Tuesday

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self, make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life, and get ready for a week of fun activities with my grandsons (and, mostly, get ready to be a nurse!)

Agenda:

1. Read "Discover Inner Peace"

2. Expressing Needs in the World

3. New narrative for Tenderness

4. Synergy and hope plans

1. Read "Discover Inner Peace":

Today I did some more reading from this beautiful little book by Mike George (2000), with the subtitle of "A Guide to Spiritual Well-Being". I read it first over 20 years ago!

Chapter 7 is Energies of Love. "...if we can gain true self-respect from the knowledge of our own limitless value, we can move away from dependency to a more open, giving approach to others. ... If we are truly enlightened, we let our own gifts overflow so that everyone with whom we come into contact benefits equally from our energies."

This requires the attitude that nobody can hurt or offend me! What a novel idea. When someone shows disrespect, I forgive and love anyway.

2. Expressing Needs in the World:

On Tuesdays I often go through this Ongo practice to define the Needs I want to express: 

1. Sit for a couple minutes and then invite in three questions, and write the answers in my journal.

2. Consider each of these Needs, one at a time, and feel the surge of this energy in my body. 

3. Invite myself to take one action each day this week to express the energy of one of these Needs, or bring it alive in my relationships. Be sure it's done in the spirit of invitation, not demand, and that it is specific and doable.

4. After doing the action, be sure to take a minute to visualize the happiness or fulfillment I experience, and extend it out to all beings.  

• "If I knew this was the last week of my life, what is one Need or quality of life I'd like to be or express more fully?" 
• "What's one quality of life I'd like to contribute more to one of my relationships?"
• "Whats one quality of life I'd like to contribute more to my community?" 

The Needs that come to me today are Aliveness, Tenderness, and Gratitude. After sitting with the energy of these, I've listed some ideas for action:

• Aliveness: At least one trip to a playground; dancing.  
• Tenderness: Sit and chat - really listen; nursing care.
• Gratitude: Write notes of gratitude to friends who have helped.

3. New narrative for Tenderness:

One of my weekly Creative Perspective tasks is to define a new narrative, today for the habit of Tenderness.

I intend to be tender, soft, receptive, and replace judgment with deep empathy.

Tips:

• Listen Without Condemning: Put aside the need to be "right" to protect the other person's self-worth.
• Exceed Needs: Treat your loved ones in a highly personal way that exceeds their basic needs. It can be as simple as an unexpected touch, a note, or a small, thoughtful gesture.
• Establish Secret Codes: Create small, intimate rituals that are just for the two of you—a shared look, a secret greeting, or a term of endearment.
• Practice a Tenderness Moment: Stop, soften my jaw and shoulders and BE tender.
• Value the Vulnerable: Take time to appreciate the small, beautiful, and vulnerable things in life—like a child playing, nature, or an act of unexpected kindness

4. Synergy and hope plans:

Every Tuesday I make a plan for teamwork and synergy, important components for effective action. Specifically, I make a list of tiny ways to engage my family and community in my Nature-Culture work. My themes right now are bees, caterpillars, less meat and dairy, first fruits, pesticides, and fossil fuels. My ideas:

1. Bee and caterpillar walks with grandsons.
2. Plan a healthy diet with W.
3. Plan a first fruits meal.
4. Entice my readers to comment.