Set the intention to come home to yourself, to be present for yourself. You deserve this care, you are precious and unique, in all the world there is no one else who brings the precise combination of gifts that you bring. Allow yourself to arrive here as fully as you can. And welcome the many parts of yourself home. I serve you when you are not clear about your boundaries and take on too much. You must learn to honor your needs and know when to say “No!” When you dig deep within yourself, first you will find truth, then you will find consciousness, and then you will find bliss. Bliss is the deepest—and the deepest is also the highest. When I gently asked questions to the cold/uncaring qualities, the responses were enlightening. I heard: Amidst the quest for inner peace, the significance of nurturing healthy relationships and connections cannot be understated. " Come Home to Yourself" illuminates the importance of authentic connections—with others and ourselves—on the path to inner peace.

The book offers practical strategies and insights to foster meaningful relationships, establish healthy boundaries, and cultivate deep connections rooted in empathy, compassion, and understanding. By nourishing these connections, you will create a harmonious tapestry of support and love, enriching your journey toward inner peace. No matter how much wealth you build, no matter how many friends you make, no matter the level of your success, if you are not one with yourself, it’s all nothing. I know that if you jump into the stream you will be able to swim, because swimming is a natural phenomenon. One need not learn it. I’m not talking about the outer stream and swimming; there you may be drowned. I am talking about the stream of the inner consciousness, the stream of consciousness—if you jump into it. And that’s what is meant, that is the parallel story that you have to decode. You naturally know. Have you ever seen any fish learning to swim?As a consequence, we try to hide what we believe is unacceptable. This pattern of behavior begins from the moment we are born. A normal aspect of growing up is that we are taught what constitutes appropriate social behavior and what does not. We can spend lots of our time and energy trying to predict or control what the future will bring. This doesn’t usually serve us. In truth, we don’t need to know what the future will bring. We just need to be right in this moment, and if we touch it deeply, mind and body united, we will find we have all that we need to meet the present. We can’t find what we need to meet tomorrow or a month from now because we can’t control or exactly know the future, but we will find what we need for right now. Meditation: I Am Home Now, no fish needs to be taught swimming. The fish is born there, swimming is like breathing. Who has taught you breathing? Then, as if by magic, the return to our natural state of unity consciousness begins to break through like the light of a new dawn. And we discover there is no longer a desire to keep running. Bliss is neither of the body nor of the mind; hence it has infinite depth. It is your very soul, your self-nature, your being. Pleasure comes and goes; happiness happens and disappears. Bliss is forever. Even when we are not aware of it, it is there, present as an undercurrent; one just has to dig.

Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” — Brené Brown Creating space for stillness and silence allows us to pause and find calmness within. Whether it's through daily moments of solitude, meditation practices, or immersing ourselves in activities that bring peace, we cultivate a sense of serenity that becomes a sanctuary amidst the busyness of life. In this state of calmness, we can rejuvenate our minds, replenish our spirits, and gain insights that lead to personal growth. Hear Yourself and Meet Your Needs: If we’re not aware of what is happening in the moment because we are caught up in our thoughts or reveries, or in the grip of worry or other strong emotions, it’s like we have left our house. If we stay away for a long time, dust accumulates and unwanted visitors may take up residence in our home. Things like stress and tension accumulate in our bodies and minds, and over time, if we don’t tend to them, they can lead to physical or psychological illness. My mentor Thich Nhat Hanh, whom his students call Thay, or “teacher” in Vietnamese, sums up his whole lifetime of teachings with one sentence: “I have arrived, I am home.” For him, the principal aim of mindfulness practice is to experience that we have already arrived, here and now. There is nowhere we need to run to or be, other than right here in the present moment. And we experience ourselves at home, no longer looking for some refuge outside of us, in some other place or time, when we touch the truth that all that we long for and search after is here inside of us. Though simple, shadow exercises should not be underestimated. They are very, very powerful. They allow us to tap into energy that has formerly been repressed. Once released, a dynamic force is unleashed, initiating immediate changes in our consciousness and in our lives.In today's bustling and tumultuous world, the quest for inner peace has taken on profound significance. As we navigate the complexities of daily life, we find ourselves yearning for a sanctuary of tranquility—a respite from the noise and chaos.