Trying to understand certain experiences in the abstract, like therapy, doesn't really work. Sometimes it takes falling into the same pit of failure repeatedly to open up the door. And when I did new insights emerged that changed my life.

It's a human tendency to compare ourselves to others and to feel as though we don't measure up. But if we look to trees we might gain some perspective. Trees don't compare themselves with their neighbors. They exist, pure and simple. Perhaps there are life lessons to be learned from trees. Listen to the story here:

https://upliftedpodcast.com

Photo by @efscudderjr

Meditation is a practice that can connect us with all facets of reality - the good, the bad and the ugly. Rather than recoiling from the harshness and pain of the world we can bring healing by meditating on the pain and suffering of others. This type of meditation is also known as Tonglen meditation.

Anger can be a one-way street. We only see our own perspective. We can fail to see the effect our anger or criticism has on others. It wasn't until my husband confronted me that I was able to step back and see the impact of my words on my son.

Sometimes it's hard to be present in the here and now. Yet Mother Nature sometimes helps awaken the mind and the spirit. A gentle rainshower can be all it takes. And sometimes this message from nature feels like a form of divine intervention

Do you find yourself thrown by volatile situations and people? After an argument with my teenage son I imagined myself calm and rooted in the earth like a mountain. Wisdom leaders like Thich Nhat Hanh and Jon Kabat-Zinn propose visualizations like this to develop a feeling of inner strength.

Have you ever considered using your social media feed as practice for letting go of expectations for yourself and others? Write. Release. Repeat. Be respectful. Be thoughtful. And then let your words go out into the world. Use your social media posts as practice for letting go of concerns about whether your words matter enough or how many likes you get.

You know when the mind races from one thought to the next making it hard to focus? Meditation can help. Pssst - it's ok to have thoughts while meditating.

When I got angry as a little girl my father never listened to why I was so upset. He always expected me to claim guilt and apologize. Recently, amidst so many polarized attitudes, I have come to savor the value of saying those three all-important words: I hear you.

I introduce Uplifted as a podcast where I share stories about life experiences that lead to insights about better ways of living.