When I was in elementary school in mainland China, I learned a simple story titled The Little Horse Crosses the River. It was a children’s tale—short, clear, and easy to understand. At the time, I thought it was just a moral lesson about courage. But as I have grown older, I realize that it carries … Continue reading The Little Horse and the River: Learning to Discern for Ourselves
Personal growth
Stop Hammering the Wall
Why “Saying No” Isn’t the Key to Growth Coco Chanel once said, “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” It’s a simple image, but a piercing one. Most of us know exactly what that feels like—standing in front of something that refuses to move. A pattern, a conflict, … Continue reading Stop Hammering the Wall
🌿 The Trauma That Precedes Trauma: A Reflection on Emotional Wounds and Healing
Scrolling through social media often feels like a whirlwind of noise—but every so often, something stops you in your tracks. That’s what happened when I came across a Reel featuring Dr. Gabor Maté, a renowned voice in trauma and healing. In just a few seconds, he offered a phrase that lingered: “The trauma that precedes … Continue reading 🌿 The Trauma That Precedes Trauma: A Reflection on Emotional Wounds and Healing
🐟 The Fish, the Pan, and the Power of Asking “Why”
There’s a short video that’s been quietly making waves—not because of flashy visuals or dramatic music, but because of a deceptively simple question: Why do we do what we do? In the video, a woman is preparing fish. As she’s done countless times before, she cuts off both the head and the tail before steaming … Continue reading 🐟 The Fish, the Pan, and the Power of Asking “Why”
Looking Back to Move Forward: A Reflection on Growth, Change, and Courage
There are seasons in life when the path ahead feels overwhelming. Whether we are stepping into a new role, adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings, recovering from emotional pain, or trying to make a difference in a broken world, doubt often finds its way in. It whispers that we are not strong enough, not ready enough, not … Continue reading Looking Back to Move Forward: A Reflection on Growth, Change, and Courage
Reading People, Not Pages: What the Human Library Taught Me About Courage, Connection, and Change
This past weekend in Richmond, British Columbia, I took part in something quietly radical. I wasn’t giving a lecture or leading a workshop—I was being read. Not from a pulpit or a printed page, but as a “book” in the Human Library. If you’ve never heard of the Human Library before, the concept may sound … Continue reading Reading People, Not Pages: What the Human Library Taught Me About Courage, Connection, and Change
Letting Go: A Path to Freedom and Renewal
"Breathe deeply and allow yourself to let go. If you were able to let it into your world, you are able to let it go." — Seed & Song Letting Go is an act of trust, a surrender to the natural rhythm of life. It is not about forgetting or disregarding what we have experienced … Continue reading Letting Go: A Path to Freedom and Renewal
The Good News Within Us: A Reflection on Anne Frank’s Enduring Hope
Everyone carries within them a piece of good news. The good news is that you may not realize how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and the depth of your potential. This inspiring message, often attributed to Anne Frank, conveys hope, resilience, and self-discovery. While the exact source … Continue reading The Good News Within Us: A Reflection on Anne Frank’s Enduring Hope
The Power of Choices: Embracing the Wisdom of Interconnectedness
Ilchi Lee is a spiritual teacher whose teachings highlight the interconnectedness of all life and the vital importance of making choices that benefit not only ourselves but also others and the Earth. His profound words remind us of the impact our decisions can have: "When you make choices, please remember: what is good for you … Continue reading The Power of Choices: Embracing the Wisdom of Interconnectedness
“Homeless” or “houseless”?
I started paying attention to the charity work of the homeless and marginalized about 18 years ago. One Christian organization hosted a one-day event for the young people they have been reaching out to. The theme of the event was about the homeless. I was fortunate to be a mentor for a group of high … Continue reading “Homeless” or “houseless”?
Live your life crossing the lines.
Shonda Rhimes once said, "You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them." Shonda Rhimes encourages us to free ourselves from self-imposed limitations and live with courage and determination. Don't let boundaries restrict us. Instead, we should be open to challenging ourselves, taking risks, and pursuing new opportunities to … Continue reading Live your life crossing the lines.
That’s what it means to “be with someone.”
In her book, "Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time", Susan Scott writes about the kind of attention we bring to our conversations: "Be really asking and really listening. By being with someone, even if only for a brief moment, prepared to be nowhere else". In order to have … Continue reading That’s what it means to “be with someone.”
Being subjective vs objective
Are you subjective or objective? How can we be more objective? I think what Elizabeth Thornton has offered in her book, "The Objective Leader", has offered us insightful descriptions and comparisons of subjectivity and objectivity: "Leadership effectiveness is measured by our ability to achieve results. We analyze the situation, make a decision, take action, and … Continue reading Being subjective vs objective
The way to handle negative people
We may need to cope with negative people in our daily life. In his book "The Tao of Daily Life", Derek Lin has offered us the way to handle negative people: "Criticizing others while being unaware of their own faults is something that many people do. We can even say that it is something we … Continue reading The way to handle negative people
church ministry’s repetition vs iteration
In her book, "How To Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season", Susan Beaumont points out that: "Unfortunately, communities of faith often behave as if past experiences are naturally repetitive. 'Out attendance was much higher when we advertised in the yellow pages. We should advertise in the yellow pages … Continue reading church ministry’s repetition vs iteration
effective leader and people’s dysfunctional behavior
In her book "How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season" Susan Beaumont points out that: "Anxious people tend to behave badly. And when they do, a leader's energy is often directed at coping with the dysfunctional behavior of a few, rather than focusing on the health of … Continue reading effective leader and people’s dysfunctional behavior
Our restricted awareness
In her book, "How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season", Susan Beaumont discusses the field of our attention based on Otto Scharmer's teaching. Beaumont points out that "The field of our attention is formed by learned patterns for the past. We pay attention to the reality in … Continue reading Our restricted awareness
good reminder, do not give people unlimited access to your lives
In his book, "a life having and doing enough", Wayne Muller points out and reminds us that: "There are few real, authentic emergencies that require our immediate, life-saving response. So why is this important? Because more and more people presume unlimited access to our lives, our homes, our time. Those who want something from us … Continue reading good reminder, do not give people unlimited access to your lives
Just for today, building instead of destroying
When I am reading "Just for today" (one of the textbooks for the Narcotics Anonymous group) this morning, I am reminded that "Though I may be feeling low, I don't need to tear someone down to build myself up...The way to build our self-esteem is not to tear others down but to build them up … Continue reading Just for today, building instead of destroying
the power of your love and the problems of this world
Debasish Mridha once said " Let the power of your love change the world, but never let the problems of this world change the beauty of your love". This is a good reminder that the power of our love is greater than the problem of this world. The problem of this world, hatred, violence, anti-intellectual, … Continue reading the power of your love and the problems of this world