I invite you this week to explore being present for the joys of life…the little things like the quality of light in your yard, or the sound of children playing; or the taste of a juicy piece of fruit.  As we work on dissolving the bubble of struggle through the light of our compassionate attention, it is good to remember the field, and holding the intention for opening to the little joys of life is one of the best ways to do this.

At the same time, I invite you to work with tightness. Any tightness, whether it is physical, emotional or mental, is a sign that you are in the bubble of struggle. When you notice it, simply let it go.

If it doesn’t let go, another option is to bring the breath to an area of your body that is tight (there will always be a physical tightening that accompanies mental and emotional tightening.) In the beginning, you gently touch it with your breath from the inside out. Then, if this tightness is willing, gently open it with your breath.

May you be curious about and responsive to any tightening, and may you be open to the little joys in your life throughout this week.

The core thread through our discussion is the second question from my book The Gift of Our Compulsions, “For this moment, can I let this be here?” We are all caught in the narrow prison of our minds – the kind of mind that always wants things to be better or different than what they are.

I just got off the phone with a woman who shattered her heel a few weeks ago and is showing up for the process. She said that when she resists it, whether it is the experience of being so out of control in her life, or the physical pain or the despair, she creates more suffering. When she opens to it – as it is – she is discovering a deep peace right in the middle of the struggle. The main way she is remembering right now is the mantra from my first book, “This too’ which is a version of the second question.

Can you, for just this day know that everything that is happening in your life is for you, and when you feel resistance, for even a moment or two, say ‘yes’ to whatever is.

Life wants you to awaken even more than you do and is giving you the exact set of experiences that you need to see through the prison of the struggling self.

Five mantras for spaciousness:

It’s okay, its all okay.
This too!
For this moment can I let this be here?
Say yes!
Let it be, let it be, let it be (The Beatles!)