I’ve read and reread this quote numerous times over the past two days, seeking to tap into the internal compass Washam alludes to. Depending on the moment’s rising and falling waves of my thoughts and emotions, though, any clarity of direction seems to dissolve into a mirage on the horizon. While I trust the quote’s wisdom, there are many such moments in our lives when, no matter how hard we reflect and discern, our internal knowing can’t seem to find the light. There is no evident pull; no apparent direction to trust. There is only a sense of shaky ground beneath and no handholds to lean on. What to do in those moments? In this second half of life, when faced with such uncertainty, I find myself returning to a singular but unifying mantra: “Practice.”  And that is where the serendipitous timing of Kakuzo’s tangible counsel came into my awareness:

 

Building confidence for that next life step – be it big or small – emerges not merely from discernment or even healthy life habits. While reflective inquiry, exercise, sleep, diet, healthy relationships, etc. are all extremely supportive, for me I’ve not found them even collectively to be a means of truly revealing my heart’s compass. But by practicing being fully present with the innumerable joys and heartaches that work, family, friends, and community offer, there are countless opportunities to listen to our heart’s guiding drumbeat. Practice allows us to integrate the reflective and the actionable. So, with due respect to both teachers, I offer an intertwining of Washam’s and Okura’s wise words, uniting in this ever-present moment of learning, growth, and that next step forward: 

 

Please join our community each week as we practice taking that next step forward together. We gather Wednesdays, 1:30-2pm ET at the following:

Zoom link:  https://opm.zoomgov.com/j/1610701279?pwd=RHg2OHROaW1jY3VXQW1LNkFRc3lzZz09

Meeting ID: 161 070 1279 #; (no participant code, press #); Passcode: 9791709014 #.  Phone: 833 568 8864 US Toll-free.