Wow! This slogan hit me differently today. I’ve been reading each slogan the night before so that I wake up with it at the forefront of my mind, grounding myself in the present moment and aligning my day accordingly.

What is resentment? Resentment can be defined as a cascade of intensely bitter emotions that are recycled every time we recall exactly how we were wronged.

Today was a day to be present. Be with each moment as it comes. I find it easier to do this when I am in nature.

The previous slogan defined a complete meditation practice as the harmonious integration of body, speech, and mind. Slogan #48 expands on this basic premise to include all lived experiences as practice opportunities.

Am I practicing wholeheartedly? Does my practice feel balanced at this moment of my life?

A complete practice cultivates harmony in body, speech, and mind. This deliberate practice infuses compassion in every aspect of our lives.

There have been many times over the last decade where my yoga practice or journaling has faltered. Missed entries often reflected difficult periods in my life where writing felt impossible.

Slogans 44, 45, and 46 can be studied jointly and individually and are concerned with the beginning, the process, and the depth of a deliberate practice.

Reflecting on Slogan #45: "Take on the three principal causes," I think about my journey to becoming a yoga teacher. This slogan, through Judy Lief's teachings, highlights the importance of the right teacher, the right teachings, and the right practice—principles that have deeply shaped my path.

Slogan #45 delineates the three aspects of a realistic support system necessary for transformation. Let these three principal causes be your anchor so that you can flourish within a network of external, internal, and interpersonal supports. These are your landmarks; use them as your beacons that will light up your path.

Today, as I sit by Lake Ontario at Balmy Beach, I reflect on Slogan #44: "Train in the three difficulties." This place, filled with memories of living here almost 10 years ago after a painful breakup and losing my beloved dog, Mahal, has been a sanctuary for my growth.

The challenge of Slogan #44 is three-fold: recognize obstacles or kleshas as they arise; self-regulate in order to seek new strategies; and respond with compassion to self and others.

The refuge vow means honouring the Buddha, studying Buddhism, and connecting with my community. The bodhisattva vow is about dedicating my life to helping all beings with wisdom and compassion.

The refuge and bodhisattva vows are Buddhist examples of heart-centered mission and vision statements.

Today, I took a stroll through the Beaches, a place that's been so pivotal to my inner growth. As I wandered through these familiar yet ever-evolving streets, I pondered Slogan #42: "Whichever of the two occurs, be patient."

Life’s pendulum sometimes swings from extreme happiness to extreme sadness and it’s in these outliers that practice leads the way back to homeostasis and equanimity.

Slogan 41 of the Lojong teachings, "Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end," holds a gentle invitation for reflection, especially during times when fatigue weaves through the fabric of our daily lives.

This slogan asks us to live in the world with the aspirations of mindfulness and compassion. Mornings are about the future and compassion for others.

As I settle into a headstand, everything flips, offering a fresh perspective. Lojong Slogan #40, "Correct all wrongs with one intention," becomes clearer from this vantage point perhaps because the focus is to stay balanced.

The intention to make compassion our default is similar to the previous slogan but this week, we are inwardly bowing to the external and internal obstacles or “wrongs” in our lives.