Blood & Ink: Wednesday

“Strong back. Open heart. Grounded in dignity.”

This is one of my favourite mantras…

Deceptively simple, nested within it is an entire operating system for being an upstanding human in this Earthly realm.

Strong back.

Stand up straight. Pull your shoulders back. Hold your head up high. Root your feet down into the Earth.

Stand, walk, and sit like you recognize and appreciate how sacred the gift of life is, and how grateful you are to it.

Make every posture, every asana, every position a prayer. 

Presenting yourself in this way opens up space and memetic opportunity for others to do the same. Walk like you remember who you are. 

Open heart.

Everyone is in this together. Everyone is trying to do their best.

A strong back is a prerequisite for an open heart. Without a strong spine, upright head, and open chest, your heartspace is contracted, compressed, and pointed down to the ground. A strong back comes first.

Then open your heart. Be gentle yet firm with all you meet. A small gesture like a smile, hug, or honest question goes a long way. Take a genuine interest in people, and cultivate fierce compassion for yourself too. 

When we close our hearts to the world, we’ve lost the game in a very real way. 

Grounded in Dignity.

In the Shambhala Prophecy, the assumption of “basic human goodness” is a core tenet. Everyone you meet, including yourself, has this basic goodness as their essence. 

Dignity is the natural expression of basic goodness. When you have a strong back, an open heart, and a commitment to expressing your basic goodness – wisdom, clear decision-making, and a willingness to act come naturally. 

These 3 factors combined can hold you through every situation, circumstance, problem, and moment in your life. 

No matter where you are or what you’re doing — keep a strong back, an open heart, grounded in dignity.

Onward,
Eric Brown.