Even without the incredible challenge of substance abuse, our adult children may get stuck in patterns or habits that do not serve them or us. Our fears may drive us to blame, try to control, or take on additional responsibilities out of guilt in an attempt to mitigate their challenges. How do we empower them instead?

Father’s Day and Solstice provide ample opportunities for essential questions. We explore the Inuktitut concept, isumaqsayuq (ee-sue-mahq-SAH-yooq) best translated as “to cause thought; a conscious method of instruction.”

Solitude and silence offer many heart-opening opportunities when we build them into our day. We open to new ideas, and attune ourselves more deeply to what we really love. The sense of spaciousness to just be, in a world so consumed by doing, is good for us on every level.

Appreciation is honoring, encouragement, cherishing, treasuring, admiration. How might we weave its magic into our day?

Embracing Just is ness is freedom. The incessant demands of how we should behave, should be feeling, or should be doing are not likely to fill us with liberated rapture. We examine the RAIN technique as one way to put on “attitude adjustment glasses.”

The relationship between ecstasy and freedom is the infinity sign: each supports and contributes to the other distinct state of being. How might we stabilize those “peek” experiences that give us a glimpse of what is possible? 

Knowing how to intend is one of the eight essential principles for a good life. When we marry focused attention with clear intention, much is possible. Awareness, skills and desire combine to guide us through the process from a thought form to manifested reality.

Forgiveness is an essential life skill, one that asks us to experience all of the varied emotions involved in a sense of being wronged. It always involves self-forgiveness, and offers us the rewards of more spaciousness, release and peace.

“How can I serve?” is an essential question. When we answer its call daily – in ways large and small – we participate in forging an intimate global community, and realize that in giving there is always receiving—often in unexpected ways.

We continue our exploration of the essential principles for a good life. Grief offers us many gifts as we slow down, become more vulnerable, deepen our compassion, appreciate our nurturing connections and attain a larger perspective on the flow of grief and loss in our life.