Think about how we deal with weather - we accept that it's raining, but that doesn't mean we just get soaked! We acknowledge "Yes, it's pouring outside" and then grab our umbrella, put on rain boots, or reschedule our outdoor plans. The key is to accept what's happening before deciding how to respond.

Acceptance isn't about giving up or staying passive. It's about seeing things clearly first - like checking the weather forecast - so we can respond wisely rather than react from a place of resistance. When we accept "Okay, this is where I am right now," we can then ask ourselves "What do I need?" and take meaningful steps forward.

On Your Own

Just as you wouldn't stand in the snow without a coat, you don't have to face challenges without support. Acceptance isn't about suffering through things - it's about acknowledging where you are so you can respond with kindness and wisdom.

Remember: You're not accepting things because they're okay - you're accepting them because they're already here. From that place of clarity, you can choose how to care for yourself and move forward.

In Community

When someone shares a difficult experience, we first acknowledge it together, creating a space where all feelings are welcome - just like we all acknowledge when it's raining

We don't try to "fix" each other's experiences or rush to solutions. Instead, we hold space for both the challenge and the person experiencing it. Then, just as we might share umbrellas in a storm, we can offer support in ways that feel helpful.

We can't fix each other's challenges, but we can create a community where it's safe to acknowledge difficulties and support each other in responding to them with wisdom and care.

Welcoming doesn't mean we have to like everything that shows up. It simply means we're willing to meet each moment as it comes, doing our best with whatever presents itself - just as we adapt to each day's weather, working with rather than against what is.

On Your Own

Treat yourself as you would a dear friend. When difficult emotions or behaviors arise, approach them with curiosity rather than judgment. Remember that all experiences are valid parts of your journey.

Welcoming doesn't mean you have to like everything that shows up - it's more like being a kind host to all your experiences and all parts of yourself. Even the parts we struggle with deserve to be heard, even if we choose to respond differently. Just as we adapt to weather without judgment, we can acknowledge all aspects of ourselves while maintaining our wisdom about how to respond.

In Community

When someone shares something difficult, practice receiving their experience just as it is, like acknowledging rain without rushing to offer an umbrella.

Notice if you want to fix, change, or judge their experience.

Practice making space for different emotional "weather" - some might be in a storm while others are experiencing sunshine.

We can't fix each other's experiences, but we can create a community where all parts of our human experience are welcome.

Encouragement takes shape in inner awesome by embracing both gentle and strong aspects of compassion:

This aspect of encouragement recognizes that growth often requires stepping into the challenge with courage. It's like a wise coach who knows when to say "I believe in your capacity to stay present, even when it's difficult" or "Yes, this is hard AND you have the strength to meet it."

Encouragement becomes a compassionate approach, where tenderness creates safety, and strength helps us grow beyond our comfort zone, always in service of our well-being and growth.

On Your Own

Compassion for oneself can come as a soft, nurturing presence - like a gentle whisper saying "It's okay to rest when you need to"

And it can also bring strength and wise discipline - it's the voice that says "You can sit with this discomfort one more breath" or "Let's try again tomorrow." This aspect of encouragement recognizes that growth often requires stepping into the challenge with courage.

In Community

We invite you to practice encouraging yourself gently and nurturing when needed but to draw from compassionate courage and discipline for yourself when needed. This will allow you to recognize courage in others without the need to fix or advice.

Inner Awesome connects with the idea that feeling safe isn't just about not being in danger.

It's about our bodies feeling safe on the inside.

It's like having a sense of calmness deep down, even when things around us seem a bit uncertain.

On Your Own

Feeling safe in your body means your body feels relaxed, your breath is easy, and you feel a sense of peace. That's your body signaling that it feels safe.

In Community

We invite you to contribute to an environment where others feel safe around you.

In our inner awesome community, we create a sense of warmth and connection where others can relax, be themselves, and truly enjoy our company.

This allows each other’s nervous system to recognize that we are in a safe environment.

Cultivating an open heart in daily life means approaching life with fresh eyes and an open heart, much like a child encountering the world for the first time.

It invites us to remain unbiased and question our beliefs, inviting a sense of “not-knowing” into daily experience.

On Your Own

Challenge your beliefs: Regularly question your assumptions about yourself, others, and the world. Are your beliefs based on facts or on ingrained biases?

Seek out diverse perspectives: Engage with people who have different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. Listen to their viewpoints with an open mind and try to understand their perspectives.

Embrace "not knowing": It's okay to admit that you don't know something. Acknowledging your limitations can open you up to new learning experiences.

In Community

We invite you to remain open when others share, acknowledging and embracing individual points of view by remaining curious about your own experience and non-judgemental of others.

In our inner awesome community, cultivating open heartness can foster deeper connections, greater understanding, and a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique gifts.

Think of it like paying close attention to the present moment – what you're thinking, feeling, and experiencing right now. It's like tuning into your inner playlist.

Mindfulness helps you become more aware of yourself in a kind and gentle way. Instead of getting caught up in worries or regrets, you learn to simply observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It's like watching a movie of your own mind, noticing what's playing without getting too involved in the drama."

On Your Own

Check-in with your body – how does it feel? Notice the thoughts that are passing through your mind. Observe how your emotions change and shift, like the weather.

In Community

We invite you to Stay present with the group experience. Notice how others' sharing affects you without becoming overwhelmed or reactive.

Pay equal attention to your experience as you do to what others are sharing. As you practice tuning into your sensations, commentary, and bias you also create the space for others to do the same.

Empathy means truly understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It's like walking in someone else's shoes. For example, if your friend is going through a tough time, an empathetic person would actively listen to them, offering a shoulder to lean on and validating their emotions. They might say something like, "That sounds really difficult, and it's okay to feel upset."

Ultimately, empathy involves putting yourself in another person's shoes, acknowledging their feelings, and offering support without judgment

On Your Own

Acknowledge your feelings without judgment. Just like you'd offer a friend a comforting hug, offer yourself the same. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you'd give a loved one.

In order to cultivate Inner Awesome in your life it’s crucial to show kindness and understanding to yourself.

In Community

Empathy means truly understanding and considering the feelings and perspectives of everyone involved.

In our community, it means to listen with kindness, notice when your mind goes into judgment, and stir it back to just listen to understand.

Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received. We recognize that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves. … We acknowledge that other people—or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset—gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.

~Robert Emmons

On Your Own

The simple act of appreciating the moment exactly as it is.

In Community

As we practice together we cultivate a sense of gratitude towards ourselves and others for setting this time aside to practice together.