two pains, physical & mental. Just as if they were to shoot a man with an arrow and, right afterward, were to shoot him with another one, so that he would feel the pains of two arrows; in the same way, when touched with a feeling of pain, the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person sorrows, grieves, & laments, beats his breast, becomes distraught. So he feels two pains, physical & mental.”

How can we avoid telling ourselves stories about our pain? How can we experience the pain alone? How can we avoid piercing ourselves with that second arrow?

For the transcript: One Arrow A Beautiful Thought

Most of us know what it's like to receive inspiration, to have an idea, perhaps one that seems to come out of nowhere, and think "that would be nice". Some people have the uncommon habit of writing down those ideas, bringing them into the second dimension - a little closer to being fully real.

Having them on the page, it's much easier to take action, embodying the idea in the third dimension. Then to form a habit across time, the fourth dimension.

Having transformed through the process, it's natural that someone will say "Wow, what you've done is so inspiring!" Then they might even write down their thoughts, take action, and create a habit. That is when our thoughts enter the fifth dimension - changing the personal universe of another.

When you receive inspiration, where will you take it?

For the transcript: Dimensions of Being A Beautiful Thought

Eze Sánchez is a life coach and expert in non-violent communication living in Gainesville, Florida.

Here he tells us the story of how he first conceived the idea of being a life coach, even before he knew there was a name for it. Practicing reiki and massage therapy, he found that many times the important thing for the client was being heard in a space free of judgement. Being so ready to listen carefully to people, he found that often they would open up to him in a way they wouldn't even open up to their closest friends.

Being very afraid of having a lack of security or stability, he learnt to be honest with himself about the message behind the fear, and so he planned carefully to make the transition as smooth as possible.

In the interview, Eze and Kurt discuss how the principles of nonviolent communication can help people to find the messages behind their emotions, about how to make a significant and sustainable life transition, and how a person's nature can be expressed in limitless ways in their search for fulfillment.

For notes and links: A New Life WIth Eze Sanchez A Beautiful Thought

When speaking to someone, we might find that our mind suddenly goes blank. This can be a source of frustration, or a spontaneous meditation. For a moment we find ourselves free from any thought, and, circumstances providing, we can simply relax into that space.

During seated meditation, one might find that the situation is reversed. Now one seeks an absence of thought, and it is a busy mind that is a source of frustration.

The great thing about meditation is, there is no rush. If the mind relaxes during your first session, that is wonderful. If your mind relaxes when you reach the hundredth session, that is just as valuable.

For the transcript: Gap Between Our Thoughts A Beautiful Thought

In one fable from business, a Chinese man and a man from the United States meet to discuss a potential deal. The American man presents his case with great enthusiasm, explaining all the elements and trying to sell the Chinese fellow on the benefits. The Chinese simply waits patiently, listens and says “Yes.”

By the end of the meeting, the American has the impression that he was in control the whole time. Yet the Chinese is the one who leaves with a lot more understanding and knowledge.

Many things are revealed to us, when we exercise observation and discernment, as in this story from a Monk Friend:

A monk walks in a little late to the evening chant. Due to where he stands and sits in the hall, he can’t easily see the page number of the prayer books of his brothers and sisters, yet after a few moments he has opened his book to the correct page and is chanting along.

After the chanting, a brother approaches the monk, astounded. He says “You couldn’t possibly have seen the page number from where you stood. This is incredible. You must have used the Eye of the Buddha to know the correct page.”

Our monk says no, actually what he did was quite simple. He observed that they were about one third of the way through the chant book, and while he couldn’t read the text, he could clearly see its shape. He found the page with the correct outline, listened to the chanting, and joined in from that spot.

It’s often said that the path to hell is laid with good intentions. Good intentions are a necessary, but not sufficient condition for a good life.

Good intentions enable us to know what ends might be desirable, but they don’t help us to know how to attain them.

Fine discrimination allows us to determine the correct means to carry out our plans, to see clearly the obstacles that might prevent us and how to work around them, or even turn them to our advantage. In combination with good intentions, we can answer the question “What is worth doing?”

Right action enables us to move in the correct direction, to bring our plans to life, and to fruition, to enact a vision with precision.

Any one or two of these qualities is not sufficient for a good life. But all three are disproportionately powerful, and someone who strengthens the heart, mind and hand will defy many limitations.

For the transcript: Three Qualities for a Good Life A Beautiful Thought

In our romantic relationships, sometimes our best sides are revealed, and sometimes our worst sides. Dating someone can expose our insecurities. Breaking up can expose our resentment.

Those are some of the times when it is most difficult to be present, to be conscious of our emotions, and not blame others for them.

That means those moments are also a great measure of our practice, carefully keeping the mind still.

Every time we have someone in our arms, every time someone holds us in their hearts, that is a chance to be gentle.

For the transcript: Please Be Gentle A Beautiful Thought

Ana Gaeta found herself in a marriage that might seem more like a kidnapping, unable to leave her home and closely monitored by her husband at all times. Trapped in a situation with no support, being told constantly by her partner that nobody would believe her and seeing that the church and police really didn’t believe her, she started to question her faith.

However, she continued to pray and eventually regained a connection with the Divine. Finding the voice of intuition inside, she began to find a way to improve her life despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She regained her freedom physically, and then spiritually, through forgiveness and gratitude.

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence.

When observing our own thoughts, we can, as an exercise, ask how the thoughts relate to our identity.

With some thoughts, it will be obvious as soon as we look - with a memory of an argument, thinking about the perfect comeback we could have said, about something we’re proud of or some reward we look forward to receiving. Just by scratching the surface we can see some association with the ego.

We might find that, even though we recognize these thoughts are based in ego, we want to persist with them. In that case, we can simply notice that impulse. Perhaps there is even a subtler desire to continue with the impulse. Again, we notice the desire.

Often in meditation, and in life, it is not necessary to seek to change things. By becoming aware of our own tendencies, we plant the seed of transformation.

Note: In the episode Kurt attributes a quote to Lao-Tzu - “When I let go of who I am, I become what I might be.” The quote is from a translation of Chapter 22 of the Tao Te Ching, but the translation is not faithful.

For the transcript Where is the Ego Here A Beautiful Thought