4/c Soft Touch yung pueblo

find a partner who accepts you as you are but also inspires you to evolve because they take their own growth seriously. love will not seek to change you. it will embrace you clarity

so unconditionally that you will feel safe clarity

enough to heal the old and put effort into

&

the new. the courage you both have to stay

&

connection

committed to the inner journey will reflect connection

brightly on your relationship.

$16.99 U.S.A. ($22.99 Canada) ISBN: 978-1-5248-6048-6

51699

yung pueblo

9 781524 860486

Printed in the U.S.A.

Cover Design by Sierra S. Stanton author of inward

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clarity &

connection

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Also by yung pueblo inward

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clarity &

connection

yung pueblo

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contents

self-awareness

1

unbinding 49

the love between us

93

growing

149

a new life

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all human beings are united by

birth,

life,

death, and

every emotion

in between

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the biggest shift in your life happens when you go inward.

you step in and observe all that you find with acceptance;

the love you bring lights up your self-awareness; you start seeing how the past is packed into your mind and heart—

patience, honesty, and observation start the healing process.

with time, intention, and good healing practices, the past loses its power over your life.

you continue the process—stepping in, feeling, understanding, and letting go.

and then you start noticing the results; you are not the same anymore.

your mind feels lighter and develops a new, sharper clarity.

you start arriving into your life and relationships ready for deeper connection.

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heal yourself, but don’t rush help people, but have boundaries love others, but don’t let them harm you love yourself, but don’t become egotistical stay informed, but don’t overwhelm yourself embrace change, but keep pursuing your goals 3

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next time you feel agitated

because you are falling back into past patterns, remember that simply being aware that you are repeating the past is a sign of progress

self-awareness comes before

the leap forward in

your personal transformation

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it is not easy

healing yourself

building new habits

observing reality without projection or delusion this is work that takes effort but if you persist

the fruits of your labor will have an immensely positive

impact on your life

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maturity

is knowing that

when your mood is down

you should not trust

the way you see yourself

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throw away the idea

that healing is forgetting

the real result is no longer

reacting to old triggers

with the same intensity as before the memories are still there, but they do not have the

same power over your mind

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i spent years unaware

that i was running away from myself, always seeking company or entertainment so that i would not have to face the dark clouds storming inside of me every moment was an opportunity for diversion; friendships were a means of escape, pleasure a temporary relief from pain i did not notice that my relationships were shallow because of how far away i was from myself i did not understand why solitude felt unbearable and why “fun” could not permanently settle turbulent emotions

for far too long i was unaware that the only way for life to improve, for my relationships to feel rich, and for my mind to finally experience ease was for me to explore and embrace the anxious unknown that dwelled within 8

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you can change your location, meet new people,

and still have the same old problems.

to truly change your life,

you need to look inward,

get to know and love yourself, and heal the trauma and dense conditioning in your mind.

this is how you get to the root.

internal changes

have a significant external impact.

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i kept getting crushed

by my own expectations

barely present

thinking but not feeling

speaking but not listening

interacting but not noticing

smiling to continue the performance my heart struggled with gratitude never feeling satisfied

always missing what was in front of me because my mind kept jumping

into imagining what more i could want which made everything i was given never quite as special as what i had envisioned (disconnected)

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after the trauma

i shifted into survival mode

unknowingly, i shielded my being with numbness numb to letting others in

numb to my inner turmoil

numb to accepting what happened unknowingly, i fell into a cycle of craving craving safety

craving nourishment

craving no more pain

my reactions were large and loud anything that did not go my way was perceived as a potential threat my focus centered on protecting my delicate sense of self

i had little energy to place myself in anyone else’s shoes

it took the constant feeling

of dissatisfaction

and the exhaustion of never feeling at ease

for me to start pulling myself out of my dissociated way of living

and finally say “enough” to

a constant state of defense

(before awareness)

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the friction

inside your mind

will keep overflowing

into your relationships

until you process

your emotional history

and understand how it shapes

your ego, perception, and reactions 12

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do what is right for you.

do it over and over again.

lean into the light.

keep going even when it is hard.

especially when it is hard.

do not let doubt stop you.

trust the process when your mood is low.

let growth be your mission.

let healing be your reward.

let freedom be your goal.

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everyone can benefit from self-healing; even those who have not

experienced serious trauma

have at one point or another

felt the sting of heavy emotions the mind feels these moments sharply and they tend to ripple outward impacting how we think, feel, and act though we may learn to cope with mental tension and the unexpected changes that cause turmoil by taking a deeper look inward we may be able to mend old hurt and release old pain

by taking a deeper look inward we may gain the courage to evolve into greater mental clarity

into greater happiness

into greater patience

into greater honesty

into greater love

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essentials to remember on tough days: practice patience

accept what you feel

do not punish yourself

make sure you get good rest

give yourself ample kindness

accomplish smaller goals that day do things that will calm your mind a bad moment does not equal a bad life struggle can be a space for deep growth this current discomfort is not permanent 14

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before you can see

someone else clearly

you must first be aware

that your mind will impulsively filter what it sees through the lens of your past conditioning and present emotional state

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sometimes you walk willingly into heartbreak because it is clear that your time as partners has run its course. for a while you fit together seamlessly, but over time your paths have started to diverge. it has become too hard to meet each other in the middle and your heart no longer feels at home. there is only so much trying you can do before you say enough and take a new direction. even though the future is unclear, you know that moving forward alone is what you need to grow and be free.

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taking a moment

to figure out

how you really feel

instead of letting

old patterns decide for you

is one of the most

authentic things you can do 18

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i have built a home with another person a few times now, always expecting it to be a lasting haven. as the storms came and went, the homes would show their weakness and eventually come apart. being left with the dread of sadness and the hollow feeling of unwanted new beginnings, it has finally dawned on me that if i build a home within myself, a palace of peace created with my own awareness and love, this can be the refuge i have always been seeking.

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sometimes a person ends a good relationship because the areas they think are bad are being intensified by their personal issues that they have not dealt with properly. sometimes people break apart a home because they are unaware of their projections and are not ready to appreciate a good thing.

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heal yourself,

not just so you can thrive,

but to ensure that people

who cross your path in the future are safer from harm

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it is not easy, but the idea is simple: the more we heal our own wounds, the less likely we will be to cause intentional or unintentional harm. perfection is not possible on the interpersonal level. our individual perceptions and changing emotions will occasionally cause misunderstanding and accidental pain, but if we can show up for each other compassionately, then we can remedy the hurt that needs tending.

we often hand our tension over to others without understanding that it wasn’t ours to begin with.

someone passed it to us, and so we pass it to the next person, and they to the next, until it lands in the hands of someone with the tools to process it and let it go. the more of us who are open to inner work, the more points there will be in the giant web of humanity where harm will not be able to spread.

the self-awareness needed to stop causing ourselves and others harm is not just about knowing our own inner mechanics, our trauma, the moments when we are projecting, or how our reactions impact our perceptions. it is also about taking the time to understand what society has encoded in our minds without our explicit permission.

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radical honesty with ourselves is the starting point.

it can help us overcome many complexes and help us see that there is much room for improvement.

but to get to the root of the matter, to go even deeper, especially into the subconscious where many of our old patterns lie in wait, we need to find a practice that can help us process and unload this conditioning. we do not need to reinvent the wheel.

there are already many proven practices that have helped thousands of people take real steps forward in their lives. our task is simply to search and find what works for us and then to commit to the inner journey.

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when healing gets deep

there is sometimes

an explosion of emotion

that occurs to clear out

old energetic debris

you feel most agitated

right before you settle

into a more substantial peace 24

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people are incredibly similar and different at the same time. we all have the same basic structure of mind and emotions, but we have distinct mental conditioning because no two people have experienced the same exact life. the twists and turns, the reactions we have felt, the things we have understood and misunderstood, all that we have come to believe, how we perceive ourselves and the world, the maze of patterns that impact our behavior, the different magnitudes of trauma—you can go on and on and see that each individual has their own inner world and unique emotional history.

since we are all so different, what helps one person heal may not help another person. what may seem too hard or too easy for some people may be a good fit for someone else or may be the right fit later on in life. fortunately, we live in a time when healing tools and practices are becoming more accessible. if we try, we can find something out there that meets our conditioning where it is at, something that we find challenging but not overwhelming, something that connects with our intuition, something that we are willing to spend time learning and practicing. there are so many options out there, from many different forms of meditation to a wide variety of therapy practices and many other healing modalities.

it is not about faking calm when 24

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you actually feel turbulent emotions; it is about accepting what has come up without adding more tension to it 26

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it is easier to trust people who recognize when they have made a mistake and are not afraid to apologize this is a sign that they have enough humility to be open to growth a fresh start begins with forgiveness and trust is greatly deepened when changed behavior becomes consistent 26

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neither of us knew

how to handle conflict

without making it worse

we never wanted to argue,

but it kept happening

because that is what hearts do when they are overflowing with old pain we did not mean the things we said; they were just a reflection of the fire that escalates when two imperfect people compete to win

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how many relationships would have gone a different way if the goal were not just to find harmony as a couple, but to also find harmony

as individuals?

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sometimes we wonder why it is taking so long to change and heal ourselves and why the same sort of heavy emotions keep coming up. we do not realize how rapidly we have accumulated patterns throughout our lives, especially during moments of intense emotion. after years of repeating the same behaviors, it takes time to change and adopt new responses to life. how many times have we felt anger, sadness, frustration, anxiety, and more?

when we remember this cycle of repetition, it helps support our patience as we continue the process of letting go of the old, literally releasing remnants of the past during moments of deep healing.

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one of the most important qualities to develop in life is determination.

at some point you just have to put your foot down and say,

“i am going to move in this

new direction and no person

or situation is going to stop me.”

great transformations need a beginning.

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a real conversation

free from projection

and ego-flexing

is a special gift

most do not talk to listen;

they talk to be heard

self-awareness, selflessness, and a real desire to listen

are required for mutually authentic and honest exchange

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miscommunication and conflict occur because we are not building a bridge of understanding. often, in heated conversations, all we can think about is our own perspective, emotions, or ego. this limits our ability to empathize with the experience of another person, which is a prerequisite for the harmony that comes from understanding. one of the greatest gifts we can give each other is selfless listening, which is hearing someone’s truth without projecting one’s own emotion or story onto it—literally receiving another’s perspective with complete acceptance.

in special moments, we can take turns deeply seeing one another. here we move beyond having an exchange into holding space while someone reveals their truth. this is a higher level of listening that involves acting as a compassionate audience for another person without interrupting or adding our own perspective. when we hold space for one another, hearts become more open, truth is ready to be revealed, and old tension comes to the surface so that it can be seen and held, not just by the speaker, but also the listener. this collective honoring of each other’s truth can be incredibly healing.

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i trust and feel at home around the ones who are not afraid to be vulnerable with themselves, who live confidently in their power and gentleness, who try their best to live without harming others, who are serious about their growth and healing, and who have the humility to say, “i do not know.”

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it is okay to not have the answer one of the bravest things

you can do

is boldly embrace the unknown, accept your fear,

and continue to move forward

a clear mission

does not always have a clear path 34

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how many times

has your mind

taken a small piece

of uncertain information

and spun a story around it that ends up consuming your thoughts?

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the mind is inclined to protect itself, but an attitude of defensiveness easily breeds anxiety. out of caution, we fixate on uncertain information and create stories that can lead to unnecessary fear and mental tension. taking a moment to notice when we are jumping to conclusions can save us from worry and grief.

through self-awareness, we can begin to notice when we are overthinking. the simple act of bringing our awareness out of the mental clutter of unreliable thoughts and back into the present moment can preserve our energy and decrease the friction we feel.

to be clear, there is nothing wrong with protecting oneself, but it is helpful to observe how often we take a defensive stance. if we are only ever defensive, we are surely getting in the way of our inner peace.

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too many of us project our old conditioning onto new situations. reactions happen quickly and are based on past perceptions; they make it challenging to process what is happening in an unbiased and objective manner. if you want to see things clearly, use your self-awareness to intentionally set the past aside and take in a fresh perspective.

redirecting your attention preserves your energy.

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self-awareness is noticing

the rhythm of your thoughts

feeling when they are clear

and when they are out of sync knowing when to take them seriously and when to let them go

not every thought is valuable; most are just the sounds of

impulsive emotional reactions 38

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real maturity is observing your own inner turbulence and pausing before you project how you feel onto what is happening around you

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when you dislike what someone has done and are quietly rolling in animosity toward them, you are not only weighing yourself down; you are strengthening future reactions of anger.

progress is realizing that fixating on what happened cannot change the past, but a calm mind can certainly help your future.

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sometimes you need to move slowly so you can then move powerfully the modern world is so fast paced that you feel the pressure to keep up setting aside what everyone else is doing and moving at your natural speed will help you make better decisions and lift up your inner peace

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ask yourself:

is this how i actually feel, or is this my emotional history

trying to recreate the past?

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as our self-awareness deepens, we begin to understand that much of who we are and how we see the world is formed through the accumulation of past emotional reactions. these moments of intense feeling leave their mark on the subconscious and predispose us to repeating certain behaviors.

the rapid movements of the mind are so subtle that we can feel as though we are the makers of our present destiny. in reality, the past is constantly pushing itself into the present, inclining us toward replicating old emotions and thoughts. the insistence of our mental past gives us little room to decide for ourselves how we actually want to feel. the past does not take into account how things truly are.

the same way patterns accumulate, they can be released. letting go is possible, but it requires courage, effort, an effective healing technique, and consistent practice. the mind is immensely vast; it takes time to unbind old patterns that recreate the past. when we begin to develop self-awareness and a calm mind, the stories and patterns embedded in our subconscious begin to surface for release.

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when we travel inward, we may hit a particularly rocky layer of the mind, a sediment of conditioning that has been thickly reinforced. when we let go of the hardened inner layers, we often feel the impact of their release in our personal lives: the storms of yesterday or the heaviness of past moments rise to the surface. we may feel as though we’re on the edge of turbulence and disharmony as we open ourselves up to deconditioning. real growth is recognizing these moments and treating ourselves gently as the storms pass.

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to see your hidden patterns, you need to intentionally build self-awareness. question your perception, build a compassionate and honest internal dialogue, dig deeper into what your real motivations are, and have the humility to know you can learn more.

self-awareness combined with action opens the door to real change.

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wisdom is accepting that there are things you cannot force:

people change when they are ready creativity moves at its own rhythm healing does not have a time limit love blooms when things align 46

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unbinding

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time does not heal all wounds; it just gives them space to sink into the subconscious, where they will continue to impact your emotions and behavior. what heals is going inward, loving yourself, accepting yourself, listening to your needs, addressing your attachments and emotional history, learning how to let go, and following your intuition.

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it sometimes feels as though time has helped us heal, but all it has really done is teach us to live with the wound. just because we have stopped thinking about the harm of the past does not mean it is fully healed. the passing of time allows what was first on a conscious level to sink deeper into the mind where it becomes a quiet yet powerful lever that forces us to behave a certain way.

underneath our conscious thoughts remains the impact of a harmful yesterday.

healing requires moving inward with patience, honesty, and courage. if we do not address our accumulated subconscious patterns, they will simply remain there, always affecting how we think, speak, and act. our accumulated wounds and conditioning will restrict our flexibility and cause us to get stuck in a loop that continues repeating the past.

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heartbreak is not always a sad ending; sometimes it sets in motion a profound transformation. it can open the door to truly loving yourself, becoming more emotionally mature, and learning what type of partner would actually support your happiness.

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letting go does not mean you have given up, and it does not mean you no longer care.

it just means that you are releasing the attachments of the past that get in the way of your happiness and mental clarity.

letting go is the unbinding and disentangling of old behavior patterns that pull you into unnecessary mental tension and worry.

when you can be okay with things not having gone a certain way, life begins again. making peace with the past opens you up to love and adventure and allows you to apply the lessons you have learned with a new calmness.

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many of us do not realize

how much we are actually suffering until our awareness starts to expand we do not see that our happiness has a ceiling created by the sorrows and traumas we have repeatedly suppressed we do not realize that our reactions to life’s difficulties

stop us from seeing things clearly and place limits on our ability to produce more creative solutions we do not understand how powerfully our past grips our present

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so much of our internal struggle comes from not embracing change. tension decreases when we understand that change is happening at every level, from the atomic, to the biological, to the mental. a human being is composed of moving parts. our identity is no different. it is a dynamic phenomenon, similar to a river—flowing, moving, expanding, roaring, weaving, all the time with power and all the time with the potential to change.

do not limit yourself to a static understanding of who you are. release your conditioned boundaries and be free.

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may all of the times that someone has made an incorrect assumption about you activate a new sense of humility and patience in your mind that stops you from doing the same thing to another person in the future 56

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ask yourself:

is the connection real if there is no space to be vulnerable?

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the depth of our relationships is defined by how freely we feel we can deliver our authentic message. the deepest bonds are held together by a bridge of honesty. real love holds space for vulnerability, a place where we can be open, raw, and even share parts of ourselves that are not fully formed but are ready to be expressed.

whether within ourselves or in front of someone who is close to us, vulnerability asks for non-judgmental acceptance of our imperfections. this is a form of compassion that can help us observe our story in a different light, hopefully transforming what was once burdensome into a more insightful understanding. this is also a form of compassion that allows us to accept the way things are without trying to change it. sometimes vulnerability just asks to be seen and heard.

if we are far away from ourselves, if we are not honest with ourselves, and if we are full of unexamined emotions and conditioning, we will naturally find it difficult to be close to others. it becomes easier to give loving support when we have taken the time to explore our own inner world and let go of the subconscious patterns that do not align with how we want to show up for one another.

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have you noticed that when

you feel the urge to change

someone, what you really want is for them to behave more like you?

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you cannot build a deep connection with someone who is disconnected from themselves.

when we are in the habit of ignoring what we feel or consistently run away from hard parts of ourselves, distance is created not just between us and ourselves but also between us and other people. our lack of a full embrace of all that we are can make our interactions with others superficial.

even if there is a desire to connect deeply with someone, that connection will encounter limits and will only ever reach a depth equal to the relationship we have with ourselves. our personal degree of self-awareness will reflect dimly or brightly on whomever crosses our path.

if we can observe our emotions with open arms full of compassion, it will be much easier to show up and support others when they are going through a moment of personal turbulence. if we can embrace our own complexity, we will have patience as we learn more about those closest to us. if we have experience facing our own hard truths and being present through our personal ups and downs, we will have the emotional fortitude to wisely handle challenging moments in a relationship without immediately running away.

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there is no other way to a life of fulfillment, happiness, and vibrant connections, but through thoroughly traveling the realms of our own heart and mind. areas that remain undiscovered are areas of potential friction that may manifest in our own mind or between us and the ones we love. all that is unexplored can show up as blocks that can stop the flow of harmony.

if we are accustomed to brave observation and practicing acceptance when inner turbulence tries to bring our attention to an unexplored or unloved part of ourselves, then the moments of friction within us or in our relationships will not become blocks. instead, these tough moments will become fertile ground to deepen our connection and refine our commitments. simply stated, putting the effort into knowing ourselves can only help us know others better. loving ourselves is essential if we want to live a good life.

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when you feel agitated because you think someone you love is not growing quickly enough, remember that you had to go slowly before you could make real progress. managing your expectations and knowing that people grow at their own speed will save you from interrupting your peace.

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attachment is not:

having desires, goals,

or personal preferences

attachment is:

the mental tension you feel when you do not get exactly what you crave; it is refusing to accept change or let go of control 64

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when desire combines with tension, it morphs into craving. attachment is when you start craving things to be a certain way. craving is an extreme form of desire that quickly attaches to different ways of feeling and the objects/situations/

people that produce these feelings. attachment is also when you try to place restrictions on the unexpected and natural movements of reality. it is a heightened form of the desire for control.

as the buddha put forth in his teaching, craving itself gives birth to attachment. this dense form of clinging to what we crave not only causes much mental struggle, tension, and dissatisfaction, but it also clouds our ability to objectively observe what is happening within and around us.

wanting and craving are not the same thing. simply wanting is a natural pursuit that focuses our energy.

craving occurs when wanting deepens and becomes filled with tension or stress. the stress worsens when we do not succeed in getting the thing we crave.

craving is ultimately the source of our mental struggle and dissatisfaction. even when our attachments are successful in molding reality, we still find ourselves dissatisfied because craving is an endless pit. once the sensation we pursued has passed, the mind will return to craving more because craving is what it knows best.

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it is important to note that there is a substantial difference between craving and having goals or preferences. it is possible to pursue our aspirations without the stress that comes with craving and attachment. it is good and healthy to pursue our goals, but it serves us best to do so wisely and in a manner that does not make our happiness dependent on future achievements.

we know that something is a preference or a simple desire when we do not have the fate of our happiness connected to its realization. we know it is a preference when things do not happen the way we want them to and we accept this reality without the intensity of pain or hurt; we know something is an attachment when we feel mental tension, pain, and misery when we do not get what we crave.

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sometimes the end is sudden

and you are left without closure, heartbroken and unprepared

for such a sharp change

for a while, you live with a mind that is half here and half full of regret, wondering, “what if?”

for a while, your heart only feels grief and your mind only sees gray

and then life starts to call you back into its arena of possibility; it reminds you that all is not lost and that even though a chapter ended, there is still a longer story to be told with time and intention,

wounds lose their heaviness,

healing fills the tough parts of your being, and you awaken the light of love within yourself in time, you will return fully into the precious now with a heart that feels refreshed and ready to move forward

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how many times has everything come crashing down and left you feeling as though the world was over?

now,

how many times

after grieving

have you gotten back up,

embraced the power of your determination, and moved forward into a new life?

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old patterns do not give up easily. they will try to keep pulling you into reactions that lead into repeating the past. but in time, after not feeding them for a while and continually practicing your ability to pause and respond, they weaken and become easier to let go. they may still appear as an option occasionally but will not have the same strength as before. this is the turning point, the shift that changes everything, the leap forward you have been waiting for, the victory when it becomes clear that you have moved beyond the past and into a new life where you have matured enough to intentionally be your own person.

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learning how to breathe

and be okay

when my mind

feels dark and gray

to accept

this passing moment

without suppression

or lasting fear

to know that

the clouds moving through me

do not define who i am

or who i will be

learning the art of letting go has been the skill my mind

has always sought

now i see that i am a river

always changing

while moving gently

in the direction of total liberty 70

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they asked her,

“what is real happiness?”

she answered,

“happiness is not fulfilling every pleasure or getting every outcome you desire. happiness is being able to enjoy life with a peaceful mind that is not constantly craving more. it is the inner peace that comes with embracing change.”

(being)

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we often desire change in our lives, yet we reject the changes that come about spontaneously. this is a recipe that will repeatedly serve us misery. a mind full of attachments craves the fulfillment of its yearning and attempts to mold the world into the shape it desires.

when we are controlled by our attachments, we not only lose our peace of mind; we miss the opportunity to enjoy life’s natural unfolding. in fact, all of the things we love and appreciate exist because of continuous change. without change, life itself would not be possible.

real happiness arises when we can love ourselves and the world while welcoming and appreciating change. this does not mean that we should live like rocks and allow the river of change to flow around us. love naturally motivates us to attempt to mold the world in a way that enhances love, but wisdom also teaches that we should not get attached to things existing in an exact way, because change will always come.

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being okay with not being okay does not make things

automatically better,

but it does stop you

from adding more tension

to an already difficult situation being okay with not being okay helps you let go

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tough feelings and agitated thoughts cannot take over your life when you meet them with ease, acceptance, and a calm mind. sometimes these old imprints bring with them visceral, rough feelings that have been locked away but suddenly have the space they need to momentarily arise and evaporate. an important part of letting go is feeling without reinforcing—you can be honest with yourself about the heavy emotions that come up and choose not to act them out or make them worse. if you meet the rough parts of yourself with gentleness, they will melt away, leaving you lighter and giving you more space to act from a place of wisdom. all you need to do is be okay with not being okay during tense moments of release.

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throw away the idea that you need to pause your life until you are fully healed; this is a different way of being attached to perfection. progress happens when you make better decisions in the midst of living.

you can simultaneously heal your past while being open to the present.

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how many times have you been

unable to fully enjoy a special moment because you couldn’t stop thinking about what was missing?

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when you are in an unavoidable situation that is frustrating, treat your mental energy like a precious resource. instead of fueling your frustration with more agitation, which will only make your mind more cluttered and tired, realize that change will eventually wipe all of this away.

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many of our emotional reactions do not have to do with what is currently going on.

they are actually old emotions accumulated from the past—patterns that arise when familiar situations appear.

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the mind attempts to see the world in a way that affirms its conditioning. our perception takes in the present by categorizing and understanding what is happening through its similarity to the past—this creates a system of repetition that strengthens old patterns. new events are normally not perceived in their full clarity because their similarity to past situations triggers old emotional reactions, which quickly cloud the mind’s ability to observe what is happening objectively. we are seeing today and simultaneously feeling all of our yesterdays.

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when trauma becomes a part of your identity, it is harder to heal. the narratives that define how you see yourself need space to change.

acknowledging your past is important, but so is doing the work to unbind those old patterns so you can move beyond them. allowing your sense of self to be fluid will support your happiness. change is always happening, especially within you.

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expectations cause great misery for the individual.

we are constantly creating narratives of how we want things to be and how we want others around us to act. these narratives invariably lead to disappointment because the stories we crave are often dashed and broken by unrealistic expectations, circumstances beyond our control, and the randomness of the external world.

we forget that what unites all human beings is our ignorance and room for improvement. we each carry conditioning that clouds our perspective. our time on earth is an opportunity to overcome mental limitations such as unforgiving expectations and a desire to control everything—limitations that impede us from complete freedom and happiness.

as we do the work of examining our inner world, it is unfair for others to expect us to be perfect and for us to expect others to be perfect, especially when “perfect” often means having others fulfill our every desire. in a world full of imperfect people, patience and forgiveness become essential.

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it is easier to let go

of someone’s opinion of you

when you understand

that others see you through

a combination of their past conditioning and their current emotional state without realizing it,

they see themselves first,

and through that lens they get an unclear picture of you

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there may be times when you

feel like a lot of what you’ve understood no longer makes sense.

this might make you feel as though you have regressed, but it is actually a sign that you are opening new space for deeper wisdom and greater perception.

when your previous understandings disintegrate, they are not always immediately replaced by better or deeper understandings. when you take your growth seriously, you will often find yourself in this in-between state;

it is okay to live without clear answers.

growth is not about forcing understanding; it is about allowing it

to grow organically.

(shedding and expansion)

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as you shed old programming and your perspective expands, what you once enjoyed may shift and situations that once caused tension may no longer trouble you.

as your mind becomes clearer and lighter, the world begins to look new. periods of integration, in which you get to know yourself again, are just as important as great leaps forward.

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the world is a giant pool of moving vibrations, waves of energy emitted from all beings.

when we cultivate our minds,

we cleanse our personal vibe.

we reclaim our power by

not yielding to what flows around us and by allowing what is within us to come forward.

remember, the energy you most often repeat is the energy you will most easily connect with.

your vibration is always shining and affecting your environment.

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reclaiming your power

is noticing when a story

based on assumptions

is making your mind tense

and intentionally bringing yourself back to the present moment

as a way to cut the delusion

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it is not about managing your emotions; it is about managing your reactions to your emotions 86

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our reactions tell us what our mind has internalized from our past experiences. they are dense patterns that rise from the deep subconscious to protect us.

this form of defense is not based on wisdom but on survival. when we start expanding our self-awareness, we begin to see that in moments of turbulence we have more effective options than repeating blind behaviors, which produce limited results that generally wipe away our clarity and inner peace.

we are not trying to control or manage the way we feel. we are trying to accept the shifts in our mood as the mind weaves through the large spectrum of emotions, moving from one emotion to the next, spending more time in some than others, but still traveling the whole human experience.

we immediately and unconsciously react to strong emotions. our reactions not only strengthen the emotion we are feeling; they imprint upon and accumulate within the subconscious, priming us to react similarly in the future.

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we can manage our reactions, not by controlling what we feel, but by bringing awareness into the process. it is hard to change if you cannot see yourself. the light of awareness is especially useful when our reaction to a momentary emotion starts to undo our balance and mental clarity. our awareness lights up the darkness and helps us to see more options and information.

when we remember that emotions are impermanent just like everything else in this universe, it becomes easier for us to stand next to the river that is the human mind and watch as things flow by. self-awareness helps us overcome blind reactions that make already difficult situations more turbulent. without self-awareness, it is difficult to make choices that differ from those you have made in the past.

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your initial reaction is usually your past trying to impose itself on your present 90

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know your sources of rejuvenation: the amount of solitude you need to feel fresh again the activities that strengthen your creativity the people who light up your spirit 90

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the love

between us

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yung pueblo

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yung pueblo

three thoughts:

relationships normally start with two people wanting to treat each other well. harm is caused when someone does not know how to properly manage their reactions to their emotions. if you think you are your emotions, then your words and actions will resemble your mental turbulence.

in relationships, it is important to understand that the other person cannot fix your emotional problems. at best they can support you as you uncover and process your own emotional history.

there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, but there are incredible relationships in which the mutual connection and support are indescribably profound.

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sometimes it takes your heart breaking a few times for you to become independent in important and healthy ways. heartbreak shows you that your self-worth and wholeness should not depend on another’s words or love.

use the hurt as a map that leads inward to pursue your healing and ignite your self-love.

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throw away the idea that you have to be fully healed to be in a loving relationship with a great partner. we normally come together with many unresolved issues because healing simply takes time. the couples who shine with harmony are the ones who commit to healing and growing together.

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vibrant relationships

feel like a sanctuary

where you are safe

to bring your vulnerability

and you are given ample love and care a home

that equally supports

rest and growth

free from judgment

as you both seek to evolve

a union

void of control

but filled with

mutual understanding

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it is easy to cause friction and unintentional harm in a relationship when you do not know yourself and have spent little time addressing your past pain. how many relationships have folded under the weight of unprocessed trauma, unhealthy patterns, and unchecked reactions?

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one of the toughest things

about relationships in which both partners are open to inner growth

is when your partner uncovers a thick layer of old conditioning or trauma that they have to work through you see them struggle and face the storm but you cannot fix it for them all you can do is hold space and be ready to give them loving support 100

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attributes of a good relationship: selfless listening

calm communication

holding space for each other

strong trust, no need to control authenticity, no need to perform rest, laughter, and adventure together the love between you is empowering commitments to each other are clear flexible, no need to always be together both have the space to grow and change 100

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attributes of a good friend:

they feel like home

they are honest with you

they remind you of your power they support you in your healing they have a revitalizing presence they hold a vision of your success they support you in new adventures they lift you up with joy and laughter they bring out the best version of you 102

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friendships that feel like home are naturally disarming. they remind us that we can stop the performance and come forward the way we authentically feel. the deepest bonds are spaces where vulnerability is welcome. good friendships have a reciprocal quality. when either person is experiencing struggle, the other is ready to hold space, to listen without judgment and with a heart full of compassion. meaningful friendships contain a bond that rises above competition. we feel a friend’s victory as if it were our own. true sympathetic joy—the joy we feel for the success of another—is the absence of jealousy.

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friends who feel like family are rare.

when you are together, a timeless spark lights up the path to joy, shared learning, and rejuvenation. you seek to support each other’s happiness and naturally rejoice in each other’s success.

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throw away the idea that you need to find a perfect partner or a flawless friend.

all people are imperfect. what is possible is connecting with someone who is doing their own inner work. they will have more practice with authenticity, holding space, intentional growth, and self-awareness.

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honesty

+natural bond

+laughter and joy

+genuine mutual support

+revitalizing interactions

+authentic communication

=

empowering friendships

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some of the biggest tests in life come when tough things happen in your closest circle, when family or friends who hold a piece of your heart go through a struggle that you have no control over, when all you can do is rise to the occasion by listening to their words and radiating the love you feel for them. though it is not for you to decide how things will turn out, you can support, provide comfort, and remind them that your love for them is real and will remain unbroken.

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some relationships do not have harmonious beginnings. there is an undeniable pull that brings the two together, but there is also a distance between them created by their unhealed hearts. this space within them, filled with the unknown and unseen, causes miscommunication between the two, friction, and sometimes even unintentional pain. how can they treat each other well when they are still mysteries to themselves? the shift comes when both commit to turning inward to heal and know themselves. naturally, this brings them closer together and elevates the love and support they share.

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conflict worsens when two people fall into defensive reactions. then there is no real communication happening, only trauma arguing with trauma.

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for real communication to happen, all projections need to cease. two people cannot see each other clearly and find common ground if both are thinking and speaking through dense clouds of emotion. so many relationships and friendships break because we do not have the tools and emotional maturity to see beyond our defensive reactions. when we notice our own defensiveness, pause, and come into a clearer thinking space, we have the opportunity for real conflict resolution.

without vulnerability, patience, and self-awareness on both sides, there cannot be reconciliation.

without listening, honesty, and space for safe vulnerability, there is no communication. when we intentionally elevate the level of communication, the focus switches from telling someone how we believe they are, to clearly explaining our own perspective and how we feel. we can certainly share ways to better support each other, but first we need to accept each other’s truth and move on from there. the support we ask for cannot be coercive; our partner needs to voluntarily commit to it for the union to be healthy.

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blind loyalty does not nourish anyone supporting those you love in their ignorance, or even worse, continuously tolerating the harm they cause you, is a serious act of self-betrayal when you see your loved ones doing wrong or walking into deeper darkness, do not follow just because of an old bond you may share

you do not need to sink together you do not need to burn together you do not need to crash together even though it may be hard,

sometimes you have to listen to your deepest sense of well-being and go your own way to

preserve the good inside of you 110

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maturity in a relationship is not expecting to always be on the same schedule. you are not always going to feel good at the same time.

one may need more rest than the other, one may need more time to heal, one may pick up new habits more easily. people naturally grow, learn, and move at different speeds.

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they asked her,

“what makes a relationship flourish?”

she answered,

“two people who seek to know, love, and heal themselves as individuals will have harmony flow between them as a couple. control creates tension, but trust leaves space for individuality and opens the door to vulnerability. calm communication, clear commitments, and the willingness to support each other’s happiness make the union stronger.”

(a vibrant partnership)

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love is rejuvenated

when partners

occasionally ask each other,

“how can i better

support your happiness?”

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a partner who supports your power is priceless; someone who appreciates your opinions, who has faith in your dreams and knows that you can achieve great things. they recognize that you are whole as an individual but are ready to complement your life with their love and dedication. together, you share the responsibility of leadership. with gentle honesty and open communication, you check in often to make sure you understand each other well and are doing what you can to strengthen your union.

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a healthy relationship

is when two people equally take turns being the one who steps up

when the other is going through a turbulent moment

each is capable of listening

and holding space

each is self-aware enough

to check in with themselves

and not project onto the other 116

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find a partner who is not afraid to grow.

if they are ready to notice their patterns, let go of old conditioning, and expand their perspective, then they will be ready to support a vibrant relationship. two people who are working on knowing and loving themselves as individuals will naturally deepen their love and understanding of each other. growth comes with ups and downs, but it is also the key to great harmony.

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we walk through time together holding hands

as the world changes

living in love

as we grow as individuals

meeting each other in the middle as our youth gives way to maturity 118

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loving people

does not mean

you let them hurt you

loving yourself and others

unconditionally

is a balance between

protecting yourself

and giving to others

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find a partner who is as committed to supporting you in good times as they are in the tough moments of growth and healing.

coming together as imperfect people can be challenging. imperfection can sometimes cause unintentional conflict, especially when one is going through a moment of inner turbulence.

patience, calm communication, and selfless listening get couples through the storm.

conflict decreases when both turn inward and focus on building self-awareness.

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throw away the idea that your partner can make you happy. they can be great support, treat you well, and bring so many good things into your life, but happiness is only sustainable when it comes from within.

your perception, healing, growth, and inner peace are your own to create.

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find a partner who can appreciate your complexity.

old conditioning from the past, behavior patterns, changing emotions, your true goals and guidance from your intuition—this flowing combination comes together to create who you are. when you focus on growing and letting go, there are many layers to unbind and shed. real love is finding a new harmony as you both evolve, taking the time to check in and find a new balance as your likes and dislikes align with your most recent growth.

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real love is not always glamorous; it is about being there when it counts like when you have a tough day and your partner sits quietly next to you holding your hand

listening closely as you reveal your worries

your inner struggles

and your brightest dreams

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relationships take time to flourish. some people expect profound harmony immediately, but harmony is not possible without deep knowledge of one another’s likes, dislikes, emotional history, and goals. the more you learn about each other, the more you refine your rhythm together.

communication helps channel the love you feel for one another into clear ways of supporting each other’s happiness. perfection is not an option, but you can undoubtedly build a great union in which you both feel safe, understood, and loved.

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when an argument starts

your goal should be to arrive at a mutual understanding

it helps to become aware of the inner tension that is impacting your reasoning notice your level of attachment explain yourself clearly

listen with patience

find the balance between honoring your truth and reflecting on your partner’s perspective and remember that success

is both of you feeling heard

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maturity in a relationship is not expecting your partner to constantly be happy. ups and downs are natural. giving each other space to feel heavy emotions while staying attentive and actively supporting one another is a sign of real love.

relationships are not about fixing everything for each other; they are about experiencing joyful moments and tough times as a team and loving each other through the changes. sometimes your partner needs to go through their own process to emerge lighter and freer than before.

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how can we have a real conversation if every time we speak i can see in your eyes that my words are not reaching you? they stop at a narrative you have created about me based on who i was many years ago.

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make deep connections, not deep attachments 128

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with proximity comes the possibility for connection. if we are in close contact with someone, there is the potential for an intuitive alignment to flourish. after spending a bit of time with someone, we may desire to spend more time with them. or we may simply be crossing paths.

as the connection deepens, so does the desire to treat each other well. we go from being strangers to becoming known supporters of each other’s happiness. even within families and friendships, the bonds we experience are built on connection.

connection is based in the mind’s innate ability to love. however, the mind also contains a strong drive to crave, which ends up conditioning our perceptions of what we encounter and our reactions to what we feel.

the deep connections that we feel toward our loved ones are often wrapped up and mixed in with attachments, not because we wish to make things difficult, but because the mind has a strong tendency to crave and control. attachments cloud the true love that deep connections emanate. attachments create much friction in relationships because they stand in the way of individual freedom.

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there is nothing wrong with wanting certain things in a relationship, but we must resist coercing others. instead we should build strong pathways of honest and calm communication so that both people can feel clearly understood. it is through this mutually shared understanding that each individual commits voluntarily to supporting the harmony of the relationship.

a love without attachment is not a love without commitment. attachments are attempts at control marked by deep inner tension; voluntary commitments are attempts at supporting happiness and harmony marked by generosity.

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base your relationship on clear communication and voluntary commitments, not expectations 130

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too often, we keep our expectations to ourselves or we only partially hint at what we want. we do not realize that we would be better off exploring the ways we wish to be supported through clear communication. when we are straightforward with others about what we need to feel safe and loved, we give them the opportunity to show up for us.

we are all different. even when we share a clear connection that we can build on, we still need to learn one another’s likes, dislikes, strengths, past emotional struggles, and reactive patterns.

communicating our needs, desires, and personal emotional history gives both people the information they need to better understand each other and the opportunity to feel the natural volition to commit and say, “these are the areas where i can do my best to meet you. this is how i can try my best to show up for you.” in this way, we transform our private expectations into opportunities for commitment.

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the difference here is subtle but important. there is much greater harmony in a relationship when neither party is attempting to be in control of it.

expectations are often attachments to shaping outcomes, and they may leave one or both partners feeling cornered and powerless. freedom amongst people, in relationships and outside of them, is based on understanding and voluntary commitments, situations in which no one feels pushed to be a certain way. when we transform our expectations into opportunities for commitment, we are cultivating freedom in our relationships.

even when clear communication and voluntary commitments are practiced, we should still watch out for manipulative behavior. the desire for control can reappear in quiet ways, sometimes even unconsciously. you know voluntary commitments are being respected when you can freely say no to a request without resistance, especially if it feels outside of the bounds of your personal safety/

comfort/goals. every request will not be met with a yes, especially when both partners are growing and changing. in their essence, voluntary commitments need to be optional.

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there is nothing wrong with knowing what your needs are in a relationship, but they are better met when they are clearly communicated and when they match up with what someone is willing to do for you out of their own desire to support you.

when partners make commitments to each other of their own volition, they create space for harmony to flow abundantly in the relationship.

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find a partner who can give you the space you need to be your own person. it is healthy to have different interests, likes, and dislikes.

you do not need to become the same person to prove your love to each other. you know you are both supporting each other’s happiness when each of you feels like you can be your truest self. remember, trust blossoms in the absence of control, and vibrant relationships should feel like a balance of freedom and home.

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your partner should accept you as you are but also help you feel safe enough to do the deep work of healing and growth not because they want to change you but because their presence energizes and inspires you to flourish

into greater emotional maturity 136

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it is not about finding perfection in another person; it is about realizing when you come across an undeniable connection that nourishes your being and matches the type of support you are looking for. getting lost in the idea of perfection is a hindrance. when two people embrace their imperfections and commit to growing into better versions of themselves, they will naturally experience greater happiness in the relationship.

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find a partner who is willing to make clear commitments. you both know that supporting each other’s happiness is not a mystery, it is the art of communication combined with action. what you need from each other will change over time. by building a culture of checking in regularly, your union will remain harmonious and vibrant. the way you love, trust, and show compassion for each other elevates your relationship into a space where you can both deepen your personal healing. true love does not fear change, it embraces new growth and adjusts accordingly.

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having conversations without assumptions or projections brings a couple closer together. taking turns to really listen, using compassion to reflect on the other person’s perspective, intentionally checking in with ourselves during the conversation to see if we are being honest and clear—this makes a difference and builds real harmony. when both partners try to bring a high degree of presence into their interactions with each other, it sets the stage for true love to rise above discord and for understanding to cool the fires of confusion.

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it is not about finding a partner who has flawless emotional maturity; it is about finding someone who can match your level of commitment—not just to the relationship, but commitment to heal themselves so they can love better, see more clearly, and have more presence 140

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find a partner you do not have to perform for.

when you are both committed to honesty and have active compassion for each other, there is no need to behave in ways that are not genuine. true love is welcoming each other’s changing emotions with open arms. though you are both dedicated to becoming the best versions of yourselves, you also understand that not every day will be a good day and not every step will be a step forward. being in a relationship with a high degree of authenticity and gentleness allows both partners to let down their guards and feel at home.

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the deepest friendships

reveal themselves during moments of crisis when your world is shaken,

a friend stands and faces the storm with you when things look dim,

they bring their light to remind you that better days are coming

when you feel challenged,

they help you see your power

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some friendships are so profound that when you spend time together it feels as though you have slipped into another dimension:

a space where you both feel free and safe to share the realest versions of yourselves, a home where time stops and joy shines without limits.

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an irreplaceable friend is someone who: highly values your trust

appreciates your honesty

naturally feels like family

still loves you as you change finds it easy to laugh with you holds space for you in tough times supports your happiness and safety helps you to believe in your self-worth inspires you to love and know yourself 144

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real maturity in a relationship is letting your partner know when your mind feels heavy before your thoughts find a way to blame them for your tension; openly naming that you are experiencing turbulence allows you to know it is there and your partner to know that it is time to support you or hold space.

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some friends hold a special place in your story. they were there when times were tough, they saw you clearly when others did not, they believed in you before you believed in yourself.

bonds that lift you up are precious and easily go on to last a lifetime.

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true love will accept you as you are but also help you feel comfortable to shed the old and transform into the greater you. many arrive into a new relationship half-healed and half-hurting. a mixture of thriving and surviving.

when the connection is genuine, supportive of clear commitments, each person can start to dig deeply into their individual healing, to unfold and release the layers/stories that are waiting deep within. progress in personal healing ultimately elevates the mutual joy of partnership.

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growing

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eventually you start to see changes.

your mind becomes light, the trees look bright, the air you breathe begins to feel like food for new opportunity, and life takes on a crisp color pattern. ups and downs will continue to come and there is still much to learn, but you are calm now and do not fear the old storms, which seem to pass more quickly. a new awareness arises to gently remind you that your power is yours to wield and is ready to propel you forward into peace and liberating insight.

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be prepared to meet a new version of yourself every time you shed another layer of old trauma, conditioning, or hurt.

as you let go, your perspectives and interests will shift. transformation is natural as you travel the road to greater self-awareness, happiness, and peace.

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the goal is not to heal

and then begin your life.

the goal is to embrace healing as a lifelong journey and allow genuine connections

to emerge organically

along the way.

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feeling emotionally exhausted is common after opening up deeply or after experiencing a series of heightened emotions for an extended period of time. be prepared to take the quiet time and solitude you need to fully rejuventate.

you are allowed to not be serious all of the time.

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real courage is listening to your intuition even when society and people in your life advise against it

a lot of advice comes from fear, people wishing you to stay with the herd and do the normal thing

taking a calculated risk is not recklessness; it is fearlessness

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do not think in extremes; the answer is rarely all or nothing. skillful action is finding pathways even amidst contradictory options.

solutions are found by going beyond the superficial and into the subtle. understand that life is the integration of complexity.

everything is situational and multilinear.

find the middle path and challenge yourself to think deeper.

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give love, but don’t exhaust yourself be peaceful, but don’t become passive have patience, but don’t settle for less trust yourself, but don’t develop arrogance be open to love, but don’t force a connection have goals, but don’t chase after each craving 156

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when in doubt, remember you have: the power to say no

the authenticity to be you

the patience to keep learning the fortitude to continue trying the courage to embrace change the fearlessness to give selflessly the wisdom to cultivate inner peace the bravery to fulfill your aspirations the openness that grows friendships the awareness to follow your intuition the intelligence to not repeat the past 158

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they asked her,

“what does letting go mean?”

she answered,

“letting go does not mean erasing a memory or ignoring the past; it is when you are no longer reacting to the things that used to make you feel tense and you are releasing the energy attached to certain thoughts. it takes self-awareness, intentional action, practice, and time. letting go is the act of getting to know yourself so deeply that all delusions fall away.”

(presence)

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it is not about expecting your partner to make you happy; it is about clearly communicating the best ways they can support you as you travel inward to ignite your own happiness

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it is not possible to erase memories or change the past, but you can stop old behavioral patterns, decrease the intensity of blind reactions, learn to embrace change, accept all emotions that come up, build self-awareness, and strengthen good habits. healing is intentional action plus time.

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it is hard to see your progress when you are deeply

immersed in the process

before you let doubt

take control

examine how much

you have grown and accomplished by mentally taking a big step back so you can look at the whole picture 162

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we feel so safe with the ones we love that we often share with them our tension, our stress, our fear, our sadness,

and even our anger

but let us remember to also

give them the best version of ourselves, our joy and happiness, our excitement and peace, our attention and care 162

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gratitude makes you happy

attachment makes you struggle gentleness reveals inner wisdom harshness reveals inner turbulence calmness supports good decisions solitude supports transformation 164

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essentials for growth:

proper rest

more learning

consistent honesty

building new habits

letting go of old stories

saying no to old patterns

believing that you can change saying yes to supportive people examining your emotional history finding a practice to heal past pain making time to build self-awareness 164

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so often we spend our time living for tomorrow, eagerly seeking results that can only come with the slow buildup of consistent effort. especially in regard to our own personal transformation, we forget that building new ways of being does not come quickly or with ease. a sturdy temple of peace with a strong foundation that can withstand storms does not appear overnight.

our anticipation of the future gets in the way of our awareness of the present. a mind that is half in the future is partially consumed in a dream—a dream that can only become real through honoring what is in front of us in the here and now.

every breath we take happens in the present. every advancement in our growth happens in the present.

the wisdom that comes through feeling the truth of nature can only accumulate within us through our observation of the present. even when we rightfully examine the past or plan for the future, the helpful information we receive and integrate arrives to us in the present.

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when we set our goals, we set the stage for growth.

from then on, in the moments that pass, we take opportunities to align our actions in a way that steers us in the direction of our aspirations. but if we do not honor and appreciate every small victory, if we do not feel gratitude for acting in the way that supports our transformation, then we will lack the practice to fully appreciate the accomplishment of our bigger goals.

remember, always craving specific results is a form of bondage that not only limits our progress but reinforces our inability to feel gratitude. the opposite of craving more is a gratitude that says

“yes” and “thank you” to the present.

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you do not need

a partner to feel whole

you do not need

to have everything figured out to feel successful you do not need

to be fully healed to feel peace you do not need

to be fully wise to feel happy embracing yourself as you are reinforces your worth and

decreases the friction in your mind 168

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embracing ourselves as we are makes moving forward into a better version of ourselves much easier. sustainable personal growth requires balance. if we hate who we are, it will slow the work down—aversion increases mental friction.

while accepting where we are with radical honesty can be difficult, as it can be hard to admit our flaws, even to ourselves, it is the first important step to real change.

if we can accept our imperfections and understand that our conditioning limits our perception of reality, this allows us to more easily begin the work of undoing the past that is embedded in the mind.

there is a middle path where we can recognize the characteristics that we want to develop without adding the tension of aversion to our self-analysis.

embracing ourselves does not mean complacency; it is the start of a journey into great mental clarity and love for ourselves and all people.

one of the clearest signs of personal growth is greater self-love, self-awareness, and love for all people. inner work is not meant to turn us into hermits or make us more self-centered. if we are only reserving our kindness for ourselves, then something is not right. if we are really trying to grow our inner peace and wisdom, then our capacity for empathy and compassion for others will also grow.

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inner work simultaneously makes us stronger and increases our humility. we reclaim our power and more easily follow our calling, but we also recognize how fallible our perceptions can be and how much more we have to learn.

when we go inward, we realize how much society has conditioned us, created subtle shifts in our preferences, and slowly formed our unconscious biases. we think we are unbiased, but the record of our past—meaning all interactions we have experienced and all media we have consumed—is always impacting our thoughts and actions. real freedom is the ability to observe the world without allowing our personal past to impose itself on what we encounter. at their height, objectivity and selfless love become one. practice makes a difference.

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real friends know you have a range of expressions, moods, and multiple aspects to your character they embrace you as you are

and do not want you to perform they know authenticity is not being the same person over and over again; it is allowing yourself to change as you navigate life

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heal at the pace

you know is right for you

what works for someone else

may not be what you need

each person holds

a unique emotional history

discomfort is part of growth, but constant discomfort

is not healthy

self-love is balancing serious inner work with rest and ease 172

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slow moments are common

after a period of serious growth they should not be feared

but embraced as opportunities to get to know the new you

as you mature, you release so many layers that you sometimes change radically, and your mind and body feel like a new home slow moments are for renewal

and integration of recent lessons learned but a slow pace often finds a way to test how you have grown;

this is an important time to observe your progress and notice where you need further work 172

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inner peace is not:

feeling perfect all of the time or not caring about what is happening inner peace is:

feeling and being with your emotions without reacting to them; it is the calmness that emerges when you embrace change 174

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six things make inner peace easier: not being afraid of change

kindness toward others

honesty with yourself

intentional actions

self-awareness

gratitude

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life is difficult

and full of unexpected challenges even so, you have to ask yourself: how much stress and mental tension are you unnecessarily causing yourself by creating assumptions

and replaying fears in your mind?

how often are you refusing to let go and adapt when things change?

how much of your inner turmoil is self-imposed?

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let’s stop treating each other like machines.

it is okay if someone does not immediately respond to your email. do not expect quick replies to every text message. the internet and social media have sharply increased the demands on your personal energy.

be a human and take your time.

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at a time when so many are striving to get the attention of others, save yourself the agitation by turning inward and igniting your own self-worth. social media can be a vehicle for inspiration or it can intensify your insecurities. be mindful of how the content you consume is impacting your emotions.

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one of the hardest things about saying no is potentially upsetting others. if you know your path and what you need to focus on, you have to be mindful of your limits.

save your energy so that you can accomplish the goals at the top of your list. those attuned to inner work will understand and respect your right to say no.

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for a few days i lost my way

and the past came roaring back covering my eyes while old impulses took their chance to reign over my mind i let myself get caught

in the hurricane of yesterday sampling my old home

remembering its walls and limits feeling once again all of the reasons why i decided to move on

the joy was empty

and what was once fun fell flat i could not live comfortably in a home too small for my recent expansion i felt an immense wave of guilt for taking a few steps back

but then it hit me

that reexperiencing

these old patterns and ways of being was the motivation i needed

to finally close the door

and no longer feed the actions that could only lead me in circles 180

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they asked her,

“what is real freedom?”

she answered,

“freedom is mental clarity combined with inner peace. freedom is when you can see without projecting and when you can live without causing yourself unnecessary mental tension or stress.

it exists whenever you are not craving more.

happiness and freedom are one.”

(a clear mind)

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check in with yourself occasionally by asking these three questions: is this the direction i want to be moving in?

are my recent choices helping my happiness?

what can i change to better support my goals?

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practice the strengths of earth have a giving nature

be grounded in your purpose

hold firm in times of turbulence cultivate the qualities of water move through life with gentleness have access to your power at all times flexibility and persistence increase success embody the teachings of fire

transmute what you experience into light be strong enough to have clear boundaries have an awareness of when you need more fuel internalize the values of air release your expectations

embrace the constant movement of change seeing is not everything; feeling is essential (balance)

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emotional maturity

is knowing the difference

between your true needs

and temporary cravings

your needs help you live

at an optimal level

and support your happiness

cravings are a reflection

of your agitation and attachments; they leave you dissatisfied

and wanting more

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overcomplicating your healing is something to watch out for. you do not need to overthink your past and repeatedly reimagine each trauma.

self-awareness has more to do with the present moment—if you can see yourself clearly now, you are more likely to act wisely. The best way to access and heal your past is by not running away from yourself in the present moment.

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getting unsolicited advice is one of the best tests and a great time to check in with yourself.

are they saying this for my benefit or their own?

does this advice connect with my intuition?

can i still treat them with patience and compassion even if their advice felt unnecessary?

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one of the hardest skills to master is saying no to yourself so that you can rise up and unfold into a greater you: no to distractions or lack of consistency no to the patterns and ways of being that only lead back into the past no to only doing what is easy no to doubt and fear

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a new life

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power is visible in gentle movements barriers bend and fall when we interact with each other through an invitation instead of a push

kindness has a disarming quality because it carries a warmth that says,

“i am not interested in harming you”

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take the risk

choose the direction you feel burning in your intuition

life is a unique opportunity; you can make best use of it

when you rise above fear

walking the uncommon path

is not a certain victory,

but it does provide the greatest possibility for fulfillment

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when she started letting go, her vision became clearer. the present felt more manageable and the future began to look open and full of bright possibilities.

as she shed the tense energy of the past, her power and creativity returned.

with a revitalized excitement, she focused on building a new life in which joy and freedom were abundant.

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your relationships improve drastically and the tension in your mind decreases significantly when you can simply accept people for who they are instead of fixating on how they should change in order to be more like you

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six signs of maturity:

being open to vulnerability, learning, and letting go seeing more perspectives than just your own accepting responsibility for your happiness prioritizing practices that help you grow pausing to think instead of reacting honesty with yourself and others 194

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cultivate your humility

by questioning your perception cultivate your humility

by not looking down on others cultivate your humility

by not making assumptions

cultivate your humility

by being generous often

cultivate your humility

by learning from others

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four teachers that give free lessons: change

water

solitude

being

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if i am always wanting

i have little time for being

only in being

can i feel real peace

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maturity is feeling joy

for another’s success

a mind trapped in competition, one that feels a quiet bitterness whenever someone gets a thing you crave, is a sign that you are still at war with yourself end the turmoil and friction by loving and knowing yourself more deeply 198

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even after healing significant trauma and old conditioning, you will not be happy all of the time. it is natural for your mood to go up and down. what does change is that you react less to old triggers and when the mind feels turbulent you do not fall easily into past patterns.

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judging yourself by the first impulse that pops up in your mind is unfair that is just a copy of who you were in the past what you intentionally decide to do shapes who you are and influences who you will be in the future

remember: pause, think, act

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an honest and deep conversation with a good friend is sometimes the exact nourishment you need to regain clarity, get back up, face the world, and resume your mission with a new and focused energy 202

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three signs of a good friend: you do not have to perform for them they hold space for you during struggles they are truly happy for your success 202

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progress is acknowledging where you are and where you want to be without allowing the space between the two to cause you mental tension. if anything, it should inspire you to continue moving forward peacefully and diligently. having goals without attachments produces faster results.

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hurts travel through time

from one person to another

this unwanted heaviness moves from the past into the present and then into the future

one of the most heroic things anyone can do is break the line of hurt when people heal themselves,

they stop the hurt from multiplying and their relationships become healthier when people heal themselves,

they also heal the future

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how people perceive you

is more reflective of

their inner mechanics

than your actions

you cannot control

how others think and live,

but you can be intentional

about the energy you put into the world some may misunderstand you,

but what matters most is that you understand you

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real changes reveal themselves slowly. all this work of letting go and building self-awareness gives life a new, fresh feel. when you look out into the world, you observe a reinvigorated vibrancy that shines with the opportunity for a better life.

you use the power of choice, even when your patterns try to pull you in an old direction. you learn the value of accepting the emotions that come up and being okay when you are not okay; this allows moments of turbulence to pass quietly, leaving your mind lighter and your eyes clearer.

you embrace a life of growth and the truth of change so that inner peace can become your new home.

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happiness is being able to

enjoy the things you worked for without slipping into

thinking about what is missing or what you want next

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saying no is a sign of progress saying no is a sign of commitment saying no is a sign of empowerment saying no can help you fulfill your goals saying no can support your mental health saying no can bring you to the right people 208

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in a world that is changing

and growing ever more rapidly, inner calm is your most valuable asset the type of calm that you can rely on when there is turmoil around you the type of calm that helps you breathe deeply and make good decisions when it is time for action

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calmness helps the mind see clearly comparison reinforces your anxiety patience creates space for growth anger ignites fear-based reactions joy appears in the present moment 210

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to release a grudge or a story that is impacting your perception remember that what you are seeing is limited and cannot include the full context of the situation

what you think happened is not final; there is more to the story

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it is not about having light

and kind thoughts all the time; it is about not feeding the heavy and mean thoughts. literally letting them pass without allowing them to take root and control your actions.

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as we move into deeper wisdom, we become motivated by a growing sense of compassion for ourselves and others. it is easier to understand others and what drives their actions when we understand our own inner world.

as our conscious thinking evolves, we become gentler with ourselves and others. a new loving positivity emerges from releasing the tension of ego and allowing clarity to come forward—the essence of healing ourselves.

however, this gentleness and positivity should not be confused with a complete transformation.

we can see signs of a new clarity emerging, but we must remember that the mind is vast, and the subconscious, where most of our emotional history is stored, holds much that still needs to be released.

we are in a situation where our conscious thought patterns may have changed for the better, but our subconscious thoughts, the ones that sometimes spontaneously emerge, are still filled with the heaviness and harshness of old ways.

this is not to say that we should force ourselves to think a certain way or push down certain thoughts.

we should just be aware that this lack of a linear trajectory is a natural part of the healing process and instead focus on cultivating the habits and practices that are helping us transform.

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the thing about opening yourself up to healing and growth is that, once some issues melt away, deeper layers will have the space they need to come up for observation and release. there is much more accumulated in the subconscious than we can initially comprehend. this is why letting go is a long-term commitment. it is possible to get to a much happier place while still working on processing and undoing old patterns.

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a strong self-love

helps you find a balance

between giving selflessly

and protecting yourself from harm 216

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finding ourselves can lead to confusion because who we are is always changing finding ourselves can be complicated without any deep healing

it is to our greater benefit to focus our efforts on freeing ourselves from the burden of past pain and patterns that do not serve our happiness as we purify our being,

as we release the heaviness that dwells within, everything about ourselves

and what we should do with our time becomes clearer

our deepest aspirations become evident the more we remove the dense clouds of ego that wrap themselves around our consciousness 216

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attachments are experts

at hiding in plain sight;

the mind may think it sees clearly but its perceptions are often skewed.

only in the absence of ego

is there objective observation.

as “i” decreases,

wisdom is given space to be.

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when you create something,

do not watch its progress

with attachment and anxiety

create it and let it go

give it to the world and let it be feeling stressed over the outcome and radiating vibrations of agitation does not help you or your work 218

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you know from your own growth that real change is possible

even those who have caused much harm contain this same dynamic potential some may change more quickly than others but the truth remains the same with the right inner motivation anyone can become

a better version of themselves 220

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the future you will thank you for listening to your intuition, for upholding boundaries that supported your inner thriving, for saying no to things that did not align with your values, for taking the time to build your self-awareness, and for staying true to your vision.

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it is important

to understand yourself

but most of healing

is not an intellectual process it is more about feeling

without trying to avoid

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how we act is greatly impacted by the subconscious patterns that control our perception of reality

how we feel is deeply affected by our past emotional history—heavy emotions that do their best to recreate themselves in the present what we see can only become objective and clear when we observe, accept, and let go of what was silently waiting deep within us when we rise above the past and use our effort to respond to life intentionally, by having the perseverance to build wiser habits, we open the door wider to living in a new way 222

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the emotional discomfort we feel when we open ourselves up to letting go is not always directly connected to a particular tough or traumatic event.

much of our conditioning is generated in seemingly small, everyday moments. reactions of jealousy, anger, doubt, and low self-worth are easily forgotten by the conscious mind, but they can accumulate in the subconscious in a way that primes us to feel them again.

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in an era of uncertainty and unpredictability, these qualities will make life easier: a strong determination

a willingness to keep growing the patience to listen to your intuition the ability to adapt to unexpected changes knowledge of what strengthens your inner peace knowledge of your values and

the ability to stick to them

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a successful life is created

with two words: “yes” and “no”

have the courage to say “yes”

only when it feels right

and “no” to the old patterns

that do not serve you

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while your intentional actions start to change

and your authentic feelings

begin to shift

your thoughts may need

some time to catch up with you focus on being the more mature, more patient

“you” and old patterns will lose their strength your thoughts will eventually align becoming gentler and truer

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do not expect perfection from yourself even if you have done a great amount of internal work

progress is acting intentionally more often than you act blindly and not punishing yourself

because you still have room to grow allow mistakes to peacefully inform your growth and learning process 228

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you can tell humanity is maturing because more of us are saying no to harm we are taking time

to examine our biases,

moving our love from

being selective to unconditional and expanding our idea

of what is possible

more of us are healing ourselves and actively helping heal the world 228

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in many ways, a human being is a microcosm of the world. the conditioning that has accumulated over time within the mind parallels the systems that have become dominant within human society.

the reactive patterns of behavior that have been repeated and reinforced throughout our lives as individuals mirror the rigidity and slow change of society at-large.

our minds are, in large part, the way they are because of the countless defensive reactions we have knowingly and unknowingly repeated. like our minds, our world suffers from this pattern.

historically, people in positions of power have tended to act blindly, allowing past fear and trauma to inform their present.

as those who have delved into inner work know, it takes time and self-awareness to break from the past. it takes the repetition of positive and nurturing behaviors that work against the flow of ignorance and fear. more than anything, it takes intentional action that arises from self-awareness to break old habits that keep us from thriving. this process happens at the collective level too. people must think and feel together before they move into action against systems of harm.

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the importance of self-love and self-acceptance in personal transformation work is critical. this is the energy that allows us to embrace ourselves completely and move forward with less friction into healthier ways of living. similarly, humanity is currently experiencing an expansion of compassion.

more individuals are recognizing that their love had limits and are working to expand it to include all people.

before healing takes place, the primary motivators of most human beings are craving and aversion. the accumulation of craving and aversion throughout history has formed the society we know today. all of this is held under a system of short-sighted, greed-based economics that threatens our ability to live well on our planet. collectively, we have not yet learned how to accept our differences and treat them without fear, nor have we stopped trying to change and control each other. and we are still working on thinking long-term.

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working to grow in compassion and decrease the hold craving and aversion have over our behaviors is essential, but we must also deal directly with the systems and ideologies of harm that have emerged from these conditions. our task as people of the twenty-first century is to embrace the complexity that is inherent in the experience of the individual and of humanity. if we can embrace ourselves deeply and take action on behalf of ourselves and all beings, we will be able to reorganize the world into a place where all can safely flourish and exercise their power.

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people working on their healing, the ones with new love in their hearts, more self-awareness in their minds, a greater ability to manage their reactions, who are actively undoing their patterns and biases, are helping to create a better world.

your compassion creates real change.

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you may ask yourself: which comes first—inner work or working to make the world a better place? the answer is that both can happen at the same time. we are all deeply imperfect and full of conditioning that clouds the mind. inner work is a lifelong journey, and so we should not wait until we get to the “end” of our healing to help others.

practice your new habits and heal yourself while you work to undo oppression on a larger scale.

moving against oppression is empathy becoming one with action.

the inner work we do supports the larger movement toward a better world. each makes the other stronger. inner work helps us rise above our old conditioning so that we decrease the harm we recreate in our interactions. the outer work of collective action makes compassion structural—it helps us build a world where people can feel safe and have their material needs met without directly or indirectly harming one another. self-awareness that becomes collective action is the medicine this earth needs.

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real communication happens when projections cease and we are willing to listen to each other in a selfless manner. this becomes more possible when we engage with ourselves deeply, actively work on healing our old pain and trauma, and become familiar with our patterns. the more we know ourselves, the better we can come to know those around us. communication is critical to any movement—it is how we focus our power and collectively decide our direction.

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three sources of hurt:

attachment

expectation

judgment

three sources of healing:

compassion

commitment

observation

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part of knowing yourself

is taking the time to understand the society in which you live the direct and indirect messages you absorb as you grow up

quietly enter the mind

and harden into conditioning

that affects your perspective without knowing

you develop implicit biases

without critical analysis

the past takes root in your thinking without awareness and love

it is hard to live compassionately 236

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it is up to us to envision and enact a new standard for society, to deeply realize the value of human life so that the compassionate treatment of all people becomes the guiding principle that dictates how we design our communities, institutions, and nations.

our world has fallen into extremes. greed, competition, individualism, and short-sighted decision-making have created a world of plenty for some and a world of struggle for most. we are out of balance. we live within systems that push against each other and easily cause direct and indirect forms of harm. we do not yet know how to win together or how to live well without damaging our earth.

fortunately, humanity is in the process of maturing.

we are young, but we are more open to learning, growing, and reorganizing our world than ever before. it is up to us to make compassion structural.

to create an inclusive society in which people are not left behind because of their differences but embraced and centered so that all can flourish.

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it is undeniable that we can improve our current global situation. to get to a better tomorrow, we must understand the complexity of today. the deeper our understanding, the clearer our actions.

we must come to terms with history; face it directly without turning away. we must examine where the shadows of history produce present-day oppression. if we can accept the present reality of human experience, we can better position ourselves to undo structures that do not serve the common good.

the forces of racism and heteropatriarchy exist on the interpersonal and structural level. they impact our institutions and insidiously slow down the flow of compassion in our minds. we need to question our current economic system and support a greater distribution of material prosperity. none of our systems will last forever; nothing does. starvation, poverty, lack of access to good schooling and healthcare are structural problems that we can overcome—raising the standard so that people no longer suffer on the material level is not an impossibility; it is just a matter of will. collectively, we have the wealth and knowledge to accomplish this. what we are missing is a greater sense of unconditional compassion. society will never be perfect, but that should not stop us from making our shared reality more humane. when we commit to ending harm and supporting one another’s thriving, all individuals benefit.

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our task is to think and act more collectively while supporting the freedom of the individual. to standardize the humane treatment of all people.

to expand our idea of human rights to include economic empowerment. to dream and act big. to be the leaders we wish existed.

we have the power to reorganize the world and make compassion structural.

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imagine a world where love guides society people would not be hungry or in danger bodies would feel safe and minds fully nourished voices would be heard and differences respected disputes would be handled

without violence or terror

everyone would have access

to the things they need to flourish sharing

listening

telling the truth

not harming each other

being kind to one another

cleaning up after ourselves

essential lessons we were taught as small children would be taken to heart by adults and woven into a new global culture

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meet those you encounter with genuine compassion. live with intentional gentleness.

cultivate peace with your hands and words. be generous with your kindness. allow others to share in the bounty of a heart that dedicates itself to goodwill. these are marvels of the human spirit, actions that are most easily taken by healed hearts.

not only do these ways of being help our minds settle into inner peace, but they create safer spaces in a world that is always moving in and out of turmoil. to bring such goodness into the world will benefit many and bring its own countless rewards.

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it is to the benefit of your inner peace not to harm others

let this truth settle into your mind and awaken when things get tough when you think

revenge will calm your heart

or erase the pain you have felt remember

when you think

spreading the turmoil you feel will ease the fire burning inside of you remember

when you think

making life harder for someone else will avenge your pain

remember

it is to the benefit of your inner peace not to harm others

let this truth settle into your mind and awaken when things get tough 242

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sending love to all clarity and connection_interior_2.indd 245

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about the author diego perez was born in ecuador and immigrated to the united states as a child. he grew up in boston and attended wesleyan university. during a silent vipassana meditation course in 2012, he saw that real healing and liberation were possible.

he became more committed to his meditation practice while living in new york city. the results he witnessed firsthand moved him to describe his experiences in writing.

the penname yung pueblo means “young people”

and is meant to convey that humanity is entering an era of remarkable growth and healing, when many will expand their self-awareness and release old burdens.

diego’s online presence as yung pueblo, as well as his books, inward and clarity & connection, are meant to serve those undertaking their own journey of personal transformation.

today, diego resides in western massachusetts with his wife, where they live quietly and meditate daily.

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clarity & connection copyright © 2021 by Diego Perez Lacera. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.

Andrews McMeel Publishing

a division of Andrews McMeel Universal 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

www.andrewsmcmeel.com

21 22 23 24 25 BVG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN: 978-1-5248-6048-6

Library of Congress Control Number: TK

ATTENTION: SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES

Andrews McMeel books are available at quantity discounts with bulk purchase for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail the Andrews McMeel Publishing Special Sales Department: specialsales@amuniversal.com.

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4/c Soft Touch yung pueblo

find a partner who accepts you as you are but also inspires you to evolve because they take their own growth seriously. love will not seek to change you. it will embrace you clarity

so unconditionally that you will feel safe clarity

enough to heal the old and put effort into

&

the new. the courage you both have to stay

&

connection

committed to the inner journey will reflect connection

brightly on your relationship.

$16.99 U.S.A. ($22.99 Canada) ISBN: 978-1-5248-6048-6

51699

yung pueblo

9 781524 860486

Printed in the U.S.A.

Cover Design by Sierra S. Stanton author of inward

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1/14/21 3:08 PM