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I picked up the plowshare of self acceptance once when I accepted the reality of mental illness. I stopped calling myself a monster. I stopped calling myself undisciplined. This Love allowed me to see there are no bad parts of myself even though I still have unskillful behavior from time to time.

Honoring dignity of those who aren't doing well is something I try bring my highest awareness to. The author said "So if my students know in their bones that I have given them a dignity that is independent of their performance, then I can have honest conversations with them about their performance. " This is the key! People don't care what you know until they know that you care. I had an experience with one of my children when they had engaged in especially unskillful behavior. I explained to that child that they were loved and would always have a home to come home to. I explained there was no behavior that could cause separation between them and me. I think they were shocked they didn't get reprimanded. Corrective teaching came over the next few days. Consequences came as well, heavy ones. But we led with love and belonging first. The fruit of this seemed to be trust.

with my family i have set a personal goal to increase the love instead of "being right." It has been a transformative practice as i have learned that love will manifest moment to moment what is needed. Love does what is needed and that is not always the same thing. As i have tuned into this energy of Love i have fundamentally changed and i see my family differently now. I believe we can have the most impact on relationships with the energy of Love. I believe we can become Love. I believe it is the only thing that can bring together divided groups in a way that is authentic. it has worked well in my family. I just wonder what it could do for the human family. may you all press forward in the good work of love!

Trust helps me wait for the way to open. Trust in self Trust in process Trust in higher power Years ago I began to hold an intention to "let the moment inform me of what is needed and what comes next" This is my "pause" This allowed me to behave as needed and not in some predetermined fashion. As the writer says this pause and intention allows time to expand.

Delightful poem and inquiry. "but could we be more without the limits of our own selves" I attempt to get to a place of letting go of self to find myself by dancing with the polarities of the Uniquely Personal and Universally Divine. Within the dance is stillness and moments where I am me, yet not me. Non dualism takes practice. I'm grateful for the awareness and ability to practice

Delighted to see this excerpt here. I've read the book and it resonates with me. I have been holding a conscious intention to stay in beginner's mind. To see "all things new" this fosters Awe. The other day I wept because a red tail hawk flew. A bird flew! I never become accustomed to awe. There is no threshold of exposure I have found that can reduce its effects on me. And that leaves me in Awe. Awe in the perceived mundane becomes easier every day. The other day my hair touched my face. I was in awe of its softness. I was in awe of my skins sensation. It was delightful. It stopped me for a moment as awareness reminded me - you've never experienced this before.

I was Grateful yesterday when a friend trusted me enough to share some difficulties they are going through. I was grateful for trust, connection and presence. I didn't think about any of that in the moment. In the moment I just experienced a fullness of love. Perhaps that is what gratefulness is to me. A fullness of love. Gratefulness is nourished and grows when I let it be spontaneous. I express gratitude not because I should but because I really feel it.