“Following your own deepest wisdom may be the best way of all to live.”
To fully befriend life, start with self-acceptance. Think about a source of stress in your life and how you can reduce it. One approach I use and recommend is treating stress as a friend.
While this may sound a bit unusual at first, viewing the things that bother us as potential teachers can help alleviate stress. Personifying these challenges can be a valuable practice. Just as I ask you to consider the reading assignment as a friend with important insights, apply this approach to various aspects of your life, whether they seem challenging or effortless.
You can start by practicing with something as simple as the weather. See each day’s weather as a friend who has come for a cup of tea with you. Be a gracious host, serve your favorite tea, and be open to what your weather friend has to say.
One of my favorite books, “The Book of Qualities” by Ruth Gendler, personifies various characteristics, offering a unique perspective on qualities like courage. This approach can provide valuable insights, and I’ve often gifted this book due to my appreciation for it.
Take a minute to reflect on personifying life as a friend. What kind of friend did you encounter? What kind of friend did you welcome? What kind of friend were you? These questions can be simple or challenging to answer. Keep them simple, let the answers emerge, and accept them as messages from a trusted friend, whether they bring “good news” or “bad news.”
This is one way to befriend life.
NEXT STEP: Assignment #9
Kind Living 