Hello, my Seekers of Sanity,
When life gets intense, our bodies know what to do:
Brace. Clench. Defend.
But real leadership—the kind that transforms—asks us to do something harder:
To stay open without collapsing.
To stay strong without armoring up.
This week, I’m returning to one of the most important teachings I’ve ever received, from Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche:
“Strong back, open heart.”
The strong back holds our boundaries.
The open heart holds our humanity.
Here’s how to live into both.
This Week’s Tiny Sparks of Sanity ✨
Small ways to stay grounded, mindful, and present this week:
🧠 Authentic Leadership Tip: Build Inner Structure, Not Outer Armor
Why it matters:
You don’t need to be hard to be clear.
True strength comes from alignment, not defensiveness.
How to practice:
Before your next tough conversation, pause.
Feel your spine: upright, steady, spacious.
Then soften your chest: breathable, vulnerable, connected.
Let your body reflect your leadership—grounded and open.
✨ Strength and compassion are not opposites. They reinforce each other.
🧘 Yoga Pose of the Week: Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)
Why it matters:
Bridge strengthens the back body while gently opening the heart—physically mirroring this week’s theme.
How to practice:
Lie on your back with knees bent, feet hip-width apart.
Press into your feet and lift your hips.
Clasp your hands under your back or keep arms by your sides.
Lengthen your tailbone toward your knees and lift through the heart.
✨ Bridge teaches us that support and openness can exist together.
🌿 Mindfulness Practice: Ground Yourself Before Hard Conversations
Why it matters:
Openness without grounding can turn into emotional overload. This practice helps you stay steady when emotions run high.
How to practice:
Before a tough meeting or conversation, pause for 60 seconds.
Sit upright. Feel your spine long and your feet grounded.
Inhale and silently say: “Strong back.”
Exhale and silently say: “Open heart.”
Let that rhythm anchor your nervous system.
🍎 Wellness Tidbit: Practice Coffee Mindfulness
Why it matters:
You don’t need to sit on a cushion for 20 minutes to drop into presence.
Even a morning mug can be a ritual.
How to practice:
Pour your coffee or tea and resist the urge to scroll, plan, or multitask.
Sit outside or by a window.
Hold the warmth. Smell the aroma. Feel the sip.
Just be with the moment for 3–5 minutes.
✨ It’s not the coffee that’s grounding—it’s your attention.
🌸 This Week’s Delight:
A neighbor’s laughter drifting through an open window—
not meant for you, but received anyway.
A reminder that joy doesn’t have to be owned to be felt.
Delightfully,
Lena