Mantra “I explore the world, myself, and others with fresh eyes and an open heart.”

Beginner’s Luck – The Power of an Open Mind

We’ve all heard of Beginner’s Luck—that moment when someone new to something seems to succeed effortlessly. But is it really luck? Or is it because beginners approach things with an open mind—free from doubt, fear, or limiting beliefs?

When we’re new to something, we aren’t weighed down by past failures or rigid expectations. We’re open to possibilities, willing to learn, and not afraid to try. This openness creates the space for success. It’s not luck—it’s a mind open to everything and closed to nothing.

Think of a child learning to walk. They don’t question whether they can do it; they just try, fall, and try again. Imagine if we lived our lives that way—seeing each experience as new, fresh, and full of possibility.

Metaphor:
A cup that is already full cannot take in more tea. But an empty cup—ready to receive—can be filled with warmth, nourishment, and something new.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message:

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca

“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.” – Bruce Lee

“The moment you think you have all the answers, you stop growing.” – Unknown

Call to Action:
Approach today with Beginner’s Luck. Let go of “I already know” and step into curiosity. What new insight, experience, or lesson is waiting for you when you open your mind?

The Magic of Beginner’s Mind – Seeing the Familiar with Fresh Eyes
Metaphor: Walking Through Your Own City as a Traveler
Imagine walking through Miami but as if you were a tourist seeing it for the first time. The streets you once rushed through suddenly feel alive with color and detail—the sound of footsteps on pavement, the scent of blooming mangos, the way sunlight dances on buildings. Nothing has changed, yet everything feels new simply because you are seeing it with fresh eyes.

Yoga offers us the same opportunity—to revisit familiar poses, but with a new perspective. The mind often assumes, “I already know this,” but when we approach life with Beginner’s Mind, we open ourselves to infinite wonder.

Buddhist Principle: Shoshin (Beginner’s Mind)
Shoshin means approaching everything as if for the first time, free of preconceptions. This allows us to experience the present fully, without assumption or judgment.

Reflection: Reawakening to the Present
How often do we move through life on autopilot, assuming we already know what each day will bring? When we stop truly seeing the world around us, we stop truly living. But when we shift our perspective, we realize everything is fresh, everything is new, every breath is a discovery.

🔹 “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

🔹 “Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” – Meister Eckhart

🔹 “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

Call to Action:
Today, let’s move like explorers. Even if we’ve done this pose a hundred times, let’s meet it as if it’s brand new. Let’s step onto the mat without expectation, and simply observe.

Topic – The Journey Within – The Path of Self-Exploration

T.S. Eliot’s poem “Little Gidding” (part of Four Quartets):

“We shall not cease from exploration,
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”

Metaphor: The Labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral
Unlike a maze, which is designed to confuse, a labyrinth is designed for meditation and self-exploration. The Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth in France has been walked by seekers for centuries as a practice of deep reflection. There are no dead ends—only twists and turns that invite us inward.

Self-exploration is much like walking a labyrinth—we often feel like we’re revisiting the same thoughts or emotions, but if we trust the process, we realize that each turn takes us deeper into ourselves.

Buddhist Principle: Vipassana (Insight Meditation)
Vipassana means “clear seeing.” It teaches that wisdom arises when we observe ourselves deeply, without attachment or fear. Through breath, stillness, and movement, we begin to recognize patterns in our thoughts and reactions.

Reflection: The Courage to Look Inward
We spend much of our lives looking outward—seeking answers in relationships, careers, and external validation. But true wisdom comes when we turn inward. Self-exploration is an act of courage—it asks us to sit with uncertainty, embrace our vulnerabilities, and remain open to transformation.

🔹 “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle
🔹 “At the center of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want.” – Lao Tzu
🔹 “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung

Call to Action:
As we move, let’s walk the labyrinth of our own experience. No judgments, just awareness. What truths can we uncover when we truly listen?

Topic – Embracing the Unknown – The Joy of Exploration

Metaphor: Setting Sail into Uncharted Waters
Imagine standing on the deck of a ship, looking out at the horizon. Behind you is the land you have always known—safe, familiar. Ahead, the open sea stretches infinitely, uncertain yet full of possibility. To discover new lands, you must first be willing to lose sight of the shore.

Buddhist Principle: Anicca (Impermanence)
Anicca teaches that everything is in constant change. The unknown isn’t something to fear, but something to embrace—because everything, even fear, is temporary.

Reflection: From Fear to Wonder
When we embark on something new—a relationship, a career shift, or personal transformation—fear whispers, “What if I fail?” But the explorer’s heart asks, “What if this is the greatest journey of my life?”

🔹 “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd
🔹 “One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore.” – André Gide
🔹 “The greatest joy in life comes from taking risks, leaping into the unknown, and discovering you can fly.” – Unknown

Call to Action:
Let’s move today as fearless explorers. Where can we expand, soften, and release hesitation?

Topic – The Ever-Changing Path – Exploring Relationships with New Eyes
Metaphor: Climbing the Vatican’s Bramante Staircase
This breathtaking spiral staircase is designed to create a seamless, continuous ascent. Though we revisit the same structure again and again, each step brings a new vantage point.

Relationships work the same way. We often assume we already know someone, but just as we change daily, so do the people around us. Are we truly seeing them, or just the version of them that exists in our minds?

Buddhist Principle: Metta (Loving-Kindness)
Metta reminds us that love requires renewal—seeing others with fresh compassion, just as we do with ourselves.

Reflection: Seeing Your Partner with Fresh Eyes
How often do we assume we already know someone?
What happens when we meet our partner, a friend, or even ourselves, as if for the first time?
🔹 “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” – T.S. Eliot
🔹 “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” – Heraclitus

Partner Reflection Exercise:
Invite students to hold eye contact with a partner for one minute in silence, then reflect:

What do you see in them that you’ve never noticed before?
How can you meet them with Beginner’s Mind?

“Change your perspective and enjoy the adventure. Let the child in you come out to play.”

When my sons were little, we resided in the rural Redlands. Our Sunday evenings followed a cherished ritual: a pilgrimage to Dairy Queen. There, we treated ourselves to an ice cream while reclining in the bed of my pickup truck, gazing upward at the night sky, engaging in rounds of ‘I Spy.’

I am fairly certain you most likely you have played ‘I Spy’ before, but just in case here is a refresher.  When playing the game “I Spy,” one participant selects an object within their surroundings and provides a clue to the others. The clue typically starts with the phrase “I spy with my little eye,” followed by a description of the chosen object. For example: “I spy with my little eye something green.” Or “I spy with my little eye something round.”

The other players then take turns guessing which object matches the clue. It’s a wonderful way to engage with our environment and enhance our observational skills.

Our struggle with perception lies not in our ability to see, but rather in our capacity to retain what we’ve witnessed. The lens of our eyes captures every detail, rendering it indelible. Yet our minds often wander, preoccupied with solving nonexistent future problems. These fleeting moments of perception ricochet off the mirror of consciousness, slipping into oblivion.

‘I Spy’ resurrects our awareness. Suddenly, the world around us sharpens back into focus. Even today, I continue this game, walking my dog along the familiar path. Each day, I seek novelty within the routine—a hidden treasure, a subtle shift. It’s not that our eyes fail us; rather, our hearts must learn to feel.”

Our mind is our imagination. Our ability to imagine is boundless. The mind does not have any limits whatsoever.

“Learn to close your eyes and trust. Learn to open your heart and love. Learn to take the risk and fly.” – Maxime Lagacé

Personal Transformation

Transformation is a journey that we all must go through in life. It is not always easy, nor pleasant. It can be lonely, messy, difficult, and painful. But it can also be beautiful, rewarding, enlightening, and liberating.

Transformation is the process of letting go of what no longer serves us, and embracing what helps us grow. It is the process of shedding our old self, and emerging as our new self. It is the process of dying to our ego, and the rebirth of our true nature.

Yoga is a powerful tool for transformation. It helps us connect with our body, mind, and spirit. It helps us balance our energy, calm our emotions, and clear our thoughts. It helps us align with our purpose, values, and goals. It helps us cultivate awareness, compassion, and wisdom.

Transformation is not a linear or predictable process. It is a dynamic and creative process. It involves cycles of change, challenge, and growth. It involves moments of crisis, confusion, and doubt. It involves moments of breakthrough, clarity, and confidence.

Transformation requires courage and resilience. It requires us to face our fears, overcome our obstacles, and embrace our opportunities. It requires us to accept our reality, adapt to our circumstances, and act on our potential. It requires us to be humble, honest, and open.

Transformation is not something that happens to us, but something that happens within us. It is not something that we can control, but something that we can influence. It is not something that we can avoid, but something that we can welcome.

Transformation is a natural and inevitable process. It is a part of life, and a part of us. It is a gift, and a responsibility. It is a challenge, and an opportunity. It is a journey, and a destination.

The Story of – “Personal Transformation”

As you breathe deeply and relax your body, imagine that you are a caterpillar wandering through the Forest of Loving Awareness. You are curious and joyful, exploring the beauty of nature and feeling the warmth of the sun. You have everything you need and you are content with your life.

But one day, you sense a strange and powerful force inside you. It feels like a pressure that is pushing you to change. You are afraid and confused, and you try to resist this force. But the more you resist, the more pain you feel. You wonder what is happening to you and why.

You hear a voice in your heart, telling you to trust the process and surrender to the flow. You feel a primal urge to find a safe place, where you can prepare for something unknown. You climb up a branch, spin a silken thread and hang upside down. Then you wait.

You enter a state of deep meditation, where you let go of your thoughts and emotions. You focus on your breath and your inner light. You feel a connection with the source of all life, the universal energy that flows through everything.

As you meditate, your body begins to transform. You shed your caterpillar skin and a hard shell forms around you. You are enclosed in a dark and tight chrysalis, similar to a cocoon. You feel isolated and lonely, and you wonder if you will ever see the light again.

You remember the voice in your heart, telling you to trust the process and surrender to the flow. You realize that this is a necessary stage of your growth, and that you are not alone. You are supported by the universal energy, and by all the beings who have gone through this before. You are part of a larger cycle of life, death and rebirth.

You feel a new wave of strength and courage from within, that you have never felt before. You feel ready to break free from the chrysalis and embrace your new self. You push against the shell and crack it open. You emerge as a beautiful butterfly, with colorful wings and a radiant glow.

You feel a sense of awe and gratitude, as you see the world from a new perspective. You see the Forest of Loving Awareness in a new light, full of wonder and magic. You feel a connection with all living things, and a compassion for their suffering. You realize that you have a purpose and a mission, to spread love and joy wherever you go.

You hear the voice in your heart, telling you to trust the process and surrender to the flow. You understand that this is the essence of the Buddhist philosophy, and the path to enlightenment. You are a butterfly, and you are free.

“The well-worn, easy path is the one usually leading to mediocrity. Take the more difficult, less traveled path or create your own. The greater the challenge, the greater the joy experienced in overcoming it.” – David Scott

“Some fall into the flames and are consumed, other’s fly out victoriously, with their wings on fire, but forever transformed, purified and forged stronger by the experience.” – David Scott

“Some walks in life, you just have to take alone,” – David Scott

“It was when she walked alone, that she discovered her strength. It is hard to walk alone, but sometimes that is the walk that makes us the strongest.”

“Do not judge her, you have no idea the storms I have asked her to walk through.” – God

“Monsters are real, ghost are real, they live inside us and sometimes we allow them to win.” Steven king

“Some people are lost in the fires of life, others are forged by them.”

“They laugh at me because I am different, I laugh at them because they are all the same.” – Kurt Cobain

“You need a level of darkness, to see the stars.”

“She conquered her demons and wore her scars like wings. Love her but leave her wild.” – Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

“What good are wings without the courage to fly? Sure she was afraid of heights but she was much more afraid of never flying.” – Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

“From the moment I saw her I knew this one was worth the broken heart.” – Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

“There’s too much risk in loving, the young boy said, ‘no,’ said the old man, there’s too much risk in not.” – Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

“Strength does not come from doing what you can do, it comes from overcoming what you first thought was impossible.”

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.” – Albert Einstein

What is your passion… “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

“Success isn’t the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”

“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.”-Thomas J. Watson (IBM CEO)

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be brave enough to stand for what you believe in, even if it means you stand alone

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Anthony Robbins

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers

Just because the war is lost, it does not mean that you must be conqoured.

The one who falls and gets up is so much stronger than the one who never fell.

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

“Everything in life that is “worth achieving,” requires risk and should scare you just a little bit.” – David Scott

“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” – Bill Bradley

“Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.” – Aisha Tyler

“Success is sequential, not simultaneous. It is the last stoke of the pick ax that finally cracks the rock.” David Scott

“Adversity causes some to break, others to break records.” William A. Ward

“We have not crossed that subtle line from childhood to adulthood until we stop saying “It got lost” and instead say “I lost it.” – Sydney Harris

“The confident person admits to their mistakes, honoring them like hard fought battle scars; the cowardly must instead blame others, learning nothing but shame from their experience.” – David Scott

“You must not allow your long term goals and dreams to be derailed off track by short term defeats. A stumble can often prevent a fall.” – David Scott`

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” – Margaret Thatcher

“Every path has a puddle.”

“Buried within every problem are the seeds of its own solution. Often it is not that the solution that cannot be seen, but that the problem is never first fully understood.” – David Scott

“The block of granite, that was an obstacle for the weak, becomes a stepping stone in the path of the strong.” Thomas Carlyle

“Only he who does nothing, makes no mistakes.” – French Proverb

“Everything is going to be difficult. In order to build muscle you have to first feel the burn.” David Scott

“If you get tired along the way, rest don’t quit.”

“You could have grown cold, but you grew courageous instead. You could have given up, but you kept on going. You could have seen obstacles, but you called them adventures. You could have called them weeds, but instead you called them wildflower. You could have died a caterpillar, but you fought on to be a butterfly. You could have denied yourself goodness, but instead you chose to show yourself some self-love. You could have defined yourself by the dark days, but instead through them you realized your light.” – S.C. Lourie

“It is not where you start in life, but the direction in which you are heading that determines the outcome. Magnificent things grow from the insignificant. The small stream becomes the mighty ocean, the tiny pine nut becomes the towering pine tree. Inside each of us, lies vast and infinite potential, only waiting to be explored by that child within.” David Scott

“To reach our goals, we must first learn to focus. If you aim your arrow at two birds you will bring down none.” – David Scott

“When our talents meet perseverance, opportunity presents itself. The door of opportunity will not open unless you do a little pushing. The person that does nothing except wait for their ship to come in, has already missed the boat.” – David Scott

“The tragedy of many is not that they lose, but that they almost win.” David Scott

“He that can not endure the bad, will not live to see the good.” Yiddish Proverb

“Success is often just over the next horizon, People often don’t fail, they just quit trying.” – David Scott

“It is always easier to start well than to finish well. The tiny drops of rain, create holes in rock, not by brute force, but by soft perseverance.” David Scott

“Determination is the wind in our sails, pushing us onward, over and through the waves of fear and doubt.” David Scott

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills

“Happiness is to be found along the way of our journey. Happiest is a person that still can find joy in the detours of life. If we wait only until the end of the journey to experience happiness, it is too late. When we eat a delicious meal, we savor each bite. We do not wait for the end of the meal, only when the last morsel is finished, to taste the joy of our feast.” David Scott

“The two hardest things in life to handle, are failure and success.”

“Happy the person that gets up every morning with enthusiasm and falls asleep with satisfaction in their heart.” David Scott

. “My biggest struggles have been my biggest teachers.” – Kathryn Budig