Option One – Finding Your Love Language

“Love is not what you say, love is what you do.”

“Each of us has a unique way of expressing love, a love language that speaks directly from our heart. Just as languages allow us to communicate with others, discovering your love language is about understanding how you give and receive love. This awareness creates a deeper connection, both with yourself and with those around you.

Think of love languages like water flowing through a river. Some rivers are strong and fast, crashing over rocks with intensity and passion, while others are calm and gentle, soothing the land around them. No river is better than the other, but each flows in its own way, sustaining life and nourishing the earth. When we embrace our own love language—whether it’s through words, acts of service, touch, or quality time—we nourish others in a way that is authentic to us.

In Buddhism, the concept of Metta (loving-kindness) encourages us to extend love without expectation. Like the river, we are meant to flow, to give freely, to adapt our love to the needs of those around us. But this flow is not about forcing others to understand us; it’s about expressing ourselves so fully and authentically that we naturally inspire others to explore their own ways of showing love.

So, as you move through your practice today, consider how your body expresses love. Maybe it’s in the way you move with grace, or the way you honor your breath. Your practice can become a reflection of how you express love in your life. And remember, by being true to how you love, you create space for others to discover and honor their own love languages.

“Love is like sunlight shining through the branches of a tree. Just as the light filters through in unique patterns, touching each leaf differently, so does our love language illuminate those around us in ways that are specific to us. The beauty lies in the diversity of expression, and just as no two rays of light are the same, no two expressions of love are identical. And that’s what makes them precious.” – David Scott

Option Two – Are You Addicted to Negative Thinking

“Did you know that negative energy can become as addictive as drugs or sugar? It’s easy to get caught up in drama because, for some, it fills a sense of emptiness. But don’t let yourself be pulled into that spiral. Negative energy can feel urgent and powerful, but it drains you and leaves you stuck in chaos.

Think of how anger or impatience can feel good for a moment, like having too much caffeine. It gives you a quick rush, but then leaves you crashing. This reminds me of a conversation between Yoda and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Yoda says, ‘Anger, fear, aggression—the dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.’ Luke asks if the dark side is stronger, and Yoda replies, ‘No… just quicker, easier, more seductive.’

Negativity is seductive because it promises quick results, but it leads to burnout. True strength comes from calm, peace, and mindfulness. So today, if you feel the pull of negativity, slow down, breathe, and re-center. Remember, it’s not the quick fix that gives you strength; it’s the steady, peaceful flow that helps you move through life with grace.”

“Drama does not just walk into your life; either you create it, invite it, or associate with it. Be selective with your energy. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t go down that path.” – David Scott

Drama and anger can trigger the release of certain chemicals in our brains that can feel pleasurable or energizing in the short term. Here’s how:

Adrenaline and Cortisol: When we experience anger or engage in drama, our brain perceives it as a form of stress, activating the “fight-or-flight” response. This causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which give us a surge of energy and heightened awareness. This rush can feel good in the moment, similar to how a caffeine boost feels, even though it’s ultimately draining.

Dopamine: Engaging in drama, or even feeling anger, can also stimulate the release of dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone. Dopamine is associated with reward and pleasure, and it’s the same chemical released when we experience things like eating pleasurable foods, using social media, or achieving goals. The anticipation of drama or conflict can become addictive because of this short-term dopamine boost.

Endorphins: In some cases, engaging in intense emotions like anger can lead to the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers. This can create a temporary feeling of relief or satisfaction.

The Downside:
While these chemicals may provide a temporary “high,” they come with a crash. The continued release of stress hormones like cortisol can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and irritability over time. Furthermore, the short-term pleasure from dopamine can make us crave more conflict or drama, creating an unhealthy cycle.

This is why, despite the rush that anger and drama might provide in the moment, they ultimately drain our energy and lead to negative long-term effects on both our emotional and physical well-being. Mindfulness and calm, on the other hand, promote a more sustainable, balanced release of positive chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin, which support long-term happiness and peace.

GRACE

We often spend so much of our lives fighting, striving to achieve, and pushing through challenges, that when something comes with ease, it feels unnatural—almost like we didn’t earn it. But ease is not something to fear or resist. It’s a reminder that life, like nature, has a flow, and we are meant to move with it, not against it.

In yoga, we talk about grace. But grace isn’t just the ability to make something difficult look effortless. It’s also a state of mind. Grace is about accepting the present moment, allowing yourself to move with life instead of trying to control it at every turn.

This is a time to slow down, take in where you are, and allow space for things to happen. We often put so much pressure on ourselves to rush, to achieve, to prove our worth. But in doing so, we deplete our energy, lose our sense of balance, and block our own progress. When you are too forceful, like water crashing against rocks, you become overwhelmed and tired. But water also has the ability to flow gently, to carve its way over time without resistance.

You are being guided to flow like water. Water doesn’t rush to its destination, it moves steadily, adapting to the path it finds. In the same way, you don’t need to force your way through life. You can slow down, take one step at a time, and allow events to unfold naturally. It’s in this softening, this space you give yourself, that grace emerges.

Consider life as a dance. In a dance, we don’t rush to the end; we move with rhythm, with elegance. Each step is purposeful, yet unhurried. When you approach life this way—gracefully, patiently—you’ll find that you are not only seen for who you truly are but also that you preserve your energy for the moments that matter most.

Ask yourself, “How can I move with more elegance? How can I slow down and bring more grace into my life?” This is your time to soften, to breathe, and to move in a way that is steady yet flowing, like water finding its way through any obstacle.

“Clearing clutter—be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual—brings about ease and inspires a sense of peace, calm, and tranquility.” – Laurie Buchanan, PhD

“Be the moon in somebody else’s night. Be a lighthouse in someone else’s storm.” – David Scott

“When you brighten the path for others, you also light up your journey.” – David Scott

“Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel

“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” – Salvador Dali

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched—they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” —Thomas A. Edison

“What we do for ourselves, will die with us. What we do for others will live on.” – David Scott

“One little spark can start a forest fire. Be the spark in someone else’s life to ignite their inner fire of passion.” – David Scott

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

“You life is your message to this world. Make sure it is inspiring. Do not give to get, but give to inspire.”

“Dear God, please don’t let me be too busy to recognize your blessings, or hear your voice.” – Germany Kent

“Hope is the grace of endurance in the stormy days that keep us walking until we see a rainbow, knowing we made it to the other side of doubt.”

“Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.” Lao Tzu

“Energy flows where intention goes.” Rhonda Byrne

“Everything is temporary. The emotions you are feeling right at this moment, thoughts streaming across the canvas of your mind right, people in your life, and your scenery. They flow into your life and and they flow away, in the dance of impermanence. Grace is moving through life in harmony and with acceptance of these changes. Like a surfer, flowing with the force of a wave and carrying them forward in graceful balance. Let it come, let it go, let it flow.” David Scott

“Flow doesn’t come to those who try to do things well, it comes to those who try to do things freely.” – Barry Michaels

It is not the strongest person who wins in life, but it is the most nimble, flexible, and adaptive person who wins in life.