Sometimes the things that you need to hear seem to appear when they’re the most needed.
I really needed to hear both of these things today.
“You must build up your life action by action, and be content if each one achieves its goal as far as possible—and no one can keep you from this. But there will be some external obstacle! Perhaps, but no obstacle to acting with justice, self-control, and wisdom. But what if some other area of my action is thwarted? Well, gladly accept the obstacle for what it is and shift your attention to what is given, and another action will immediately take its place, one that better fits the life you are building.”
— Marcus Aurelius / Meditations 8.32
“Take a seat, and notice how your body connects to the surface on which you are sitting. Then shift your attention to the places where your skin touches the air. Think to yourself: This is where my body meets the world. A thin layer of skin is all that separates your body from all that is not your body. And yet the energy of your body extends far beyond the parameters of your body. People sense you. People see and hear you.
When you feel isolated or disconnected from the world, when you feel that your ideas and opinions are not being heard, stop for a moment. Take the time to notice this deep connectivity with the world around you. Remember that your body extends out into the world farther than you can imagine. You matter. You make an impact. You have presence.”
— Susanna Harwood Rubin / Yoga 365: Daily Wisdom for Life, On and Off the Mat