By Pema Sherpa & Brendan Barca

Age-old wisdom for modern living. Each week you’ll get 1 quote, 1 reflection and 1 action to help you lead a calmer, clearer, and more conscious life.

7/24/24

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Rhythm of Change, Acceptance, & Creating Ease

Quote:

“There are times to cultivate and create… There are times of flourishing and abundance… And there are times of fruition, when things come to an end… And finally of course, there are times that are cold, and cutting and empty… Those rhythms in life are natural events. They weave into one another as day follows night, bringing, not messages of hope and fear, but messages of how things are.”

– Chogyam Trungpa

Reflection:

If we sit back and look at the patterns of our life — our relationships, our career, our childhood, and even the seasons themselves — we can see that there is a beginning, a rise, a plateau, a decline, and an end to each. In fact, there is not a single phenomenon in the natural world that escapes this pattern.

Yet, despite this fact, it’s our human tendency to fight against it. We mourn the end of youth, relationships, jobs, and even summer time. But what’s the use of mourning something that’s end was destined to come? All things in life follow their natural course. And all things do come to an end. After all, it’s “the end” that creates a new beginning. It brings new life.

Action:

Are you currently mourning the end of something? Maybe it’s a job, a friendship, or your kid moving out of the house. This time, do something different. Try this:

Rather than fighting or resisting this change, reflect on how this end is the natural progression of all that preceded it and the beginning for all that will follow.

How do you feel about this change now? Can you accept the way things are?

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