If you’re just joining us, you can listen to all the meditations in this theme:
→ Week 1 Instructions
→ Week 2 Instructions
→ Week 3 Instructions
→ Week 4 Instructions
It’s May and we’re beginning a new theme for the month, Riding the Waves of Change. Everyone agrees that life is constantly changing — I mean no one is surprised when it stops raining or when a baby becomes a toddler. But most of us don’t actually realize or embody this truth when something unexpected happens that we don’t want occurs, or when we get sick or get old or someone dies. Then you’re probably pretty surprised that it’s happening, even though you know that impermanence and change are facts of life.
I often get fearful in the face of change, and then I get very anxious, and feel insecure. You might get angry or frustrated, or even argue with reality — “this shouldn’t be happening” you might say. Whatever your reaction, you can learn to meet change with more ease and clarity, by using mindfulness to take things one moment at a time, and to remember that you always have the power to choose what you say, think, and do, even if you can’t control anything else that is happening.
We’ll be taking our inspiration from this quote, attributed to Buddhist teacher, Jon Kabat-Zinn: "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
Plan to listen and practice everyday, and use the exercises and contemplative prompts to support your efforts. The intention of this newsletter is to help you take care of yourself, so be careful and mindful—if you need to rest or take a break, don’t be afraid to do so. Check in with our community and ask questions in our chat!
Friends, I’m thrilled that Happy Relationships, my latest book, was featured in the New York Times last month — you can read the article at this link! And if you’re interested in learning more about how you can learn to deepen your connection with your relationships, join me for a book talk on Wednesday May 7th at Shantideva Meditation Center in Brooklyn and online.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our May theme, Welcoming Worry and Anxiety. May your efforts bless your life and benefit all beings.
It’s only with your support that I can offer this newsletter and share meditations and teachings with you. So, I encourage you to become a Paid Member! It’s only $5 month and you get access to all the audio recordings and special events too! Or go big and become a generous Benefactor — you’ll get all the audio recordings plus a private, one-on-one session with me to discuss your practice!
See you tomorrow. Until then, may you be safe, feel steady, and rest with ease.
Metta+++,
Kim✨
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