Heart intelligence is the paradigm that speaks to everyone's hope and frustration. Just what is our IQ score in heart intelligence? Not nearly high enough!

Many people are learning the wisdom to take time off and disconnect from everything that has attached itself to body, mind, and soul. Once away from it all, it's amazing to witness how many people, gadgets, all the stuff of modern living that has somehow attached itself to life, our life! We quickly see all the necessities that are not so necessary.

Meditation does not have to be difficult. We are changing the habit of constantly thinking. We are changing our pattern of carrying the details and challenges of daily life all the time within us. Meditation can teach us to let go of our busy mind and be in our heart.

Many people yearn for a silent retreat, but they resist actually going because of what they read and hear. Despite all the great reviews, for many a silent retreat sounds more like boot camp then a healing, restorative experience. They wonder, is it true you have to meditate for many hours each day? There must be something more then just sitting, watching the breath, thoughts coming and going, being still? Is it really possible to not talk for hours and days? Doesn’t all this alone time make for more anxiety or at a minimum incredible boredom?

The teachers and countless books about meditation make it sound so easy. Just sit for some time, watch your breath, let your thoughts and feelings drift by in the sky of your mind, and you will come to a new awareness. You will discover compassion!

Care-givers deserve a rest in the arms of peace and quiet.

Suddenly meditation is much more than watching who and what we are in the moment. It is a discipline of falling through the clouds of thought and feeling. The breath of heartfulness is rising and falling, sailing like leaves of all color in autumn's dance. We are letting go and landing in the silence of the heart.

Reinventing ourselves is absorbing life's heart essence. It is heart essence which frees our awareness from disappointment, giving real freedom. It is our source of inspiration. The presence within us is giving the true joy which makes life worth living.

Coming into silence with a busy mind is like leaving the fast, crowded highway, pulling into a small fishing village with one dock, one store, and the water slowly lapping at the sea shore. We jump out of the car excited to find such a place, and then what?

As soon as we enter into silence, there are gifts that renew and strengthen our essential selves. These gifts are qualities that enlighten and bring real joy. I call these qualities "muscles of the heart."