I believe that our life work is accepting ourselves. What we say to ourselves when no one is listening and how we look at ourselves when no one else is looking are our biggest tells of how we really feel about ourselves, which in turn is how we feel about the world on a macrocosm
It's good to be good. Talk about Law of One and and Islam, where everything ultimately becomes good
The opposite of suicide (ref. zen medicine article)
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in the context of the mind and the heart
Mind can help us survive and meet the basic needs, but it's the heart that will transcend
In Japan, love isn’t defined by passion, grand romance, or bouquets of flowers on special days. It’s defined by respect for personal space. In their culture, it’s not about demanding constant closeness or asking endless questions. While we often say: “If you love someone, you must always be by their side,” they believe: “If you love someone, you let them breathe.” There is even a concept called “oyakake bukaeru” — the silence beside someone. The ability to sit together for an hour without words — not because of anger, but because you feel calm. In many cultures, silence is seen as a problem. In Japan, it’s a sign of depth. Love there doesn’t mean “always together.” It’s normal for couples to sleep in separate rooms, take separate vacations, or pursue different interests. Independence is not betrayal. Distance is not the end. What matters most is not interfering with each other’s essence. Happiness is not something demanded from the other person, but the peace you bring into the relationship. That’s why in Japan, divorce rates are lower, there are fewer emotional breakdowns, and less burnout. Maybe it’s because their relationships aren’t built on consumption, but on respect. On quiet care. On giving each other the freedom to simply be.
- Love vs Wisdom (ref. Lo1 06 Aaron Aabke)
- doing shadow work thru feminine vs masculine
- Call it Healing the Two Ways