Dr. Lee Jampolsky

01/01/2025

A New Year’s Call

In all you do as the year unfolds,
do it with presence,
as if each moment
were the most precious of your life.

Do it with love,
a quiet kindness,
asking nothing,
yet filling your heart with calm.

Do it to serve,
to lift unseen wholeness into view,
to answer the silent call
of a tender heart unheard.

Do it to awaken,
to feel the steady pulse of life
moving through, beyond, and between
you and all life.

Do it to see hidden goodness,
in the faces of others
and in the reflection of your own.

Do it as a mirror of light,
holding a truth
that has always been here,
ready to be known.

14/02/2024

Happy Valentine's Day! Amidst the plethora of words penned on love, nine resonate with me the most. These words bring a profound recognition of who we are, how we can heal, and spread love and compassion. The words are: 'Teach only love, for that is what you are.' Every thought, word, and action reflects your choice of what you want to learn, and what you teach is teaching you. In this world of chaos and confusion, let's all come together and consciously spread love and compassion wherever we go. Remember, even a small act of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life. So, on Valentine's Day, let's choose love over fear and make this world a better place for everyone.

23/11/2023

On Thanksgiving, we are accustomed to answering what we are grateful for by focusing on the positive occurrences in our lives. Although this is undoubtedly important, this morning, I am most thankful for the times I was still enough to be astonished by love and beauty.

From here, I don’t limit my gratitude to what I may deem positive occurrences in my life. My gratitude is not reserved solely for the good that happens in my life; it includes gratitude for responding to challenges near and far from the goodness in me, the light that lives in us all. Even amidst our turbulent times, my deepest gratitude arises from continued awakening to all of life and our inherent interconnection. From here, gratitude becomes a quality of attention that acknowledges and grows my understanding of the true nature of love and the healing power of holding others in tenderness.

I am grateful today for the privilege of being alive, feeling, and knowing I am and will always remain a part of something larger than myself. While living in a world that is experiencing pain and separation, I still see children playing, voices expressing care, laughter, and beauty in vibrant orange across the sunrise horizon, and the chill of this November morning against my cheek. I think about being with my youngest daughter hiking in Zion last week, loving and appreciating each other without needing to say a word, and witnessing my oldest daughter married last summer and seeing the beauty within the loving commitment to one’s beloved. I recall the many moments this year that deepened my sense of presence with whoever I was with, even a passerby. I am grateful for everything that happens around and within me because it is all fodder for opening my heart wide and full. I suppose it is this I am most grateful for, discovering I can respond with a measure of kindness in all I do and in all I see, not a fleeting moment of service, but rather a deep breath from the infinite and a soft and long exhale of love into the world. From here, effortlessness is born, and I find myself making or remaking my world by stepping into a flow rather than trying hard to swim upstream. It may sound trivial, but it is everything to me; I can relax now.

Many this Thanksgiving may feel guilty for what they have when others suffer, or those who are unappreciative because their life seems not going their way. I have experienced elements of both in past Thanksgivings and know that guilt and unappreciation are gratitude killers. Over the years, I learned to pay attention to what I have to appreciate no matter my situation and what I have to give no matter my position: Love. That’s the essence; I am grateful for the love that created, lives in, and joins us all. Happy Thanksgiving.

04/01/2023

07/09/2022

Healing the War Within Yourself

As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, may we all take a thoughtful pause:
Exiled from Tibet, the Dalai Lama was asked why he didn’t fight back against the Chinese. “Because war is obsolete, you know,” he replied with a lighthearted smile. Then, after a reflective pause, he continued in a more serious tone, “Of course, the mind can rationalize fighting back, but the heart, the heart would never understand. Then you would be divided in yourself, the heart and the mind, and the war would be inside you.”

The dictionary defines obsolete as “No longer useful…having been replaced by something newer and better.” So consider asking yourself today, “Is the way I deal with conflict in my life obsolete? Is there something better? To find your answers, begin by listing how your mind rationalizes fighting back and the many ways it keeps conflicts alive. Then, reading each rationalization, ask how your heart does not understand and begin to be curious about what it desires. For now, don’t go down the road of whether your mind is right or wrong in why it wants to fight back or what horrible consequence might happen if you don’t. Instead, at least give equal time to listening to your heart.

Healing the war within yourself between your heart and mind
will help bring greater peace to all your relationships.

01/06/2022

No Expression of Love is Insignificant:
Dark times can obscure clear direction, churning despondency and hiding hope. Yet, there is a means to not becoming lost in fear, anger, or helplessness. Within hopelessness, maybe in the murkiest corner that you avoid or right in front of you today, remains a doorway to healing solutions. Few reach it without times of wanting to give up on themselves, on humanity, on the power of Love. Fumbling in the dark, reach out and ask how you can bring a miracle of Love to this day in such challenging times. One meaningful moment of Love can change the trajectory of your life and the world. This is how we remind ourselves of a powerful Truth: No expression of Love is insignificant, and there is something every one of us can do. To deepen my practice of "A Course in Miracles," I sometimes weave together different quotes, add my thoughts, and convert into poetry.
Enter and Embrace:
The moment has come to
“learn that peace is part of you,
and requires only that you be there
to embrace any situation in which you are.”
With the intense focus of a pouncing cat
and patient knowingness of a rose in bloom,
step into the Now
and humbly ask,
“What would You have me do?
Where would You have me go?
What would You have me say, and to whom?”
With deep listening
to the peaceful voice
beyond all fear
you gently awaken and see
“What the world is,
is but a fact.
You cannot choose what this should be.
But you can choose how you would see it.
Indeed, you must choose this.”
Choose to see through the eyes of love.
You have falsely believed
in a world lacking Love
and yet the Truth remains,
“This world is full of miracles.
They stand in shining silence
next to every dream of pain and suffering, of sin and guilt.”
Inspired by my friend, Beverly Hutchinson McNeff

17/01/2022

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” MLK

24/12/2021

It is Christmas eve. My Dad's upcoming first anniversary of departing this lifetime is in a few days. This morning, I am guided to ask what Dad’s greatest gift was to me, and then have the focus of the day be to give this gift. Dad's greatest gift to me is his never giving up on Love, no matter what. He saw Love in me, always and regardless of the circumstance. Knowing this made such a difference and I carry his Love and humility with me always. His presence is in each moment I offer this gift. There is a unique healing and gift that comes from delivering the message of "I love you, I see you, I believe in who and what you are, I forgive you." On the eve of celebrating the birth of Christ, I choose to remember that the presence and gift of my heavenly Father and my biological father are the same, to give Love to all.

25/11/2021

Though it may sound un-Thanksgiving-like, I invite you to join me in a path to gratitude that does not begin with what you are grateful for. Instead, bring to mind those you may think poorly of or judge harshly. Find the seeds of forgiveness today rather than letting your thoughts take you to anger, condemnation, or retribution. From the ever-present strength and tenderness within you, bring your judgments to the heartbeat of kindness coming from a power greater than yourself. This Thanksgiving, be grateful for your capacity to forgive.

01/11/2021

As world leaders gather today, we can each decide we are more than a culture of division where hate and harshness rule, where nature is ignored and abused, and where we destroy one another little by little, one hateful or selfish thought at a time. Pause today and in the days to come; see the role of love in healing ourselves and the world. It is time to love all creation, for the alternative is to live with the effects of lovelessness. Without love, our life and the world weaken. Without love, our courage to forgive falters. Without love, we cannot see the world clearly and react accordingly. So, show the world it is not too late to love.

23/02/2021

Dear Family and friends of Jerry Jampolsky,

As we wait to gather in person to celebrate Dad at some point in the future, I thought this practice might help us all along. After a month or two of a loved one passing, it is helpful to have a practice of continuing the momentum of grieving, healing, and remembering. I invite you to join me in a two-week practice of consciously celebrating Dad’s life in ways that open our hearts to Love and feeling his continued gentle presence. For those who may want to honor other loved ones who have passed, please feel free to use this practice to celebrate them as well.

With Love,

Lee

Two Weeks of Celebrating the Life of Jerry Jampolsky

Day 1: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I offer gentle acceptance of myself and kindness to each person I meet. I feel Jerry with me as I do.

Day 2: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I take responsibility for my life and choose peace of mind as my single goal. I feel Jerry encourage me as I do.

Day 3: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I practice forgiveness and see the bigger picture of my interconnection with all beings. His presence in my heart inspires me to do so.

Day 4: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I think of all I am grateful for. I smile in knowing Jerry helps me do so.

Day 5: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I take time to be quiet, still, and find gentleness within my solitude. Here I find Jerry with me always.

Day 6: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I listen and offer compassion and empathy. Jerry will forever make my heart more tender in this way.

Day 7: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I am willing to release the past and become present and focused on Love that is forever in the here and now. In doing so, I realize this is where the essence of Jerry resides, and I feel him with me.

Day 8: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I look for commonalities and shared humanity with all. In doing so, I feel an ever-evolving closeness with Jerry.

Day 9: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I listen to my intuition and practice simplicity. In doing so, I sense his voice guiding me to what is most important in life.

Day 10: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I cease any worrying or preoccupation with the future, and I trust in the unfolding of life and Divine wisdom. In doing so, I know Jerry is safe and surrounds me in Love.

Day 11: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I focus on my constant connection with his essence. Jerry fills me with Love.

Day 12: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I find purpose and meaning through service to others and good work. I know Jerry is with us all.

Day 13: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I know that I am enough, I am whole, and I can overcome any obstacle through Love. Jerry wants this for me; thank you, Jerry.

Day 14: To celebrate Jerry’s life today, I practice the wisdom of giving and receiving as one in truth. I find many opportunities to give Love and open my heart to receive, and in doing so, I am happier. Jerry inspires this in me; thank you, Jerry.