Some of the most meaningful life advice I have heard comes from Joan Halifax. She has written and spoken about nurturing the ability to uphold yourself in the face of difficulty (equanimity), while holding a sense of compassion to stay open to things just as they are. When we can hold both those ideals together and find ourselves standing on the edge of our values, we are most able to make kind, thoughtful, value-aligned decisions.
She presents the metaphor of equanimity as a strong back and compassion as a soft front. You can stick with your beliefs (strong back) and have compassion for others (soft front).
Stay true to yourself, but as you do, be soft, be kind, listen, don’t judge, stay open, and be honest with yourself. Know what you stand for, and be firm in your convictions. Know when to take action and when to be still. If you need help figuring that out, don't rush a decision.
This week’s meditation is inspired by Joan Halifax and is a favorite around here.
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