Mantra “Love begins within. I open, I grow, I trust.”

Topic 1 – The Foundation of Love: The Relationship You Have with Yourself

Metaphor: Imagine looking at yourself in a Mirror. How do you see yourself?
Your relationship with yourself shapes how you move through the world. If you see yourself with kindness, love, and confidence, that energy reflects outward. But if you see yourself through the lens of doubt, unworthiness, or self-criticism, it influences how you connect with others.

We’ve all known someone who could drown in a drop of water—consumed by their own insecurity. Did you trust in their strength? Now ask yourself: Are you projecting self-doubt or self-assurance into your relationships?

Reflection:
The longest relationship you will ever have is the one with yourself. Every other connection—romantic, friendship, family—is a reflection of how you treat yourself.

Many people seek love and validation from others, hoping to receive what they struggle to give themselves. But love begins within. Until you love, respect, and accept yourself, it is nearly impossible to receive or offer love in a healthy way.

Buddhism teaches that we are our own greatest source of suffering or peace. If we constantly judge ourselves, compare, or feel unworthy, we project those limitations onto others. Healthy love starts with self-awareness and self-compassion.

Self-Inquiry:
What self-imposed limitations keep you from fully experiencing love?
Are you waiting for someone else to make you feel whole?
Do you reject parts of yourself that deserve compassion?
When you do the inner work, the right people—the ones who honor and cherish you—will enter your life. Love yourself, and the rest will follow.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

“The way you treat yourself sets the standard for how others will treat you.” – Sonya Friedman

“Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have.” – Doris Mortman

“Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.” – Lucille Ball

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” – Buddha

Call to Action:
Today, reflect on how you speak to yourself, how you care for yourself, and how you see your own worth. If your inner dialogue is filled with doubt or criticism, shift it toward love and acceptance. The way you love yourself will shape every relationship in your life. Be kind to yourself, and the right people will be drawn to your light.

Topic 2 – The Courage to Bloom: Embracing Growth Despite Fear

“And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin

Metaphor: The Seed That Becomes a Flower
A seed buried in the soil is safe—protected from the wind and storms. But if it never breaks open, it will never bloom. To reach its full potential, it must push through the dirt and grow, despite the challenges.

Reflection:
There comes a time when staying comfortable but unchallenged becomes more painful than stepping into the unknown.

We often resist change because of fear—fear of failure, rejection, or uncertainty. But staying small isn’t truly living. Buddhism teaches impermanence—nothing stays the same forever. Clinging to the familiar, even when it no longer serves us, only causes suffering.

Like the bud that finally blossoms, we must allow ourselves to open. Growth is uncomfortable, but staying stuck is unbearable. The time to bloom is now.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:

“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not in the branch, but in her own wings.” – Unknown

“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” – Joseph Campbell

“Do not be afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen Proverb

Call to Action:
What is keeping you from blooming? What fear is holding you back? Today, take one small step toward growth. The risk of blooming is always worth it—because on the other side of fear is the beauty of becoming who you were meant to be.

Topic 3 – The Beauty of Wandering: Discovering the Path as You Walk

Metaphor: The Lantern in the Fog
Imagine walking through a dense fog with only a small lantern in your hand. The light doesn’t illuminate the entire path, only the next few steps. Yet, as you keep moving, new ground is revealed, and the way forward becomes clearer. If you stand still, fearing the unknown, you remain stuck in one place. But if you trust and take a step, the path unfolds before you.

Reflection:
Many of us hesitate to move forward unless we see the whole path clearly. We crave certainty, mistaking wandering for being lost. But life does not hand us a map with every turn outlined. Instead, the path reveals itself only as we take steps forward.

Buddha reminds us: “There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path.” This means happiness is not found in a final destination, but in the act of walking, exploring, and trusting. If we let fear of the unknown hold us back, we never step into the magic of discovery. The only way to truly find our path is to begin walking, even if we are unsure.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” – Rumi

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” – Lewis Carroll

Call to Action:
Today, step forward even if you don’t have all the answers. Trust that each step will reveal the next. Life is not about having everything figured out—it’s about moving with faith, openness, and curiosity. Keep walking, and the path will appear.

Topic 4 – Loving Wisely: Opening Your Heart Without Losing Yourself

Metaphor: The Lighthouse and the Ships
Imagine a lighthouse standing on the shore, its beam stretching across the dark waters. The lighthouse does not chase after ships, nor does it try to hold them in place. It simply stands strong, offering guidance and light. Some ships will navigate safely because of its presence, while others may drift away. The lighthouse does not dim itself for those who choose another path, nor does it try to force them to stay—it remains steady, shining regardless.

Love should be like this. We can open our hearts, offer kindness, and share our light, but we cannot lose ourselves in trying to control or hold onto others. Healthy love means standing firm in who we are, while still being open and giving.

Reflection:
Love is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. It asks us to be vulnerable, to open our hearts, but also to stay grounded in who we are.

Buddhist teachings remind us of the Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Love isn’t about control or attachment—it’s about honoring another person’s path while staying true to our own.

But here’s the challenge: Love comes with risk. When we open our hearts, we also open ourselves to being hurt. Some people will cherish our love and help us grow. Others may not know how to return it. That’s part of the journey. If we close off completely, we miss the beauty of real connection. But if we give all of ourselves away without care, we can become lost.

Just like the lighthouse, we must remain centered in our own truth. We can shine love into the world, but it is not our job to make someone see the light. Some will appreciate it, some will drift away, and some may not be ready to receive it. The key is to love deeply, but wisely.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:
“You can search the whole universe for someone who deserves your love more than yourself, and that person is not to be found.” – Buddha

“Love is not about possession. It’s all about appreciation.” – Osho
“A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be themselves.” – Ram Dass

“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.” – Khalil Gibran

“Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.” – Dalai Lama

Call to Action:
This Valentine’s week, ask yourself: Are you shining your light without losing yourself? Are you offering love freely, but also standing strong in your own truth? Love deeply, but love wisely. Be open, but do not dim your own light. Some will stay, some will go—but your heart will remain whole when it is grounded in self-respect and wisdom.

Topic 5 – The Power of Presence: Nurturing Relationships for a Flourishing Life

Metaphor: Tending the Fire
Imagine sitting around a small fire on a cold night. The fire provides warmth and light, but if you ignore it, it slowly fades to embers and then to ashes. To keep it burning, you must tend to it—adding wood, adjusting the logs, and protecting it from the wind.

Relationships are the same. They do not thrive on their own; they require attention, care, and presence to keep them alive.

Reflection:
For over 80 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked what makes life meaningful. The conclusion is simple yet profound: good relationships are the key to happiness and well-being. Not money, not status, not achievements—just the quality of the connections we nurture.

But relationships, like the fire, need tending. In today’s fast-moving world, true presence has become rare. We are often distracted—half-listening, multitasking, scrolling through our devices. Yet, attention is the most basic form of love. When we fully show up for someone, we give them something priceless: our presence.

Think about the moments when someone truly listened to you, when you felt seen and valued. Those are the moments that deepen bonds and bring warmth to life. It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about the small, everyday choices to be present, to listen without distraction, and to make others feel they matter.

The best gift we can offer isn’t money or advice—it’s our undivided attention.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:
“Attention is the most basic form of love.” – Zen Proverb

“The greatest gift you can give someone is your presence.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

“The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.” – Esther Perel

“A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.” – Rachel Naomi Remen

Call to Action:

Today, choose to be fully present with someone. Put down your phone, make eye contact, listen deeply, and offer your full attention. Relationships thrive not through time alone, but through the quality of the time we give.

mixed thoughts

“Not all who wander are lost” 

“The secret to having it all is knowing you already do.” – Unknown.

“While goals serve their purpose, in our modern lives, we often become overly fixated on achieving them. We create to-do lists, diligently ticking off tasks, all the while missing the essence of the journey itself. Happiness lies not solely in reaching the destination, but in the steps we take along the way.

In the teachings of the Dao, Lao Tzu wisely said, ‘A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.’ This reminds us to embrace the unfolding path, rather than clinging to rigid plans

Interestingly, it’s often the most challenging segments of our journey that offer the most breathtaking views. Amelia Earhart aptly stated, ‘Adventure is worthwhile in itself.’ So, even when we feel adrift, unable to discern our exact path, remember that paths reveal themselves as we walk. Paths are made by walking and not just

Wandering doesn’t equate to being lost; it signifies openness to discovery and the beauty of the unknown.” – David Scott

“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.” – Unknown

“There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path.” – Gautama Buddha

“Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.” – Ralph Marston

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” — The Bhagavad Gita

“To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.” — Pema Chödrön

“Yoga is a tool that we use to move into stillness, experiencing the truth of who we are.” — David Scott

The Story of The Lotus Seeker

In a small village nestled amidst the mist-covered mountains, there lived a young monk named Kavi. Kavi was known for his gentle spirit and unwavering devotion to the teachings of the Buddha. His days were spent in quiet meditation, seeking answers to life’s profound questions.

One crisp morning, Kavi decided to embark on a pilgrimage. He yearned to visit the sacred temple atop the highest peak—the place where the ancient scriptures whispered secrets of enlightenment. The journey was arduous, but Kavi’s heart burned with purpose.

As he ascended the rugged trails, Kavi encountered fellow travelers. Some were seasoned pilgrims, their faces etched with wisdom. Others were wanderers—lost souls seeking solace. Kavi listened to their stories, shared his meager provisions, and offered kind words. He understood that each traveler had their own path, their own quest for meaning.

One day, Kavi met an old woman named Sita. Her eyes held a lifetime of sorrows, and her steps faltered. She clutched a tattered map, its ink faded by time. “Young monk,” she said, “I seek the Lotus Lake—a place said to hold healing waters. Can you guide me?”

Kavi studied the map. Its lines zigzagged, leading nowhere in particular. “Sita,” he said, “the true path lies within. The Lotus Lake is not a distant oasis; it resides in your heart. Seek stillness, and you shall find it.”

Sita frowned. “But the map…”

Kavi smiled. “Not all who wander are lost. Sometimes, the wandering itself is the pilgrimage. Let go of the map, and let your heart guide you.”

Sita hesitated, then folded the map and placed it in her worn satchel. Together, they continued their journey. Kavi shared stories of compassion, of the lotus blooming from murky waters. Sita listened, her steps growing lighter.

At last, they reached the temple. Its golden spires touched the sky, and the air hummed with ancient chants. Kavi bowed before the altar, feeling the presence of countless seekers who had come before him. Sita stood beside him, tears streaming down her weathered cheeks.

“Is this the Lotus Lake?” Sita whispered.

Kavi shook his head. “No, my dear friend. The temple is but a reflection. The true Lotus Lake lies within, where compassion meets wisdom. It is the stillness that blooms even amidst chaos.”

Sita closed her eyes. In that sacred space, she found solace. The lotus blossomed within her—a fragile yet resilient flower. She no longer needed the map; her heart had become the compass.

As Kavi descended the mountain, he realized that enlightenment wasn’t confined to lofty peaks. It was in the kindness he showed, the stories he heard, and the shared laughter. Not all who wandered were lost; they were simply on different paths, seeking their own lotus within.

And so, Kavi continued to wander, knowing that the journey itself was the destination. For in the wandering, he discovered the truth: “The secret to having it all is knowing you already do.”

May your own journey be filled with wisdom, compassion, and the blossoming of your inner lotus

Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has been investigating what makes people happy and flourish. After starting with 724 participants—the study incorporated the spouses of the original men and, more recently, more than 1,300 descendants of the initial group.

As the study’s director (Bob) and associate director (Marc), we’ve been able to watch participants fall in and out of relationships, find success and failure at their jobs, become mothers and fathers.

It’s the longest in-depth longitudinal study on human life ever done, and it’s brought us to a simple and profound conclusion: Good relationships lead to health and happiness. The trick is that those relationships must be nurtured.

Social Fitness is working on strengthening our relationships.

attention

“Attention is the most basic form of love.”- Zen Proverb

The most precious thing we can give to somebody else is our undivided attention, but it’s much harder to give that these days,

Expressing Vulnerability

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. One of the harder things for some people to learn is how to give help, and—even harder for others as they grow older—how to receive help

Less screen time and more face time

Instead of making people feel connected, social alienation is occurring, provoking feelings of isolation and loneliness. Technology can make people feel more dependent on social connections relatively then depending on real life connections. Study found “Children lose empathy being online too much. We’ve seen kids like this that don’t develop those sympathetic and empathetic skills they need.”

On Feb 11th 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from a South African Prison after 27 years.

Nelson Mandela, (born July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa—died December 5, 2013, Johannesburg), Black nationalist and the first Black president of South Africa (1994–99). His negotiations in the early 1990s with South African Pres. F.W. de Klerk helped end the country’s apartheid system of racial segregation and ushered in a peaceful transition to majority rule. Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993 for their efforts.

Definition – What does Klesha mean?

In Hinduism and Buddhism, a klesha is a negative mental state that clouds the mind causing suffering and the conditions for suffering to arise. Klesha means “poison” in Sanskrit. Kleshas also refer to the obstacles that prevent a person from reaching a state of enlightenment and freedom from samsara.

Kleśa (sanskrit क्लेश, also klesha ) is a term from Indian philosophy and yoga, meaning a “poison”. The third śloka of the second chapter of Patañjali’s Yogasūtra explicitly identifies Five Poisons (Sanskrit: pañcakleśā):

The five kleshas mentioned by Patanjali are:

Avidya (delusion or ignorance) is the first of the kleshas because it is the basis for the others. By destroying avidya, the other kleshas are no longer an obstacle. Avidya obscures the higher Self by firmly establishing negative habits and preventing change.

Asmita (egoism) is the attachment to ego and the ego’s sense of reality. It is mistaking the physical, emotional and mental aspects of the mind-body for the true Self.

Raga (attachment) is the desire for material objects, relationships, status, power or other unevolveddesires.

Dvesha (repulsion) is aversion to unpleasant things, people and experiences.

Abhinivesha (will to live) is the fear of death and desire to live, even if life is filled with misery.

Sutra 2.2 introduces the subject very clearly: “The goal of Yoga is not to obtain something that is lacking: it is the realization of an already present reality. The yoga practice aims to remove the obstacles that obstruct the experience of Samadhi, or the state of complete absorption”.

In class tonight imagine that the body is the bow, asana is the arrow, and the soul is the target.

The Two Travelers and the Farmer

A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. Eager to rest his feet, the wanderer hailed the countryman, who seemed happy enough to straighten his back and talk for a moment.

“What sort of people live in the next town?” asked the stranger.

“What were the people like where you’ve come from?” replied the farmer, answering the question with another question.

“They were a bad lot. Troublemakers all, and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world, and not a one of them to be trusted. I’m happy to be leaving the scoundrels.”

“Is that so?” replied the old farmer. “Well, I’m afraid that you’ll find the same sort in the next town.

Disappointed, the traveler trudged on his way, and the farmer returned to his work.

Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, hailed the farmer, and they stopped to talk. “What sort of people live in the next town?” he asked.

“What were the people like where you’ve come from?” replied the farmer once again.

“They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I’m sorry to be leaving them.”

“Fear not,” said the farmer. “You’ll find the same sort in the next town.”

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” – Nelson Mandela

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michaelangelo

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Nelson Mandela

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela

“I never lose. I either win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela

“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” – Nelson Mandela

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” – Nelson Mandela

“May your choices reflect your hopes, and not your fears.” – Nelson Mandela

“The greatest glory in living is not in falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela

“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” – Nelson Mandela

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Addair

“If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” – Wayne Dyer

“The truth is that the way other people see us isn’t about us—it’s about them and their own struggles, insecurities, and limitations. You don’t have to allow their judgment to become your truth.” ~Daniell Koepke

“Your mind is a powerful engine. When you fill it with positive thoughts, it will produce a powerful and positive life.” – David Scott

“Courage is one step ahead of fear.”

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“The past no longer defines me. I am not my scars. I am not my failures. I am not misfortunes. I am not my mistakes. I am the wise soul, living in this imperfect body experience and growing wiser with each stumble that I overcome.” David Scott

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When times are good, be grateful, and when times are tough, be graceful.” – Dustin Poirier.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” —Jamie Paolinetti

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” – Mark Twain

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

“Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too.” – Unknown

“The Secret of Change Is to Focus All of Your Energy, Not on Fighting the Old, But on Building the New.” – Socrates

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.” – Charles Buxton “If you dont have time for the things that matter, stop wasting time on the things that dont.”

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you lived through it. Honor your path. Trust your journey. Learn, grow, evolve, become.” ~Creig Crippen

Today’s tears water tomorrow’s gardens.” – Matshona Dhliwayo.

“Take care of yourself so you’re strong and healthy for the important people in your life. It’s not selfish. It’s self-nurturing, it’s necessary, and you’re allowed.” – Farnoosh Brock

“Those who wish to sing, always find a song.” – Swedish proverb.

The hardness of a diamond is part of its usefulness, but its true value is in the light that shines through it.

“When you meet obstacles with gratitude, your perception starts to shift, resistance loses its power, and grace finds a home within you.” – Oprah Winfrey.

When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world. When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God.