The late Maya Angelou said: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” Those sentiments are particularly apt during the first half of 2020. As we experience waves of uncertainty—from the pandemic to social unrest—opportunities to turn inward abound. From this place, we can ask important questions, such as: “what really matters now?” and “what can I learn from this historic time?”
We turned to several Esalen faculty who share insights they have gained over the last three months. They include: UC San Francisco professor Jen Hastings, who also started the Transgender Health Care Program at Planned Parenthood, Mar Monte, in Santa Cruz, Calif.; author-musician-speaker Justin Michael Williams; award-winning author and leader in the field of self-development and personal transformation Christian de la Huerta; artist Rebecca Anders; somatic therapist Joseph Machado; and Dacher Keltner, an author and founder of the Greater Good Science Center.
What lesson is this moment in history attempting to teach us?
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"Black Lives Matter is calling forth the deepest part of my soul and spirit to reflect on my own contribution to and perpetuation of racism. We are part of this killing if we are not fighting, thinking and figuring out how to end this. We can no longer sit back and say it will get better. We must act. The intersection of COVID-19 and this unmasking of structural racism in our country is extraordinary. COVID-19 brought us the awareness that stopping what seemed permanent in our lives—planes flying overhead, factories churning—could result in a dramatic and relatively rapid healing of our planet, with blue skies in places that had not seen blue in over a decade. It feels as improbable that we could eradicate the systemic racism and inequities we have grown up with and yet we are beginning to see that we have power—power to step up and right these wrongs and to be part of the healing of this country and of the world."
—JEN HASTINGS
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"I've been thinking a lot about the story of Noah's Ark. Regardless of our spiritual beliefs, we’re all likely familiar with the story. We either get to stand in denial and watch the flood or we can face reality, get on the ark and then choose what stays and what goes. This is a moment for all of us to take an honest look at our lives—both personally and collectively—and ask: what's coming? And what gets left behind? A new dawn of society is calling us forward. The world as we knew it will never be the same. And we don't have to be afraid of it. The time is now."
—JUSTIN MICHAEL WILLIAMS
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"I am struck by the confluence of the dueling pandemics we are facing. COVID-19 attacks our lungs and 'I can’t breathe' has become the symbol and battle cry for the global protests against systemic oppression, injustice and racism. In the United States, the country most impacted by both pandemics, we are in the midst of a dramatic reality check and wake-up call: who are we—really? And do we truly stand for the values of liberty, equality and justice for all?"
—CHRISTIAN DE LA HUERTA
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"We are currently learning that our patterns of short-term planning are projections of our intent, not concrete things. One of the lessons is that our sense of fulfillment and progress is not created by scheduled milestones, and our disappointments are often due to unmet expectations rather than lack of success. Time dysphoria and emotional paralysis may be immediate reactions, however recognition of the difference between dashed hopes and actual daily achievement is the more lasting reward."
—REBECCA ANDERS
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"This point in history is revealing some of the most peculiar, inspiring and troubling features of society. It has encouraged a deep and profound social reckoning, and conversations about the roots and consequences of social inequalities are at the foreground. It's a time where we're given another opportunity to disassemble the social constructs that keep us from connecting and seeing our fellow humans. May we all deconstruct the social habits we participate in that continue to disenfranchise others."
—JOSEPH MACHADO
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"One of the lessons we are learning is that we have reached our limit in terms of thinking we are separate from others; that it is time to shift to deal with the central U.S. social problems, racism and inequality. And that when we slow down, stop buying and driving, the skies are so beautiful and the light is so clear. There are so many lessons we all can be learning now. We are all be given this special time to learn them."
—DACHER KELTNER
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“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
The late Maya Angelou said: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” Those sentiments are particularly apt during the first half of 2020. As we experience waves of uncertainty—from the pandemic to social unrest—opportunities to turn inward abound. From this place, we can ask important questions, such as: “what really matters now?” and “what can I learn from this historic time?”
We turned to several Esalen faculty who share insights they have gained over the last three months. They include: UC San Francisco professor Jen Hastings, who also started the Transgender Health Care Program at Planned Parenthood, Mar Monte, in Santa Cruz, Calif.; author-musician-speaker Justin Michael Williams; award-winning author and leader in the field of self-development and personal transformation Christian de la Huerta; artist Rebecca Anders; somatic therapist Joseph Machado; and Dacher Keltner, an author and founder of the Greater Good Science Center.
What lesson is this moment in history attempting to teach us?
"Black Lives Matter is calling forth the deepest part of my soul and spirit to reflect on my own contribution to and perpetuation of racism. We are part of this killing if we are not fighting, thinking and figuring out how to end this. We can no longer sit back and say it will get better. We must act. The intersection of COVID-19 and this unmasking of structural racism in our country is extraordinary. COVID-19 brought us the awareness that stopping what seemed permanent in our lives—planes flying overhead, factories churning—could result in a dramatic and relatively rapid healing of our planet, with blue skies in places that had not seen blue in over a decade. It feels as improbable that we could eradicate the systemic racism and inequities we have grown up with and yet we are beginning to see that we have power—power to step up and right these wrongs and to be part of the healing of this country and of the world."
—JEN HASTINGS
"I've been thinking a lot about the story of Noah's Ark. Regardless of our spiritual beliefs, we’re all likely familiar with the story. We either get to stand in denial and watch the flood or we can face reality, get on the ark and then choose what stays and what goes. This is a moment for all of us to take an honest look at our lives—both personally and collectively—and ask: what's coming? And what gets left behind? A new dawn of society is calling us forward. The world as we knew it will never be the same. And we don't have to be afraid of it. The time is now."
—JUSTIN MICHAEL WILLIAMS
"I am struck by the confluence of the dueling pandemics we are facing. COVID-19 attacks our lungs and 'I can’t breathe' has become the symbol and battle cry for the global protests against systemic oppression, injustice and racism. In the United States, the country most impacted by both pandemics, we are in the midst of a dramatic reality check and wake-up call: who are we—really? And do we truly stand for the values of liberty, equality and justice for all?"
—CHRISTIAN DE LA HUERTA
"We are currently learning that our patterns of short-term planning are projections of our intent, not concrete things. One of the lessons is that our sense of fulfillment and progress is not created by scheduled milestones, and our disappointments are often due to unmet expectations rather than lack of success. Time dysphoria and emotional paralysis may be immediate reactions, however recognition of the difference between dashed hopes and actual daily achievement is the more lasting reward."
—REBECCA ANDERS
"This point in history is revealing some of the most peculiar, inspiring and troubling features of society. It has encouraged a deep and profound social reckoning, and conversations about the roots and consequences of social inequalities are at the foreground. It's a time where we're given another opportunity to disassemble the social constructs that keep us from connecting and seeing our fellow humans. May we all deconstruct the social habits we participate in that continue to disenfranchise others."
—JOSEPH MACHADO
"One of the lessons we are learning is that we have reached our limit in terms of thinking we are separate from others; that it is time to shift to deal with the central U.S. social problems, racism and inequality. And that when we slow down, stop buying and driving, the skies are so beautiful and the light is so clear. There are so many lessons we all can be learning now. We are all be given this special time to learn them."
—DACHER KELTNER
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
The late Maya Angelou said: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” Those sentiments are particularly apt during the first half of 2020. As we experience waves of uncertainty—from the pandemic to social unrest—opportunities to turn inward abound. From this place, we can ask important questions, such as: “what really matters now?” and “what can I learn from this historic time?”
We turned to several Esalen faculty who share insights they have gained over the last three months. They include: UC San Francisco professor Jen Hastings, who also started the Transgender Health Care Program at Planned Parenthood, Mar Monte, in Santa Cruz, Calif.; author-musician-speaker Justin Michael Williams; award-winning author and leader in the field of self-development and personal transformation Christian de la Huerta; artist Rebecca Anders; somatic therapist Joseph Machado; and Dacher Keltner, an author and founder of the Greater Good Science Center.
What lesson is this moment in history attempting to teach us?
"Black Lives Matter is calling forth the deepest part of my soul and spirit to reflect on my own contribution to and perpetuation of racism. We are part of this killing if we are not fighting, thinking and figuring out how to end this. We can no longer sit back and say it will get better. We must act. The intersection of COVID-19 and this unmasking of structural racism in our country is extraordinary. COVID-19 brought us the awareness that stopping what seemed permanent in our lives—planes flying overhead, factories churning—could result in a dramatic and relatively rapid healing of our planet, with blue skies in places that had not seen blue in over a decade. It feels as improbable that we could eradicate the systemic racism and inequities we have grown up with and yet we are beginning to see that we have power—power to step up and right these wrongs and to be part of the healing of this country and of the world."
—JEN HASTINGS
"I've been thinking a lot about the story of Noah's Ark. Regardless of our spiritual beliefs, we’re all likely familiar with the story. We either get to stand in denial and watch the flood or we can face reality, get on the ark and then choose what stays and what goes. This is a moment for all of us to take an honest look at our lives—both personally and collectively—and ask: what's coming? And what gets left behind? A new dawn of society is calling us forward. The world as we knew it will never be the same. And we don't have to be afraid of it. The time is now."
—JUSTIN MICHAEL WILLIAMS
"I am struck by the confluence of the dueling pandemics we are facing. COVID-19 attacks our lungs and 'I can’t breathe' has become the symbol and battle cry for the global protests against systemic oppression, injustice and racism. In the United States, the country most impacted by both pandemics, we are in the midst of a dramatic reality check and wake-up call: who are we—really? And do we truly stand for the values of liberty, equality and justice for all?"
—CHRISTIAN DE LA HUERTA
"We are currently learning that our patterns of short-term planning are projections of our intent, not concrete things. One of the lessons is that our sense of fulfillment and progress is not created by scheduled milestones, and our disappointments are often due to unmet expectations rather than lack of success. Time dysphoria and emotional paralysis may be immediate reactions, however recognition of the difference between dashed hopes and actual daily achievement is the more lasting reward."
—REBECCA ANDERS
"This point in history is revealing some of the most peculiar, inspiring and troubling features of society. It has encouraged a deep and profound social reckoning, and conversations about the roots and consequences of social inequalities are at the foreground. It's a time where we're given another opportunity to disassemble the social constructs that keep us from connecting and seeing our fellow humans. May we all deconstruct the social habits we participate in that continue to disenfranchise others."
—JOSEPH MACHADO
"One of the lessons we are learning is that we have reached our limit in terms of thinking we are separate from others; that it is time to shift to deal with the central U.S. social problems, racism and inequality. And that when we slow down, stop buying and driving, the skies are so beautiful and the light is so clear. There are so many lessons we all can be learning now. We are all be given this special time to learn them."
—DACHER KELTNER
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org