self-awareness
The Magicless Misery Of ‘Compare And Despair’
I once attended a Toastmasters meeting where a gentleman was delivering his first speech to this specific group. It was an ice breaker to have us get acquainted with him. Instead of the typical short autobiographical introduction this speaker chose to give us an overview of his philosophy of life.
He told his audience that he sees himself entering a new phase of his life right now. He spoke about how important it is to get to know yourself and to take care of yourself first and foremost, and to always live in the moment.
After the speech and applause, the toastmaster reflected briefly on what the talk meant to him as he had listened. He said it reminded him of a mentor who had once, many years ago, said to him, “Compare… and despair”. If in life you are constantly comparing yourself to others, or comparing what you have with what others have, or what you feel you lack, or need to achieve, then all that will do is bring yourself unnecessary despair.
The only thing you should ever compare yourself against, his mentor added, is yesterday. Today did you do something constructive or grow in some way that makes you a better person than you were yesterday?
Too often we compare ourselves with our peers, both in our personal and professional lives. Why did he get a raise and not me? Why can I not find a soulmate like she did? Why can’t I be a successful entrepreneur like him? How come they get to have all these wonderful vacations?
Reclaiming Your inner Peace In A Noisy World
When was the last time you sat down with yourself? I mean really be in the moment and connnect with your inner being. When did you last pay close attention to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations?
So often, we go about life on autopilot, barely acknowledging our inner world. Over time, this becomes a way of being.
We stay caught up in the human busy-ness that keeps us focused on the practical aspects of life. Important, yes, but often at the expense of our spiritual and emotional well-being.
The result is a kind of soul fatigue or a quiet weariness that stems from disconnection. We may notice a sense of restlessness or dissatisfaction, but struggle to trace its roots. That’s often a sign our inner world is calling for attention, urging us to slow down and truly listen.
Even when we do find quiet moments, we rarely use them to check in with ourselves. We live in a world of endless distractions: a computer at our fingertips, the internet in our pocket. This disconnect is creating a divide between real life and our presence within it.
Today, I felt inspired to write about reconnecting with our inner selves and creating more balance between our spiritual and practical experiences.
This doesn’t require a massive overhaul. It just takes intention. It can be as simple as spending a few quiet moments with your thoughts and feelings.
Here are three simple yet powerful ways to slow down and reconnect with simple, meaningful moments in everyday life.
The Empath’s Sacred Gift Of Compassion
Being an empath is more than just having a high sensitivity to the suffering of others. It is also the sacred gift of compassion. Empaths do not only perceive other people’s pain, but we also want to soothe, heal, and uplift them. These twin gifts of discernment and compassionate action are inseparable.
I have yet to meet an empath who doesn’t feel the calling to alleviate suffering in some way. In a world that so often feels cruel and chaotic, our tender hearts are now needed more than ever.
Compassion, both inward and outward, is a powerful force. It can transform relationships, heal roots of insecurity, and reshape the texture of our inner lives.
In leadership settings, compassionate responses consistently foster trust, deep connection, and lasting loyalty. Harsh reactions, on the other hand, often erect walls and breed resistance.
When someone feels seen, supported, and deeply cared for, their loyalty and dedication follow naturally. This principle applies not only in professional spheres but in every relationship we nurture.
I’ve come to see self-compassion as just as vital as the compassion we extend to others.
Empaths especially can be our own harshest critics. We measure ourselves against external standards and comparisons, often coming up short in our inner dialogue. But offering ourselves a warm, non-judgmental embrace opens new doors: to deeper confidence, heightened clarity, and a grounded sense of worth that doesn’t depend on outperforming someone else.
Anger Blocks Intuition, Joy Clears The Way
For years, I carried a weight I didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t physical, and it wasn’t easily named. It was more like a festering storm tucked away inside me, a simmering anger that lingered in the corners of my being.
I thought I had mastered the art of containing it. I could smile, be reasonable, even offer calm advice to others.
But deep down, I felt its subtle pull, like an ominous undertow. It twisted the flow of my intuition, muffled the inner voice I used to trust, and dimmed the vibrant colors of a magical world around me.
Anger, I came to realize, is not always loud or aggressive. Sometimes, it is silent and slow-moving, like a heavy fog that sneaks in while you are not looking.
It dulls the senses. It compresses the heart. And perhaps most insidiously, it clogs the channel between you and your inner knowing. The kind of knowing that does not need explanation, just a quiet space to rise and speak.
For the longest time, I kept reaching for inner clarity. I meditated, I journaled, I pulled cards and sat in silence, hoping for something to break through.
But the insights felt fuzzy, the messages confusing. It was as if someone had turned the volume down on my inner voice, and I couldn’t figure out how to turn it back up.
Finding True Love That Lasts A Lifetime
Are you longing for true love? The kind of live that lasts a lifetime? A love that feels deeply aligned with your soul and supports your growth, your dreams, and your everyday life?
You are not alone in this. Many people are on this journey of seeking a partner who doesn’t just fill a void, but enhances the wholeness they are already cultivating within themselves.
Too often, people settle. I see this in psychic readings all the time. They choose what’s convenient or familiar, rather than what is truly right. There seems to be a silent epidemic of settling for less, of choosing relationships out of fear or loneliness rather than soul alignment.
I find one of the biggest challenges many people face is believing they are worthy and deserving of true happiness.
Ask yourself: Did I consciously choose the person I am with, or did I say yes because they showed interest? Did I see a future, or did I simply not want to be alone?
Another issue that often comes up in readings is people rushing into relationships without taking the time to ask themselves the deeper questions. Have I healed from my past? Am I open and ready to receive real love? Do I truly know what I want?
Manifesting a love that is genuine and enduring takes both inner work and intention. It is not something that simply falls into your lap. It is a co-creative process between your human ego, your higher self, and the universe.
How To Be Mindful On The Go!
To some individuals, being mindful while on the go might seem a contradiction in itself. However, the truth of the matter is that there are a plethora of ways to cultivate the art of mindfulness that do not involve simply sitting still.
People turn to mindfulness for many reasons. For example, they may have a medical condition that needs managing, work issues that require resolving, or just simply want to feel more present in their everyday lives.
With the pace of modern life, it is clear to see why people become easily distracted and lead somewhat complicated lives as a result – all of which can be both emotionally and physically draining.
Whatever the reasons may be as to why a person turns to mindfulness, it should, indeed, help them to create a more balanced lifestyle.
That said, mindfulness should not be seen as a magical cure-all, but more an efficient way of relating to personal issues differently.
Interestingly, research has revealed that physiological changes do actually take place within an individual practicing mindfulness meditation. Such changes occur within the brain and some people experience better blood pressure and an enhanced immune system.
The above said, even those among us who practice mindfulness faithfully, can find it somewhat challenging to take what we have learned and incorporate it into our everyday lives. Instead, we tend to allow ourselves to be distracted and develop automatic behavior patterns instead.
The Difference Between Emotion And Intuition
Clients sometimes tell me during psychic readings, “I just have this gut feeling,” or “I don’t know, but something about this seems off.” I love when people say things like this. It means they are noticing the whispers of their inner guidance system. They may not yet have the confidence to fully trust it, but they’ve taken the first step to becoming more aware of whispers of their highers self, asking to be heard.
The challenge comes when we try to sort out whether that “feeling” we have is an actual intuitive nudge or just an emotion bubbling up from our human experience. From a spiritual perspective, emotions and intuitions are not the same thing. Both are important, but they function very differently.
When you can tell them apart, you can make decisions with greater clarity, avoid unnecessary drama, and walk more confidently along your spiritual path.
Emotions and intuitions may seem similar because they both arise within us without a clear explanation. However, emotions are usually connected to our human reactions. They can be triggered by what’s happening around us, our personal beliefs, or our physical state. As any expert drama queen can confirm, they can sometimes be big, loud, colorful, and full of urgency!
Intuition, on the other hand, is usually quiet, calm, and strangely neutral. Even the most powerful intuitive messages can be completely free of emotion. They carry a simple clarity that doesn’t shout or demand, but simply is. In fact, these emotion-free intuitive hits are often the most accurate and meaningful, because they’re not wrapped up in temporary moods and personal biases.