I recognize this feeling through your words - it's exactly the space I'm in right now. It feels amazing, even though the world may want to shake and rattle you, a calmness overcomes you as you enter this stage of healing. Perhaps it's to prepare us for what's to come and to remind us of how strong and resilient we truly are. Beautiful writing, Ryan.
I really appreciate how you emphasized the idea that waking up isn’t a destination but a practice. So true! We often think of personal growth as this linear journey: you struggle, you learn, you arrive at enlightenment. But it’s not like that at all, is it? It’s more like a dance. Two steps forward, one step back. You have moments of clarity, and then you slip back into old habits. It’s this constant, gentle returning to ourselves that matters. What you said about “sometimes faltering and forgetting, but always finding your way back” is so comforting. It takes the pressure off. It’s okay to mess up. It’s okay to have doubts and moments of overwhelm. What’s important is that we keep coming back to our core values, to our inner truth.
I'm glad you appreciate those two messages, Alex. As I think of it, they're the same thing. Impermanence is a lesson I keep forgetting and relearning. Thank you for sharing from your life of inquiry.
"It is about small choices that honor the quiet inner truths instead of the noisy demands outside you." This sentence is everything! As my daughter (mid 40s) is overwhelmed and running 90mph, I want so much to show her the better path, but she rushes past my thoughts as her life rushes past her. And I see my frantic past. Now semi-retired, I'm less frantic, though I have my days. If only we could live in a world with less hustle and more thinking and non-thinking too.
I feel for your daughter. It's really hard to slow down, isn't it? Especially when one has children and a big mortgage. I'm glad you're less frantic and hope she can learn from your modeling.
This whole piece is filled with all kinds of one-liners. Here's the one I want to take with me today.
"It is about small choices that honor the quiet inner truths instead of the noisy demands outside you."
In my experience it is always the teeny tiny things that I commit to doing/feeling/being with consistency that have the most lasting and impactful effects.
I love how you sum this beautiful piece up, Ryan - “It is a life where success is measured not by how high you climb but by how fully you can stand where you are”. I am discovering how peaceful it feels to be able to stand more fully where I am. Thank you for sharing these words.
I'm glad that landed because it felt like a key idea. I had a recent experience where I was challenged to fully stand where I was. I was a coffee shop of mostly young, hip, beautiful college kids with friends, and I felt uncomfortable as a 56 year old standing alone.
Ryan, I was nodding along the whole time and the one phrase that made me stop and reread because of how it hit me with such clarity, was “we pause before we make a commitment”. That’s so true. I think that means so much when we begin to do that. It’s a gaining of self respect, of also discernment, and of an ease to be true, and not feel pressure to be anything that we are not. It also connotes a deep self awareness, then. I find this is where I am. Finally. I love it, and it took me a long time to feel an acceptance for this phase. I loved this piece.
I'm glad that line landed because I wrote it from experience. I'm thrilled that you have the awareness, self-respect and discipline to be who you are and not who you are not. Huge respect. Thanks for taking the time to share this, Gayle.
This piece is full of lines that made me stop, re-read, breathe, feel, re-read, and feel again before moving on.
• You understand that waking up and healing is not a destination you arrive at but a practice you return to repeatedly, sometimes faltering and forgetting, but always finding your way back.
•You make fewer promises to the world and more to yourself.
•You stop trying to fix yourself and start learning how to befriend yourself.
•You expect less from the world and more from your capacity to meet it with an open and receptive heart.
•You know you will lose your way again, because that is what it means to be human. But you trust that you will find it again, not by striving, but by remembering.
I recognize this feeling through your words - it's exactly the space I'm in right now. It feels amazing, even though the world may want to shake and rattle you, a calmness overcomes you as you enter this stage of healing. Perhaps it's to prepare us for what's to come and to remind us of how strong and resilient we truly are. Beautiful writing, Ryan.
Oh, that's exciting, Susan. I know how much inner work you must have done to be here. Deep respect.
I really appreciate how you emphasized the idea that waking up isn’t a destination but a practice. So true! We often think of personal growth as this linear journey: you struggle, you learn, you arrive at enlightenment. But it’s not like that at all, is it? It’s more like a dance. Two steps forward, one step back. You have moments of clarity, and then you slip back into old habits. It’s this constant, gentle returning to ourselves that matters. What you said about “sometimes faltering and forgetting, but always finding your way back” is so comforting. It takes the pressure off. It’s okay to mess up. It’s okay to have doubts and moments of overwhelm. What’s important is that we keep coming back to our core values, to our inner truth.
I'm glad you appreciate those two messages, Alex. As I think of it, they're the same thing. Impermanence is a lesson I keep forgetting and relearning. Thank you for sharing from your life of inquiry.
"It is about small choices that honor the quiet inner truths instead of the noisy demands outside you." This sentence is everything! As my daughter (mid 40s) is overwhelmed and running 90mph, I want so much to show her the better path, but she rushes past my thoughts as her life rushes past her. And I see my frantic past. Now semi-retired, I'm less frantic, though I have my days. If only we could live in a world with less hustle and more thinking and non-thinking too.
I feel for your daughter. It's really hard to slow down, isn't it? Especially when one has children and a big mortgage. I'm glad you're less frantic and hope she can learn from your modeling.
Once you start to "see it", you can't "unsee it".
Walking the path of awakening is a constant reminder.
The hardest part is realizing the more we're aware of, the more we'll suffer for a bit.
This is the turning point.
Do we stop? Do we continue?
Many stop.
The few, the strong, continue.
Keep continuing, Ryan :)
Thanks, Jimmy. I can't imagine my life without the spiritual path. I can't go back to misery.
This whole piece is filled with all kinds of one-liners. Here's the one I want to take with me today.
"It is about small choices that honor the quiet inner truths instead of the noisy demands outside you."
In my experience it is always the teeny tiny things that I commit to doing/feeling/being with consistency that have the most lasting and impactful effects.
Thanks for your thoughtful words. I appreciate you sharing your wisdom.💡
I love how you sum this beautiful piece up, Ryan - “It is a life where success is measured not by how high you climb but by how fully you can stand where you are”. I am discovering how peaceful it feels to be able to stand more fully where I am. Thank you for sharing these words.
I'm glad that landed because it felt like a key idea. I had a recent experience where I was challenged to fully stand where I was. I was a coffee shop of mostly young, hip, beautiful college kids with friends, and I felt uncomfortable as a 56 year old standing alone.
I can relate to that too!
Ryan, I was nodding along the whole time and the one phrase that made me stop and reread because of how it hit me with such clarity, was “we pause before we make a commitment”. That’s so true. I think that means so much when we begin to do that. It’s a gaining of self respect, of also discernment, and of an ease to be true, and not feel pressure to be anything that we are not. It also connotes a deep self awareness, then. I find this is where I am. Finally. I love it, and it took me a long time to feel an acceptance for this phase. I loved this piece.
I'm glad that line landed because I wrote it from experience. I'm thrilled that you have the awareness, self-respect and discipline to be who you are and not who you are not. Huge respect. Thanks for taking the time to share this, Gayle.
This piece is full of lines that made me stop, re-read, breathe, feel, re-read, and feel again before moving on.
• You understand that waking up and healing is not a destination you arrive at but a practice you return to repeatedly, sometimes faltering and forgetting, but always finding your way back.
•You make fewer promises to the world and more to yourself.
•You stop trying to fix yourself and start learning how to befriend yourself.
•You expect less from the world and more from your capacity to meet it with an open and receptive heart.
•You know you will lose your way again, because that is what it means to be human. But you trust that you will find it again, not by striving, but by remembering.
Rereading these leaves me smiling. It feels good to hear they resonated with your experience. Thanks for reflecting.
This one hit home in a profound way; soft and gentle yet so meaningful. Thanks Ryan 🩵
I'm glad and appreciate your kindness, Grace.
Thank you for your guidance on reconnecting with my ‘essence.’
I'm smiling, Julie. :)
Brilliant! You did not disappoint. Just love your 'gentle, more meaningful metrics'.
Glad you weren't disappointed, Michelle. I try.