Tag: life

Soften The Heart #33 : Children Are a Gift — Even When Our Childhood Didn’t Feel Like One

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“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.”

Psalm 127:3

Children are one of the clearest pictures of God’s heart. Their curiosity, honesty, wonder, and purity remind us of what truly matters. Scripture tells us that children are a gift — not because of what they do, but because of who they are: reflections of God’s creativity and love.

As parents, this verse reminds us to slow down and cherish our kids, to remember that they’re not burdens or interruptions but blessings entrusted to us. They bring joy, purpose, and a fresh view of the world.

But for many adults, this verse can stir something deeper.

Not everyone grew up feeling protected, valued, or cherished. Some people carry wounds from a childhood where they were mistreated, overlooked, or harmed. And hearing “children are a gift” can feel confusing — even painful.

So if that’s you, here’s something important to know:

**God’s intention for children was always good.

Your pain was never His plan.**

When the Bible calls children a gift, it is describing how God sees them — not how every human treats them. Some adults act out of their own brokenness, and their choices leave deep marks on innocent hearts. But your mistreatment was never a reflection of your worth. You were always precious. You were always a gift. Someone else simply failed to honor what God created.

And God grieves with you.

He is “close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18) and fiercely protective of the vulnerable. Jesus Himself said it would be better for a person to be thrown into the sea than to harm a child (Matthew 18:6). That means He saw you. He cared. He never agreed with what was done to you.

The good news?

God restores what was wounded.

He heals the childhood parts of us that were hurt, silenced, or forgotten. And He gently rebuilds what was broken — identity, trust, safety, and hope.

So whether you grew up cherished or neglected, this verse has a message for you:

Cherish the children in your life today — including the child you once were.

Let today be a reminder to love your kids with intention and tenderness…

but also to let God love and restore the parts of you that didn’t receive that same tenderness growing up.

Children are a gift.

And that includes you — the child you used to be, and the person you are becoming.

A Hidden World: What Uncontacted Tribes Teach Us About Ourselves

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Every once in a while, something crosses your path that stops you in your tracks — something that makes you question everything you thought you knew about the world.

That was me the other day, reading an article about a drone capturing footage of a group of people living deep in a remote region… completely cut off from modern society.

Not unaware.

Not forgotten.

Just choosing to live outside of our world.

There are still entire villages — real people, real families, real lives — who have never stepped foot into our “modern” world. They have no electricity, no phones, no clocks, no social media, no government systems, no advertisements telling them what they need, no pressure to become anything other than who they already are.

They live in a world that feels like a parallel reality.

And it fascinates me.

But more than that… it teaches us something.

1. A Full Life Doesn’t Require Our Definition of “Full”

We’re conditioned to believe that fulfillment comes from:

achievements productivity growth comfort convenience

Yet these tribes live full, meaningful, deep lives without any of the things we chase every day.

No noise.

No chaos.

No comparison.

Just existence — pure, present, human.

It makes you pause and wonder:

Are we actually thriving… or are we just endlessly busy?

2. “Progress” Isn’t Universal

From the outside, we might assume they’re “behind” — that our world is somehow superior or more advanced.

But the truth is striking:

They do not want our world.

They choose theirs, proudly and intentionally.

To them, our world isn’t an upgrade — it’s a disruption.

Their world is home, identity, freedom, rhythm.

And they guard it fiercely.

It makes you rethink what “better” even means.

3. They Are Living Echoes of Human Origins

Watching footage of them feels like looking through a window into how humanity once lived:

connected to the land bonded through community surviving through wisdom passed down for generations living according to the earth’s rhythms, not man-made ones

They are a reminder of who we used to be before modern life overstimulated our minds and fragmented our attention.

4. There Are Still Mysteries in the World

We love to think we’ve discovered everything.

Mapped every corner.

Documented every culture.

But then—

a drone flies overhead and reveals an entire village hidden beneath the trees.

It’s humbling.

It reminds us that Earth is still wild, sacred, and full of secrets.

The world is bigger and more mysterious than our little bubbles allow us to imagine.

5. They Teach Us Holy Boundaries

These villages avoid contact not out of fear, but out of wisdom:

outsiders bring disease outsiders bring exploitation outsiders bring change that erases culture

They protect their world the way we should protect our inner peace — fiercely, intentionally, unapologetically.

Not everything is meant to be shared.

Not everything is meant to be exposed.

Some things are sacred, and sacred things require boundaries.

6. They Make Us Rethink “Civilization”

We assume we’re more civilized because we have technology and systems.

But what if civilization is also:

emotional closeness communal purpose spiritual grounding simplicity harmony with the land

Who’s actually more aligned with life —

them, or us?

7. They Wake Us Up Spiritually

Seeing people who live untouched by noise or comparison shakes something loose in your soul.

It makes you ask:

What would my life look like without distraction?

Without pressure?

Without the constant hum of stress and expectation?

It makes you wonder who you would be if you never had to perform for the world.

Sometimes I think:

Maybe they aren’t the ones missing out.

Maybe we are.

A Final Thought

These tribes remind us that there is no single way to be human.

No universal path.

No timeline we must follow.

They are living proof that a meaningful life can look wildly different from what we’re taught to chase.

And maybe —

just maybe —

they’re here to remind us to slow down, reconnect, simplify, and remember that the world, at its core, is still full of wonder.

Unpeeling the Layers: Beginning Shadow Work

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“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” — Carl Jung

We all have parts of ourselves that we hide — not because they’re bad, but because somewhere along the way, we were taught they shouldn’t exist, or we felt embarrassed or shame.

The truth is, your “shadow” isn’t evil. It’s simply the unseen — the pieces of you that crave your love and understanding.

A huge part of my very own shadow work has been working through the trauma of being adopted. Emotions and feelings that I battled internally by myself.

Healing takes time; remember that.

What Is Shadow Work?

Shadow work is the practice of bringing light to those unseen parts.

It’s about facing your fears, triggers, insecurities, and buried emotions with honesty and compassion.

When you do, something incredible happens:

what once controlled you from the dark begins to heal in the light.

Shadow work isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about remembering yourself. It’s about making the connections.

How to Begin Shadow Work

1. Create a safe space

Find a quiet place where you can be fully honest. Light a candle, journal, or simply sit in reflection. Shadow work requires gentleness and patience — you’re opening emotional layers that have been closed for a reason.

2. Observe your triggers

Notice what upsets, annoys, or frustrates you in others.

These moments are mirrors — reflections of something within you asking to be seen. Instead of judging the feeling, get curious about it.

3. Meet your emotions without judgment

When anger, jealousy, or sadness arises, don’t push it away. Ask it what it’s trying to show you. Often, our strongest emotions lead directly to our deepest wounds.

4. Journal through the layers

Writing can help you uncover truths you didn’t know you were hiding. Be honest, messy, and real — no one ever has to read it.

Shadow Work Prompts to Begin

• What emotion do I avoid feeling the most, and why?

• What do I criticize most in others that might live within me too?

• What parts of myself do I struggle to accept or show to the world?

• When do I feel unworthy, and where did that belief begin?

• What am I still holding resentment about, and what lesson might be hidden inside it?

• What situations make me feel small, and who taught me that shrinking was safer?

• What am I afraid people would think if they truly knew me?

• What does my inner child need from me right now?

• In what ways do I self-sabotage when things start going well?

• If my pain could speak, what would it say?

Remember: You Are the Light and the Shadow

Shadow work isn’t about becoming “perfect.” It’s about wholeness — learning to hold both the light and the dark with love. Yin and yang.

Each layer you peel back reveals more truth, more compassion, more freedom.

Healing begins the moment you stop running from yourself and start listening.

The Real Reason We Don’t Have World Peace (And How We Can Find It Within)

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“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” – Albert Einstein

We talk about world peace as if it’s something out there — a dream we keep chasing but can’t quite reach. Yet maybe the reason we can’t find peace in the world is because we haven’t yet found it within ourselves.

Government shutdowns, wars, and constant divisions are only mirrors of a deeper human truth: we are disconnected. From each other. From nature. From the still voice inside us that remembers what really matters.

The Surface of Conflict

On the surface, countries fight over land, money, and power. Politicians argue over who’s right. But beneath it all lies the same root cause: fear.

Fear of losing control. Fear of not being enough. Fear of not being heard.

When fear leads, compassion fades. And when compassion fades, peace cannot survive.

The Inner War

The world is simply a reflection of the collective inner world of its people.

So many of us carry anger, guilt, resentment, or unhealed wounds — and those emotions ripple outward. We argue, we judge, we close our hearts. It’s no wonder nations do the same.

The truth is, world peace begins with inner peace.

When you choose to forgive someone instead of holding onto pain… when you pause before reacting in anger… when you take a breath instead of shouting back — you shift the frequency of the world around you.

That’s not just poetic. It’s energetic law.

The Forgotten Connection

We’ve been taught to see differences instead of similarities — race, religion, gender, politics. But beyond those layers, we are made of the same dust, the same breath, the same light.

When you look into someone’s eyes and see yourself reflected there, peace is already happening.

We forget that we are not separate waves crashing against each other — we are the same ocean, simply moving in different forms.

The Hope That Still Lives

World peace might never come from a treaty or a politician’s promise.

It might come from something much quieter — the mother teaching her children to be kind, the friend who listens without judgment, the stranger who offers a smile when you need it most.

Every small act of love is a piece of peace.

And when enough of us find peace inside ourselves, the world will no longer have a choice but to reflect it back.

The Trap of Memetic Desires: Learning to Want What’s Truly Yours

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“We are not merely influenced by others — we are shaped by what they desire.”

– René Girard

Have you ever wanted something simply because someone else seemed to?

A certain lifestyle, job, relationship, or version of happiness — one that didn’t even cross your mind until you saw it shining in someone else’s hands?

That’s what philosopher René Girard called a memetic desire; a desire we absorb rather than originate.

It’s when our wants aren’t born from within, but borrowed from the world around us.

How Mimicry Shapes Desire

As children, we learn by imitation. We mimic how others talk, dress, and behave. But Girard suggested that imitation runs deeper than action — it shapes desire itself.

We don’t just copy what others do; we copy what they want.

And in a world overflowing with highlight reels, that’s a powerful and often dangerous thing.

Think about it:

You scroll through social media and suddenly feel drawn to a certain aesthetic or lifestyle you never cared about before. You hear your peers talking about success, and suddenly your definition of “enough” changes. You see two people in love online, and suddenly you’re not sure if you want love or just the image of it.

That’s the quiet pull of mimetic desire — subtle, yet powerful.

Recognizing the Signs

You might be caught in the current of memetic desire if:

You feel restless or “behind” after seeing others’ achievements. You chase things that look good on the outside but don’t feel right inside. Your desires change rapidly based on who you’re around or what you consume.

Memetic desires are like mirrors — they reflect others’ longings until we mistake them for our own.

🌱 Returning to Your Authentic Desires

The good news is, once you see the pattern, you can step outside it.

Here are a few ways to return home to your true desires:

1. Pause before you pursue.

Ask yourself: When did I start wanting this?

Did this desire come from a quiet inner pull, or from seeing someone else with it?

2. Sit in stillness.

Your authentic desires don’t shout — they whisper. Create space for silence, journaling, prayer, or time in nature.

When the noise fades, the truth emerges.

3. Listen to your body.

Memetic desires create tension and chasing. Authentic ones feel peaceful and grounded — even if they ask for courage.

4. Define success for yourself.

Write down what a “fulfilled life” truly means to you — not what society defines as success.

Revisit it often to stay anchored.

5. Surround yourself with grounded souls.

We absorb the energy of those around us. Stay close to people who value depth over display.

The Gift of Awareness

The moment you become aware of memetic desire, it loses its power.

You begin to want less of what glitters — and more of what’s real.

You start noticing how much peace lives in authenticity.

Because at the end of the day, your soul didn’t come here to copy.

It came to remember itself.

“You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.” – John Mason

The Importance of Releasing Built-Up Energy

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“Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.” – Mark Twain

I was sitting outside this morning, sipping coffee as a gentle rain shower passed through. Lightning flickered across the sky, thunder rumbled in the distance, and I was struck by how beautiful it all was. That simple moment sent me down a little “Google trail” of facts about thunder, lightning, and their connection with the earth. The more I read, the more amazed I felt by how deeply nature is woven together and how much of that connection we often overlook.

It reminded me of something from many years ago, when I worked at the bank. One of the first lessons they taught us about working with customers was this: you must create a connection before offering advice. That connection built trust, and with trust came a relationship.

Without it, nothing meaningful could take root.

Isn’t the same true with our Mother Earth? How important it is to slow down, notice her rhythms, and take the time to build connection. With connection comes care, and with care comes relationship.

When thunder shakes the earth, we are reminded that even the sky must let go. Storms don’t appear out of nowhere, they build from heat, pressure, and imbalance. Eventually, the energy becomes too great to hold, and nature finds its release through lightning and thunder.

This release isn’t destructive by design. It’s restorative. The rain nourishes the soil. The air cools. The atmosphere resets. Without the storm, the earth would stay tense, suffocated by pressure that has nowhere to go.

We are no different.

Each of us carries storms inside; emotions we bottle up, words we don’t say, grief we don’t grieve. Like the sky, we can only hold so much. When we refuse to release what weighs on us, it doesn’t disappear; it hides in our bodies, our thoughts, our relationships. The pressure builds until it finds a way out; sometimes in anger, sometimes in tears, sometimes in illness.

But when we allow release — a cry, a deep conversation, a prayer, a long walk, a creative expression — we restore balance. We clear space for peace, for clarity, for renewal.

Just as thunder reminds us the earth is alive and in motion, our own release reminds us we are living, feeling beings. And letting go is not weakness. It’s wisdom.

Because in both nature and life, release is what makes room for growth.

Ways to Release Built-Up Energy

Journaling – Write freely, without judgment, letting your emotions pour onto the page.

Movement – Dance, stretch, walk, or shake your body to let energy flow out physically.

Crying or Laughing – Both are natural releases the body uses to reset and heal.

Breathwork – Deep, intentional breathing can calm the nervous system and move stuck energy.

Prayer or Meditation – Offer what you’re holding onto to God/the universe, releasing it into something greater than yourself.

Creative Expression – Paint, sing, garden, or create in any form that feels like release.

Speaking It Aloud – Share your feelings with a trusted friend, partner, or even speak them in solitude — the act of voicing brings relief.

Reflection Question:

What energy are you still holding onto that is ready to be released — and how might you allow yourself a healthy “thunderstorm” so that renewal can follow?

Little Habits for a Cleaner, More Organized Home

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Keeping a house clean doesn’t always mean sticking to a strict schedule. Sometimes it’s the little daily choices that make the biggest difference.

When we turn those small actions into habits, the home begins to take care of itself.

Here are some simple things you can do every day that make a huge impact:

The 2-Minute Rule – If it takes less than 2 minutes, do it right away. Wipe the counter, rinse the dish, fold the blanket.

Reset Before You Leave a Room – Before you walk out, take one thing with you that doesn’t belong there.

One In, One Out – Every time something new comes into the house, let one thing go.

Clear Surfaces at Night – Tidy the living room and wipe down counters before bed. A fresh start in the morning changes everything.

The 10-Item Pick Up – Choose any room, pick up 10 out-of-place items, and put them back. Quick, simple, effective.

Basket Trick – Keep a catch-all basket in the main living space. Toss random things in, then empty it at the end of the day.

Laundry Reset – Fold or hang clothes right when they come out of the dryer. (A small habit that prevents a big pile.)

Never Go Empty-Handed – Going upstairs? Grab what belongs there. Heading to the kitchen? Take a dish with you.

End-of-Day 5 Minutes – Spend just 5 minutes putting things back in place before bed.

Entryway Rule – Shoes, bags, coats go away the moment you walk through the door.

These little things may not seem like much on their own, but together they create a rhythm of order and peace. When the home feels lighter, so do we.

Maybe the secret isn’t in doing more, but in doing the small things consistently.

You Are You Hang Out With – Your Circle Should Inspire You, Not Drain You

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“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” – Unknown

Who we spend time with shapes how we think, speak, and act. The people closest to us leave quiet fingerprints on our soul. Their words, habits, and outlook slowly weave into our own. When someone’s anger, negativity, or chaos becomes a regular soundtrack in your life, it slowly rewires your responses. That’s not just theory , it’s practical wiring: we pick up habits, tones, and rhythms from the people around us.

This truth isn’t about cutting people off in cruelty. It’s about wisdom; a guardrail for the heart. Protecting your peace allows you to become the person you are called to be. Sometimes that means creating distance from those who stir drama, and sometimes it means setting different boundaries for your own good.

Like trees sharing roots beneath the soil, we are more connected to those around us than we realize. That’s why boundaries are an act of love; for yourself, for your family, and even for the other person. Enabling unhealthy patterns rarely helps anyone heal.

Practical Steps

• Notice whose emotional tone you carry home. Set a gentle boundary (shorter visits, later pick-ups, less sharing).

• Choose circle-keepers who model what you want to become.

• Offer compassion from a distance: pray for people you can’t be close to right now.

Open Your Windows More

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There’s something sacred about opening a window.

It’s such a simple act, but it carries so much symbolism. It’s not just about letting in the breeze — it’s about letting something go. A releasing. A welcoming. A shift.

The act of opening windows has deep roots across many cultures and traditions, both symbolic and practical. Here are a few notable ones:

1. Letting in New Energy (Spiritual/Cultural)

In many cultures, opening windows is a way to:

Clear out stagnant or negative energy Welcome in fresh energy, light, and air — often associated with new beginnings or clarity Allow spirit or soul to leave after a death (common in Irish, Jewish, and some Asian traditions)

2. Spring Cleaning Traditions

In places like Europe and North America, opening the windows during spring cleaning symbolizes:

Rebirth, renewal, and cleansing after winter Letting nature back in — fresh air, sunshine, and warmth

3. Feng Shui

In Chinese feng shui, opening windows regularly:

Helps chi (life energy) circulate Prevents energy from becoming stagnant Connects the home with nature, harmony, and flow

4. Christian & Biblical Symbolism

Some interpret open windows as symbolic of:

Receiving blessings (Malachi 3:10 speaks of God opening the windows of heaven) Openness to God’s presence, guidance, or Spirit

5. Superstitions & Folklore

In some old traditions, leaving a window open during childbirth or death was thought to help the soul enter or exit. Some say you should open all the windows on New Year’s Day to let out the old year and bring in the new.

Common Thread:

No matter the culture, opening your windows usually symbolizes release, renewal, and receptivity — physically and spiritually.

Now go open a window! 🙂

Dear Readers, I am going…..

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…to begin sharing stories from my life.

What inspired me to create this category is a book that I am currently reading — ‘Tell Me Everything’ by Elizabeth Strout.

I am only at the beginning but a few times the author writes about everyone having unrecorded or shared stories.

Which makes me feel like revealing more of myself—-honestly just for fun.

I enjoy having a place where I can be vulnerable. While we are strangers in the real world, in here we are friends.

I have shared many lessons on this blog but I think I should share maybe how I learned some of these lessons.

As always, thank you for reading.

m.g.