“If we want there to be peace in the world, we have to be brave enough to soften what is rigid in our hearts, to find the soft spot and stay with it. We have to have that kind of courage and take that kind of responsibility. That’s the true practice of peace.”
Pema Chödrön
The Courage of Vulnerability
I’m deeply inspired by the wisdom and presence of Buddhist Monk, Pema Chödrön. Years ago, she introduced me to the idea of ‘the inner soft spot.’ This is a place in us that is fiercely vulnerable, human, and courageous. And because of these qualities, the inner soft spot is our place of potential. Getting in touch with this soft spot renews our capacity to flow with life, to be authentic and willing to adapt, and to grow.
As the spring sprouts come up, I’m reminded once again that creation begins in the tender, soft spot of life. The soft fertile ground, the vulnerable but willing tap root, the thin eggshell that holds the brand new baby bird…
Growth is about allowing ourselves to be in touch with our very human vulnerability and, in that, allowing ourselves to evolve. The inner soft spot is the opposite of a rigid identity; it knows that our essential human nature is fluid, malleable, and ever-changing. It reminds us that anytime we think we’re standing on firm ground, the juice of potential is always there, and it takes courage to face this reality with open eyes and open arms.
Because this inner soft spot can feel a touch as light as a feather, it’s also common to believe that we must protect it. Inner guardians show up with their serious faces and their weapons, convincing us to batten the hatches or harden our hearts out of convenience, confusion, or fear.
This is what makes opening up to the soft spot so courageous. Like the first blossoms of spring, we can always choose to open back up to life in the face of the blazing sun, the rain, and the wind.
Tending the Inner Garden
Many of us come to Earth this way, connected to our inner soft spot. As we age and ‘mature,’ the responsibilities and limiting belief programs begin to weigh us down and build up protective walls around it. Sometimes, we even forget that this place in us exists, and we go on living life through our programmed beliefs, opinions, and memories, never really touching the deeper meaning life wants to offer us in the present moment. It’s up to each one of us to continue tending to the land of the heart. To continuously prune, plant, and water the tender fields of our inner softness. Otherwise, the field grows dry, brittle, and lifeless as we forget our essential nature.
Opening to Life’s Flow
I love the way intuitive practices like Yoga Nidra attune us to our personal frequency, tend to the body, and soothe the nervous system. Giving our nervous system a break to receive for a moment is true medicine in a “hard and fast is best” society. The kind of medicine that waters the thirsty sprout and invigorates it to continue becoming. It’s the juice of life that keeps the spot soft, after all.
This spring, may you tend to your inner soft spot. How does it feel to soften your energy and open your arms to life? How might you embrace more movement and flow? What might it look like or feel like, to let down your defenses, and instead trust yourself as you move through life?
May you create what’s in your heart and be courageous in opening up to all that is.
With love,
Jaylyn