Category: Weekly

Cultivation: When you’re ready to bring something to life, you might discover that you’re deep in the cultivation phase, not yet at the point of planting. Cultivation is the phase where you prepare the ground, which is crucial for nurturing any future development. This preparation is about enriching the foundation with care and attention, allowing for a richer yield down the line. During this phase, you’re actively setting the stage, turning the old to make room for the new, and preparing conditions for what’s to come.

At times, this phase may feel a little slower, but it is still active groundwork. Use this time to weave the insights you’ve gained. Let them enrich the soil beneath you. Let the process of cultivating be dynamic and transformative. Trust: even when it seems like nothing is happening, the time you take to cultivate is not in vain. Cultivation involves an engaged effort where the application of your accumulated knowledge has profound effects on the eventual outcome. Creating space to cultivate is more than just staying busy, but an investment in the process. It’s a way of ensuring that when it’s time to transition into the next phase of action, you’re prepared to nurture those efforts in the best way you can. Through cultivation, keep making space to apply what you have been learning in this life. It matters more than you know.

May you know that even here in November,
you are free to begin again.

As the days grow longer
and you begin to wonder
how to live inside what has already changed,
may you know that each sunrise is still a sunrise.

The small rhythms you create here still matter.

Even when there are slow starts to the mornings
and days that feel left unfinished,
may you know that inhale after exhale,
you are still part of the day turning.

You are learning to stay near what continues,
however subtle.

You are learning to notice
what shifts with what stays steady.

And as blades of grass still lift under the sun in winter
and rivers still move when the days shorten,
you too are free to move
in ways that reflect the shape of the day.

You are slowly but surely discovering,
perhaps, after everything,
this is what it can mean to begin again:

continuing to breathe deep amid the change,
and remain present, anyway, however you can.

MHN

Letting Go is lie-awake kind of thing,
born of a midnight hour,
felt in a feeling body,
like an endless pool of questions,
with ripples of things not easily fixed,
a visceral pull of gravity
on grounds that wouldn’t shift,
a long reminder, after everything, that
you tried everything.
You tried everything.

And through all of the trying,
you are now in the stillness
that follows all of your effort.
You wonder what comes next,
and against time, you wait.
Through time, you wrestle,
and around time, you wonder.
But perhaps, with time,
you begin to sense:
morning is still coming,
and maybe, after everything,
that means something.

The air is changing around you…
Not everything is suddenly “fixed”
nor conveniently makes sense,
but with dawn, there is
the faintest sense
of something
starting
to loosen.
Your new set of wings
are still coming in.

And even though
Letting Go
still has questions of its own,
the colors that fill the early-day sky
are not tricks of light,
no, they are not tricks of light
but flickers
of possibility,
release,
and finally flying free.

To fly free,
after everything,
high above the trees,
is how bravery opens up,
like the brightest chord rising up
from the shadowy center of the guitar,
like a vibrant sunrise, unapologetic
after a night that knew no stars,
like a hope that feels slow, yet is still observable
even before it travels far,
like a Yesterday giving in just enough
for you to become a little more of who you are.

Letting Go
feels different
on some mornings,
and surrender becomes a song
you can breathe.

And I hope it is here
that Letting Go
does not make you feel weak,
but brave,
hopeful,
and free.

I hope
letting go
does not
make you feel weak
but brave,
hopeful,
and free.

MHN

To dream again is not to forget

what has been, but to take part

in a deliberate act of reengagement

with what remains, even now.

It is a way of turning toward life again:

the details that linger,

the memories that still matter,

the connections you’ve made

that didn’t disappear,

even after all these years. 

It is to make space

for these kinds of questions,

however you can:

After everything, what continues?

What endures?

After all this time,

what might still be worth the effort?

And perhaps,

it is still possible to tend to…

contentment in the present

and the call to reach toward what is still unfolding

at the same time,

by allowing yourself to rest in what is enough

even while remaining open to what could be.

It’s a wonderful thing to to find contentment in this life, and it’s also a wonderful thing when you realize that contentment doesn’t stop you from finding language for what you need. Whether you are yearning for love, connection, meaning, belonging, continue to remind yourself that it doesn’t make you ungrateful for desiring that. Instead, you are learning how to hold the tension of things. You are learning how to be like a flower, learning to be rooted in the soil while simultaneously stretching upward toward the sky, unfolding in your bloom. It’s a complex process, and it’s all a journey worth taking. A journey worth taking as you continue to make the most of where you are, and preparing for what’s to come. – Morgan Harper Nichols

Whether you feel like you have spaces where you can be yourself or not, know that you are worthy of places where you can freely be yourself. If you’ve ever had a moment where you felt like you belonged in a particular room or space, know that there is still time to find places where you can nurture what makes you uniquely you.

For some, maybe you feel more like yourself when you’re in nature. Perhaps for someone else, it’s being part of a small community. Others might feel a sense of belonging when they know they are joined with many. Wherever you’ve found a sense of belonging, even if it was just a seed, let your awareness of what you need be a seed that grows. Stay present to what might be possible. You are worthy of belonging. – Morgan Harper Nichols

Even if it’s not possible everywhere all at once, it matters to create space for rest so you can return to the things you need to focus on the most. You don’t have to rest perfectly. You don’t have to “balance” everything in some perfect way…even when it comes to rest and recharge. Let the idea of balance be an about recognizing that there will be a tension of things. Yes, there will be areas where you need to rest and recharge, and there might be other areas where you have to give your all. But what matters is that you know that as you navigate that space in between, it is never too late or too early to explore what is the most mindful way of being here.

You are allowed to practice creating space for rest. Your efforts don’t have to have a perfect balance before they matter. Rhythms of rest and effort can take time to build. Be gentle with yourself. It’s still a process worth being present to.

May you face today with courage, one breath at a time. For whatever mountains you must climb, may you remember all of the mountains already behind you. Remember that the way you have been learning on this journey has not always been linear, and that’s okay.

There may be ways that you learned to be courage many years ago and you haven’t found a “lesson” in it yet, and that’s okay, too. Because you are still carrying onward, day by day, learning and growing all along the way…in ways that are beyond words, beyond what is easily seen.

And just as sure as you breathing, you are practicing courage right here. As you face the mountains ahead, remember: each step you take matters more than you realize. May you face today’s mountains with the courage that has been slowly building all along, knowing that any forward movement you make is a brave act in itself. – Morgan Harper Nichols

For all the times you may have worried about losing momentum or moving too slowly, remember that you are free to set your own pace as you look ahead, however you can. Your efforts are valuable, no matter how fast or slow. Even when you’ve needed to take breaks, those moments of rest were important and necessary. When you male thoughtful plans that fit your pace, progress can continue steadily, allowing you to focus on what truly matters. In the pauses, you can gather strength and return with renewed energy. In that space, you are finding steadiness and focus and it matters.

Making plans doesn’t have to mean setting yourself up to always being in a rush trying to quickly reach an outcome. You’re allowed to dream and look ahead knowing that what you’re pouring into matters, even if there isn’t a specific, rapid trajectory. You are allowed to look for areas in your life where you don’t have to rush when it comes to looking ahead. You are allowed to focus on the journey and all you are learning here.

Questions to consider asking yourself, in this space:

-Think of a time when you moved at a slower pace. What did you learn from that experience? How might that shape your current plans?
-In what areas of your life do you already take your time? What has that taught you that might apply to somewhere else?
-How can you celebrate the small steps you’ve taken, even if they seem slow? What value do they bring that is often overlooked?

–

Remember: Planning ahead doesn’t have to mean rushing to the finish line. You are allowed to take your time. Slowing down doesn’t have to mean “falling behind” — it can mean you’re choosing what matters most. Dreaming and planning are about so much more than speed. They’re about giving yourself the time to make thoughtful choices. In a rushed world, thoughtfulness matters, even when it comes to looking ahead. Choose the kind of paths in life that allow you to embrace both planning ahead and the time you need to journey ahead thoughtfully, at your own pace. Your steadiness and thoughtfulness matters here. – Morgan Harper Nichols

May you have gratitude for meaningful moments wherever you find them. For even if their impact is not immediately noticeable, with time, you might just find, you are still creating rhythms that matter.

Create rhythms of connections:
-Reaching out to someone, even if it’s just a brief message to start.
-Sharing parts of yourself, even if you just share a few things first before you feel more comfortable
-Being present with someone, even if words aren’t exchanged or you’re not fully engaged in a specific way.

Create rhythms of care:
-Allowing yourself to do something you enjoy, even if you’re not “good” at it
-Taking time to rest, even if it’s just a few deep breaths.
-Accepting help from others, even if you start with something small

Create rhythms of growth:
-Trying new experiences, even if you begin with small, low-stakes changes.
-Sharing your dreams or ideas, even if you start by sharing them with just one person.
-Learning something new, even if you only practice for a few minutes each day.

For all of the times in your life where you must make big decisions or move very quickly, let this be a space where you make room for gradual engagement with the present moment, knowing that these small moments matter. For even if they are subtle, you are still creating rhythms. You are still creating rhythms. You are learning to engage with a life of depth and meaning, one small moment at a time.

Choose the examples above to focus on over the weekend and let it be a reminder to keep creating room for rhythms of deeper connection and gratitude right here. – Morgan Harper Nichols

Take a moment to remind yourself that savoring the present and pursuing new experiences are not mutually exclusive. You can find a sense of aliveness right in the here and now, while still looking forward to what’s ahead. It is possible to appreciate what you have and be open to new possibilities, too.

This could look like:

-Being excited about meaningful work you get to be a part of now, while also planning ahead for how to work will need to change over the next few years.

-Embracing the love and support from your current community while seeking out new networks and connections, too.

-Being grateful for the skills you have right now without comparing yourself to others, while also allowing yourself to learn new skills, too.

-Enjoying the progress you’ve made on a project while considering new ideas for the future.

-Finding joy in small moments however you can, while also exploring how this joy can be more expansive and more collective, in the future, too.

Ask yourself: “What can I appreciate about my current experience while still holding space for what could be?”

Ask yourself this question while also recognizing: you have likely already begun to hold the tension of this and you don’t have to choose one or the other. Instead, allow yourself to explore these different aspects can help bring forth a sense of harmony right here where you are. – Morgan Harper Nichols

Here’s to pacing yourself toward August, one day at a time. Here’s to recognizing that you don’t have to figure it all out at once before you can breathe deeply, right here. By learning how to inhale and exhale in this moment, you are creating space. Even if it’s just one breath cycle that is slightly more mindful than the previous one, that’s progress in learning how to be present.

Be kind to yourself when you don’t feel like you’ve been able to pace yourself perfectly. Be kind to yourself when there are moments where you feel like you’re not making the progress you thought you would. Because even then, with every inhale and exhale, you are completing a breath cycle. Progress doesn’t have to be a linear climb up a mountain.

You’re allowed to let progress feel circular, like the cycle of a breath, moving through different seasons. Think of it like a leisurely stroll through a garden lined with winding paths. These paths remind you that the way you are learning to be present matters. In that kind of space, it’s okay if you keep circling back to the sunflowers or the butterflies floating in the early morning light. In that kind of space, it’s okay to take your time. Not every day will feel like like this, but we are allowed to trust that we are worthy of that kind of space. We are worthy of the kind of space where there is less pressure and more room to pace ourselves through things in a mindful way.

So even if every day doesn’t look like that, I hope you know it’s okay to sow seeds of being present right here. Take a deep breath in this very moment and trust: that is a part of a larger picture of you creating more space in this life, and may there be more to come.

Any moment spent taking deeper breaths and pacing yourself as you learn to be present here is valuable as you prepare for the journey ahead. – Morgan Harper Nichols

How can quiet pauses be powerful and bring clarity?

Notes from ocean currents during times of minimal wind:

When the wind is calm, surface ocean currents slow down because they are primarily driven by wind. However, deep ocean currents continue to move because they are driven by differences in water density, which are influenced by temperature and salinity variations. This shows that while surface currents are wind-driven, deep currents are driven by density differences. In these quieter moments, they become quietly powerful.

It may look like surface currents slow down when the wind is calm, but deeper currents that are driven by density are still moving large amounts of water in a way that can’t be seen from the surface. The fact that ocean current patterns change when there isn’t much wind shows that wind and differences in density are what drive surface currents and deep currents, respectively. Deep waters flow even when calm.

Perhaps, like the ocean finds clarity in the pause of the wind, we can also learn something from these quieter moments. The ocean’s currents may seem to stop, but they are actually shifting in a new way. Density differences in the water create a slow, powerful flow.

Like the ocean, perhaps, we too find clarity in stillness. Hidden changes and transformations can still flow even when it seems like nothing is moving.

Even though this process may be slower than we want, it’s not too late to find clarity amid the stillness.

Find clarity in the pauses by noticing the quiet changes.

Find clarity in the pauses by observing subtle shifts.

Find clarity in the pauses by recognizing the depth the small movements.

Our daily lives may not look exactly like the ocean’s, but we can still learn that change happens even when it appears still.

The ocean’s currents keep moving when the wind stops, driven by the weight of the water. We can keep flowing with great depth, even in quiet times.

There is room for movement and transformation over time, wave by wave. – Morgan Harper Nichols