Objective, not identified with the results of one's actions.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

Outward circumstances
neither make or break us,
unless inwardly,
we have identified with them.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE:
This week, remember . . .

• "I produce results. I am not my results."
• "I achieve what I set out to achieve, or I don't. Either way, I remain who I am."
• "My results are not a commentary on my worth as a human being - win or lose."

Then breathe, choose and keep moving forward - or not. It's your choice - so long as you are conscious and intentional.

With love, honor and respect.

Development of spiritual disciplines to maintain an awakened state.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

You don't have to do a lot.

You just have to be willing.

The rest falls into place . . .

unless

it doesn't.

Then you continue to be willing.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE

This week, choose a "discipline" that will awaken you from sleep over and over again. Just as your alarm clock in the morning prompts your shift from asleep to wake, so can you set your daily practice to bring you back again and again to your awakened state. Choose whatever works for you. Here are some suggestions:

• Pray
• Meditate
• Comtemplate a thing of beauty
• Take three conscious breaths
• Read spiritual writings

Notice any tendency of your mind to believe that a "discipline" has to be difficult or time-consuming. In truth, willingness is all it takes.

With love, honor and respect.

What does living masterfully look like?

Contributing without reserve or resistance.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

The day came

when it was more

painful

for the bud

to stay closed

than to open.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE:

Notice your resistance. That's it. Notice it. Acknowledge it. Then go ahead and contribute.

What happened to your resistance?

With love, honor and respect.

What Does Living Masterfully Look Like?

Willingness to self-remember

on a continuing basis.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

Life

is like

my breath.

It flows

throught me

when I open

to it.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE:

As Life and life come to you this week, notice if you are resisting or opening. Try this:

• Pause
• Breathe
• See what you see.
• Hear what you hear.
• Feel what you feel.

With love, honor and respect.

What does living masterfully look like?

Detachment from appetites, addictions and automatic reactions.
Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

It is not true
there are no
guarantees in your life.

Keep thinking
you are worthless,
and you
will
be.
Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE:
Be mindful of your "addiction" to believing one of your core beliefs. It may be "I'm worthless" or "I'm flawed" or "I'm useless" or...or... Be the witness in your life, noticing where you are reacting automatically and what you are feeling. Then choose your response.

With love, honor and respect.

What does living masterfully look like?


Development of spiritual disciplines to maintain an awakened state.

Marks of Mastery, K. Bradford Brown

You don't have to do a lot.

You just have to be willing.

The rest falls into place . . .

unless

it doesn't.

Then you continue to be willing.

Inside Out: Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit, K. Bradford Brown

PRACTICE:

This week, choose a "discipline" that will awaken you from sleep over and over again. Just as your alarm clock in themorning promptsyour shift fromsleep to awakenness, so can you "set" your daily practice to ground you in your awakened sate. Choose whatever form works for you. Some suggestions are:

• Prayer


• Meditation


• Comtemplation of a thing of beauty


• Three conscious breaths


• Reading a passage in the Bible, Torah, Koran or other spiritual writing.

Notice any tendency of your mind to believe that a "discipline" has to be difficult or time-consuming. In truth, willingness is all it takes.

With love, honor and respect.

Honoring our Limits

What does Mastery look like?

The ability to go beyond limits set by the mind and to work within limits set by Life and to discern the difference between the two.


“It isn’t so much what you do,
nor when or where you do it,
that makes a difference . . .
It’s the why."
Brad Brown, Mental Touchstones for the Awakening Spirit



Practice: This week, notice what, when and why you say yes to doing more. Are you saying yes just so that you don’t have to say no? What do you feel when you say yes, or no? Sometimes saying no to someone else is saying yes to you and your real limits. Trust your discernment for the "yes" or the "no" to doing more.