Prayer or meditation? It doesn’t have to be either/or but I have found through more than 20 years of both that there is a difference. You might call what you do prayer when it's actually meditation, or vice versa, due to their similarities. Personally, I find that I approach each practice differently.

In a world that often values productivity over well-being, it's easy to fall into the trap of self-criticism and harsh judgment. We set high expectations for ourselves, and when we fall short, our inner dialogue can be unforgiving. But what if we approached ourselves with the same kindness and understanding we extend to others? This is the essence of self-compassion, a powerful practice that can transform our relationship with ourselves and, by extension, our interactions with the world.

You might think that infusing our spiritual understanding and insights into our relationships happens naturally. Sometimes, with more superficial connections, this can be true. However, with our closer relationships, we often have to work at it.

In the realm of spirituality, it often seems as though we've encountered every conceivable insight and wisdom. Maybe tomorrow or another day we'll hear it expressed in a different way and the meaning or essence of the words will resonate deeply within our hearts.