Learning to quell emotion and use our reason is one of the primary tasks of maturation. We use reason to figure things out, to see beyond ourselves, to assess the consequences of actions, and to make conscious choices. A second task of maturation is to create a working relationship between head and heart in order to soften our reason and harness our emotions. How do you decide which way to go when the head and heart conflict?
Read MoreHead versus heart: the classic conflict of reason or logic versus emotion or feeling. Phil Cousineau’s book, “The Art of Pilgrimage,” inspired the Poem Sacred Relics. Cousineau offers tips for turning all travel into a spiritual pilgrimage and opening the heart to the sacred in everyday life. I wrote this poem in 2002 when travel for work was becoming a big part of my life and a wedge in my marriage. It gave voice to a calling I could not name challenging me to engage more deeply with life. It has served as a knock on the door of the heart for many others facing transitions, giving courage to make the journey down the stairs and open to life once again.
Read MoreI wrote The Shipwrecked Soul in 2001 and it was a watershed poem, the precursor of a life-changing journey that is still underway. It has been read by thousands and many have said it was a godsend in tough times. Life often presents us with challenges or opportunities that put us on the "horns of a dilemma:" should we play it safe or take a risk? What is now calling you out? What is happening in you or in your life that is asking, or even demanding, that you venture out to unknown seas?
Read MoreWhat is your relationship to life? Honestly track your internal dialogue for a week and it will reveal how you relate to life! It is like background noise in your universe: you may not notice it in daily life until you take the time to really listen.
Read More"Just be yourself." This advice, given when someone is facing a challenge or opportunity, advocating that our natural self will win the day is a vote of confidence but is nearly always useless. A human life is a work-in-progress and we define our self most clearly when we face specific dilemmas. This collection of poetry, questions to ponder, and prompts for writing, helps you to navigate five dynamic dilemmas in life that define who you are and compose the life you live.
Read MoreWord the World in a way that brings you to life and life to you!
Join Nick's Mailing List:
Note:
Your in box will not be inundated and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Recent Poems:
Recent Blog Posts:
