Hey dupa,

There’s a phrase I keep coming back to, something I first heard from Ram Dass.

His teacher gave it to him as a mantra, and it’s stuck with me ever since:

"Love everyone and tell the truth."

Sounds simple, right?

But here’s the thing:

These two things - loving everyone and telling the truth - are harder to pair than you might think.

The challenge is, when we try to love everyone, we sometimes soften our boundaries.

We let ourselves get steamrolled, and before long, we’re drowning in resentment.

And when we tell the truth?

We can end up being harsh, unkind, or inconsiderate.

So this year, I’m focusing on figuring out how to do both at the same time.

How do I hold my boundaries and still be loving?

How do I tell the truth in a way that’s clear, direct, and still full of compassion for the person I’m speaking to?

I don’t have all the answers, but I know that this is something I’ll be returning to throughout the year.

What about you? Any themes or intentions you’re working with this year?

Talk soon,
Charlie