Is this a world where we can be loving and fearless at the same time, no matter what? I ask myself that a lot. Conditions seem to be conspiring against us right now, don’t they? And yet….

And yet don’t we always have that choice? The choice to be loving, remembering that we’re all in this incredible mess together, and the choice to be fearless, remembering how to speak only the truth, and to speak truth to power, no matter what?

In fact, if we aren’t loving and fearless right now, when will we be? And what will we have left?

Motive matters. Intention matters. Impact matters. We know that.

And, there are some things mindfulness invites us to consider, and practice, just for the love of it.

Kindness, for the love of kindness.
Generosity, for the love of generosity.
Justice, for the love of justice.

All of these, for the love of one other and the other creatures and our beautiful earth.

Maybe that doesn’t always feel like enough. After all, we’re heavily programmed to seek results.

But what if the results of kindness, generosity, and justice for their own sake, are simply leaving each moment, each day, our world, just a little bit better than we found it? And what if, when we really pay attention, that feels like enough?

Mindfulness never pulls any punches. There’s no leeway when it comes to anger. It’s not that there’s a prohibition against the feeling. That wouldn’t be realistic, or even healthy. But there is, against speaking angry words and acting out of anger.

Instead, mindfulness invites us to solve for anger – “conquer” is the world in the teachings. If we can’t quite yet, then the instruction is to acknowledge and deal decisively with anger by shifting the mind: firmly and lovingly saying “no” to anger, and proactively saying “yes” to kindness, generosity, and truth.

It’s a tall order. The ancient teachings acknowledge this and also say, we wouldn’t be invited to do this if it weren’t something we’re entirely capable of doing.