“No Mud No Lotus, “ Thich Nhat Hanh’s famous quote translates to every aspect of our lives. Life, our jobs, our relationships, and our physical spaces are all often messy. Mess is part of being human and is an integral part of a beautiful, fully-lived life. Messes do not define our worth or make it mean we have fallen short. We can choose to tell different, more factual, and neutral stories about our lives. We don't have to like the mess and lack of order but we also don’t have to use it as a way to measure our value or success. What might be different if you approached the messes in your life by asking “What would love do?” What would change if you showed up for life’s messes with curiosity instead of judgment? What might change if you responded rather than reacted to the messes in your life? What if you told an empowered story about the messes in your life? Self-compassion is a loving and productive way to address the mess. Mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness are also tremendously helpful. Granting yourself permission to do what is needed in the moment, to take small steps, and to ask for help is also a great strategy when life gets messy. Join us to wade through life’s messes together at the Mindful Healers Connect in Nature Retreat. We are already half full! For more information click here: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreat-connect-in-nature Sign up to coach with Jessie to learn more helpful ways to wade more easefully through life's messes jessiemahoneymd.com.  Ni-Cheng is also available to lead interactive workshops, give talks, or provide tailor-made mindfulness sessions for you or a group of any size- you can reach her at info@awakenbreath.org. * nothing in this episode is medical advice