Mindfulness, when stripped of its ethical and compassionate roots, is sharp—like a sword with no sheath. Without compassion, awareness doesn’t heal.

How do we train compassion? Here is one exercise…

Modern neuroscience offers a striking parallel to this ancient wisdom. Research on the habenula—a small but powerful brain structure—shows that it plays a central role in how we encode negative outcomes, adapt behavior, and respond to stress.

The yogic path offers a profound antidote to this biology. Through non-attachment, we remove the threat encoded in effort. Showing up is no longer a referendum on our worth, but an act of devotion to the process itself. This is selfless determination: effort offered without the demand for reward.

The inspiration ahead is fueled by what we have already lived. Our commitment moving forward is not driven by obligation, but by purpose. By the understanding that tending to ourselves—our bodies, our minds, our spirits—is what allows us to thrive. And when we thrive, we create ripple effects far beyond ourselves. We become more present partners, parents, friends, leaders. We become steadier lights in our homes, our communities, and the world around us.