Cut Through the Noise
Summer has a way of turning everything up to full volume. The sun is high, the days are loud, and our emotions—well, they can feel like they’re on full blast too.
This is the heat of summer, not just in the weather, but in our nervous systems. As you know, when we’re overheated—emotionally or physically—our patience runs thin, our fuse gets short, and it’s easy to start spiraling. The smallest inconveniences can feel enormous. We might catch ourselves complaining—about work, about others, about everything. The thing is, the more we complain, the easier it becomes to complain. And as the saying goes in Spanish, “la queja aleja”—complaining pushes others away / repels.
But when we catch ourselves complaining a lot, it’s a clear sign we’re lost in the noise—something’s off.
I notice how when I get disconnected from myself and from my practice, returning to the center can feel… scary. That middle ground—that deep sense of centeredness that doesn’t rely on anything or anyone—can seem like an uncomfortable faraway land. Yet I crave it. I long for that quiet space between thoughts where I can simply be. Where I can stay and remain—not running toward the next task, thought, or distraction. To not feel the need to fill every gap, every moment, with things, people, plans, or noise. Just space. Silence.
But getting there doesn’t always feel easy. Why? Because sometimes we don’t even realize we’re off course in the first place! We’re speeding down the wrong highway at full throttle—disconnected, overloaded. And we grow accustomed to feeling blocked, off, tense. We carry our blocks close to our chest, gripping them so tightly, that we forget the way back. Back to our natural state of connection, ease, creativity, and alignment.
You know the main blockers: Fear. Stress. Confusion. Lack of trust. Guilt. Worry. Shame. Unforgiveness. Jealousy. Gossip. Overwhelm. Lying. Shallow breathing. Resentment. Control. Judgment. Isolation. Self-doubt. Comparison. The pursuit of perfection. Trauma. Anger. Chaos. Hatred. Substance abuse. Rigidity. Self-centeredness. Multitasking.
The other day, I was watching an interview with actor Mandy Patinkin, and he repeated a line from his character in The Princess Bride that stayed with me:
“It is very strange. I have been in the revenge business for so long, now that it’s over, I don’t know what to do with the rest of my life.”
That line struck me. It made me think about how much space emotions like anger, blame, defensiveness—and even stress—can take up in our lives.
So, what happens when we put them down? What’s left?
Pure emptiness. Pure consciousness. An invitation to start living from the heart—to return to softness, compassion, and peace. To Ahimsa. Ahimsa means nonviolence.
It’s the bold decision to meet life with compassion—even when harshness feels easier. It’s about choosing kindness and patience even when it feels extreme to do so. It’s about releasing the subtle forms of violence we carry inside—self-judgment, harsh thoughts, reactivity, comparison, and control. It’s the radical act of choosing not to fight ourselves or others.
So, ask yourself:
What have I been carrying for so long that I no longer know who I am without it?
What would it feel like to put it down, even for a moment?
What becomes possible when I return to the center—not as a goal, but as a resting place?
Now, take it into ACTION:
This month, the July Jivamukti Focus of the Month invites us into this practice of Ahimsa with simplicity and intention: choose one word each day from the family of Ahimsa—kind, compassionate, generous, good, affectionate, amiable, charitable, considerate, cordial, courteous, friendly, gentle, gracious, humane, kindhearted, loving, mindful, sympathetic, thoughtful, tolerant—and pair it with the verb Be.
Be Kind. Be Compassionate. Be Generous.
“As we practice this, we may notice subtle shifts in our interactions—where negative circumstances begin to positively change because you have chosen to mindfully focus on imbuing your words with meaning and power. We may find that we are the first beneficiary of the practice of non-harming. What a wonderful result of working to uplift others—we find ourselves uplifted.”
This is what it means to live from the heart. To choose kindness, love, and patience—even when it feels extreme to do so. Even when it feels like too much. Especially then.