“Your Daily Dose” is a quick two minute read packed with bite-sized wisdom from all the great teachers. But you could also choose to turn it into something more… a powerful daily practice for personal growth. Give it a try!
A message from today’s meditation:
Happy Monday, and a merry new week!
The new year has started and whether you’re the “new year’s resolutions” kind of person or not, we all come up with some kind of idea of what we’d want the year ahead to be like.
So before I get carried away with what my goals are this year and everything I’m looking to create in the year ahead, I have a reminder for myself…
Through all of the old goals of the past, and even through all of the new goals of the future, my soul – my being – has only ever been present. THIS is my home, my inner connection to the divine that connects us all. And whatever quality of life I envision for myself by the end of this year, is dependent upon the quality of my connection to myself right now and every day of this year. I won’t be finally stumbling into the goal of a “better life” on the last day of the year.
So the reminder to myself for the week ahead and the year ahead is this:
If happiness is something waiting around some elusive corner in a distant future when things are finally “perfect”, then you’re in trouble… if you can’t find your happiness regularly in nothing more than your own deep connection to your SELF, then happiness might forever be out of reach.
On this subject we can take advice from so many amazing teachers who have all been teaching this truth:
“Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” – Hermann Hesse
“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” – Carl Jung
And then Sadhguru whose voice I can hear ringing in my ears:
“I want the world to realize that turning inward is the greatest joy. In comparison, any other pleasure is a regressive step backwards.” – Sadhguru
Just imagine that! Finding within yourself, within your coming home, so much joy and happiness that nothing the world can offer you will ever compare with the joy of you being you!
So look at the year ahead and by all means, set your intentions – write down your goals – draw the map of the journey that you wish to walk but remember this… some goals will be achieved and some won’t, while the goals that you think you want for your life may completely change! However within you is an immovable presence that has been unchanged through every beginning and every ending – let this be your guiding light…
Here are your mantras for this week:
- “I can plan for the future, but I can’t spend my energy there. I have to be here now.”
- “I am home. My inner sanctuary awaits.”
- “My inner joy is my birthright, and I choose to claim it every day.”
- “My heart is my compass, guiding me to true happiness.”
- “Each breath, a homecoming. Each moment, an awakening.”
Have a Happy Monday! And a Merry new Week!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week!
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/F1OqEYmNKIQ 2024
https://youtu.be/KlEwU0SyF9k 2023
Practice the “Daily Dose”
Let’s put it into practice! Choose what works for you – daily, once a week or whenever inspiration strikes. Putting pen to paper wires the neural pathways that will create your new habits.
1 – Affirmation
Write down your favourite affirmation on a sticky note and place it somewhere that you’ll be able to see it the whole day.
- “I can plan for the future, but I can’t spend my energy there. I have to be here now.”
- “I am home. My inner sanctuary awaits.”
- “My inner joy is my birthright, and I choose to claim it every day.”
- “My heart is my compass, guiding me to true happiness.”
- “Each breath, a homecoming. Each moment, an awakening.”
2 – A moment of reflection
Use today’s question as a journal prompt. If you don’t have the time to sit down and write, just take a moment to reflect on your response.
The Present Moment Inventory: Reflect on a time when you caught yourself believing that happiness would arrive once you achieved a specific goal. What does it feel like in your body to get the thing you want, to reach that goal? Does reaching any goal ever instill within you everlasting joy and happiness? Now, can you identify three sources of joy or peace that are available to you right now, in this present moment, regardless of what you’ve accomplished? If you can find joy and happiness within your present moment right now, then your future accomplishments will be filled with joy too. But if you’re hoping that that future thing will finally make you happy, then happiness might forever slip from your grasp.
3 – Quotes to share
Send a quote to someone who needs it, or share them all on social media to spread the good vibes!
4 – Q&A for deeper learning
Read through the questions and answers and write down at least one “aha moment” that clicked for you.
Q1: Does focusing on inner happiness mean I should stop setting goals for myself?
Not at all. The message isn’t to abandon goal-setting, but to change your relationship with it. Set your intentions and create your roadmap, but don’t make your present-moment happiness conditional on achieving those goals. Goals give direction; inner connection gives fulfillment. You need both, but one shouldn’t depend on the other.
Q2: How do I find this “inner sanctuary” when my life feels chaotic and overwhelming?
Start small. Your inner sanctuary isn’t something you need to create—it already exists. Begin with just five minutes of stillness each day. Focus on your breath, notice the unchanging awareness behind your thoughts, or simply sit in quiet presence. This practice isn’t about escaping chaos; it’s about finding the stillness that exists within it.
Q3: What if I’ve always been someone who finds motivation through future goals? Isn’t this approach contradictory?
There’s no contradiction. You can be motivated by future possibilities while being rooted in present awareness. The shift is from “I’ll be happy when I achieve X” to “I’m connected to my joy now, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.” One approach creates conditional happiness; the other creates sustainable fulfillment.
Q4: Is it selfish to focus so much on inner joy when there are real problems in the world that need attention?
Actually, it’s the opposite. When you’re disconnected from your inner source of peace and joy, you’re more likely to act from depletion, anxiety, or ego. When you’re rooted in your inner sanctuary, you have more genuine energy, compassion, and clarity to offer the world. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Q5: How do I know if I’m actually connecting with myself or just avoiding my responsibilities?
True inner connection creates clarity, energy, and presence that naturally flows into your life and responsibilities. Avoidance creates numbness, procrastination, and disconnection. Ask yourself: Does this practice leave me feeling more alive and engaged with life, or more withdrawn and resistant? Your honest answer will tell you the difference.
Q6: What if my goals do change throughout the year? Does that mean I failed at planning?
Goals changing can be a sign of growth, not necessarily failure. As you deepen your connection to yourself, you naturally gain clarity about what truly matters to you. The “immovable presence” within you remains constant, but your understanding of what serves your highest good evolves. Welcome these changes as evidence that you’re listening to your inner wisdom.
Q7: How can I maintain this practice when everyday life demands so much of my attention?
The practice isn’t separate from everyday life—it’s meant to infuse it. You don’t need hours of meditation to stay connected. It’s about micro-moments: taking three conscious breaths before a meeting, feeling your feet on the ground while waiting in line, or pausing to notice the sensation of water on your hands while washing dishes. Presence isn’t something you do; it’s something you remember throughout your day.