Life brings many surprises, most of them are very nice and some not so much. Life brings opportunities or challenges and I guess the most important are those that are both. I was born in a loving and caring family with parents who loved each other and provided my sister and me a safe and warm place to be a child and to grow up. I took it for granted that this was natural, but of course sadly it isn't. We were so lucky. After finishing university I got a job that was both a great opportunity and a challenge. It allowed me to grow as an adult and find my talent as a writer. I was so lucky. A few years later I met my future wife and I can tell you that there really is such a thing as "love at first sight" and that this can also be mutual. We were so lucky. Our children were born in the late 1980s. Such a special moment in our life. We soon realised that raising children is a challenge too, even for loving parents. The love of my life died in 1999. The four years after her diagnosis were tough, but full of boundless intimacy between us. We were so unlucky, especially the children. I raised them as best as I could as a loving and caring father, but no one can replace a mother. But life goes on... I am happy with how far we have come, but sometimes it is impossible to fix a broken chain.

@Ayla Nova Yes ! I keep returning to the compact but so powerful "I AM". This does not sound like something you wish for to be true, a story or belief. As long as you can say "I AM" it is an undeniable truth that celebrates life and embraces all that I am.

@Richard Flores Have just ordered the book Yoga Nidra by swami satyananda saraswati you mentioned. Thank you.

I had to give this some thought. This morning I found clarity. My dream is to be a better listener. When I listen to someone speaking now most of the time my mind is to busy thinking about the next thing I want to say, that I am not really focussed on the speaker or what is being said. I know, this is not as big as a BIG DREAM could be, but it is a big thing for me and I am sure it is only me that can make this step. I know what's in the way. My brain in overdrive. I must try and keep my mind in a listening state, focussed on the speaker and supported by what my ears, and my other senses eyes register. My first step to get there I guess is sharing this dream in this community.

Guess that we all build our identity through stories. Stories are a great way to channel and consolidate al those memories and thoughts. We need our stories. But limiting beliefs like "I am always running out of time", are complaints rather than truth. They take away energy instead of giving you some. I try instead to ask myself like, "Okay, what can I do to deal with that". Not always I find a better answer than to tell myself to finally learn to kindly say "No" more often. Allowing yourself to let the fire burn down a bit is an interesting concept to explore in the Fire State of rest. If you can't trust your brain, then listen to your body to prevent burnout.

So many things in the universe, in life on earth and in our body works because the forces in nature or biology are in a dynamic balance. Like that special moment of calm in nature as the tides turn. So yes, why not try to find calm in your feelings in a space where both their opposites are present... Never thought of it that way. For me feelings are often layered. I often find it difficult to know what I feel when two (or more) feelings are present that are – as it often feels to me – on a different level. That is very confusing and the moment you feel that too it ads another layer. For example: I can feel irritation or upset, and at the same time I feel ashamed for having that feeling, and then I feel inadequate to deal with it or explain it.