Find Your Way Out

“Even if you find yourself planted under some concrete at the moment, look for the crack in the concrete to find your way out. And despite all odds, choose to bloom anyways.”
–Smita Malhotra, M.D.

This time of reemergence in the world turns out to be more unsettling than most of us could have imagined. Everyone has different experts they trust and their own interpretation of the recommendations offered.

When you find yourself overwhelmed by the stress of it all, be kind to yourself and those you’re in disagreement with. And find your way out by shifting to what makes you happy, including helping others.

“Research has shown that helping others can make us happier at work. In fact, Dr. James Fowler has found that individual happiness benefits others up to three degrees of separation in social networks. So by helping others to be happy, you are not only increasing your own happiness, but also affecting an entire community as well.” – Smita Malhotra, M.D.

May you seek and find ways to be happy and joyful in this time of transition. And may the Holy One delight you with unexpected opportunities to witness your joy spreading to and uplifting others.

P.S. The dove I wrote about and shared a picture of in last Tuesday’s newsletter had her babies! As far as my neighbors and I can tell, we think there are two squabs (name for baby doves). They are certainly spreading happiness with their arrival!

“You have a whole world of joy right at your fingertips. There’s no method you need to learn, no discipline you need to impose on yourself. The only requirement is what you already have: an openness to discovering the joy that surrounds you.”

― Ingrid Fetell Lee