The Mountain Within

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” – e. e. cummings

“Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.” – Saint Augustine

Weave new things into your daily flurry of autopilot “to do” lists, commitments and activities to expand, discover and deepen. Three of my favorite podcasts that I listen to in the car or on a run that stretch my mind, spark wonder and prompt reflection include:

Everything Happens by Kate Bowler
On Being by Krista Tippett
Poetry Unbound by Pádraig Ó Tuama

Explore, inquire, listen and transform. Fill your reservoir with music, art, poetry, reflection, rest, play. Infuse joy, laughter and fun too. Do not pass yourself at the altar of productivity, checklists and “someday when things are perfect thinking.” Your life is happening today. Pause, sit down and be still. You are pretty awesome, more than enough and worthy. Climb the mountain within.

“Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going inside ourselves.”― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mid, and Body in the Healing of Trauma