Tag Archives: mindfulness

certainty is…

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the great enemy of unity.

This quote is from the uniquely well-timed 2024 film “CONCLAVE” about the selection of a new Pope. It’s haunted me ever since. Here is the entire quote and the clip from the film.

“My brothers and sisters...let me tell you that the one sin I have come to fear more than any other is certainty. Certainty is the great enemy of unity..our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there was only certainty, and if there was no doubt, there would be no mystery, and therefore no need for faith.”
―Robert Harris, Conclave

CERTAIN: known for sure; established beyond doubt

 ENEMY: something harmful or deadly 

UNITY: a condition of harmony

A tidy package of CERTAINTY is rarely going to arrive on my doorstep.

How can I learn to manage my emotional distress when certainty isn’t possible?

• Don't believe everything I think, it's just a thought (NOT a fact).
• Acknowledge my feelings without judgment (or try to anyway).
• Accept that I may never have certainty on this topic.

• Remind myself of the rest of the quote: "...our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt.  If there was only certainty, and if there was no doubt, there would be no mystery, and therefore no need for faith."

Sunrise on Town Neck Beach—Sandwich, Massachusetts—July 3rd, 2025

12 staggeringly helpful words…

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ZOOM IN and OBSESS.

ZOOM OUT and OBSERVE.

We get to choose.

—Rick Rubin (music producer/author) The Creative Act: A Way of Being

ZOOMING IN: Things seem to be falling apart in so many destructive and senseless ways now. When I zoom in on that world-weariness it zaps my energy and I scan for validation about why I feel this way. This makes me respond with judgment, criticism, anxiety, and fear.

ZOOMING OUT: The world is filled with people who are empathetic, compassionate, innovative, generous, and kind. Those stories do not make BREAKING NEWS.

Just imagine all day long learning about heroic acts of GENEROSITY, SELF-SACRIFICE, CREATIVITY, & LOVE.

zooming in on ME
zoominng out in AWE

ZOOMING IN: Focusing, ruminating, and commenting on other people’s words, behaviors, and choices

.

ZOOMING OUT: I’m only in charge of my thoughts, words, choices, and actions. I cannot force others to think, speak, choose, or act as I do. When I catch myself thinking about what others should be doing—I need to ZOOM OUT and gain more perspective.

“Creativity is not a rare ability. It is not difficult to access. Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.”

—Rick Rubin


Special Thanks: To my husband, Jeff for finding and downloading Rick Rubin’s book. Rick Rubin, listening to The Creative Act has been quite an education. Thank you. 

Link to Audible sample: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Creative-Act-Audiobook/B0B3L2T9W5?psafe_param=1&source_code=GO1GB547041122911G&gclid=CjwKCAjw_YShBhAiEiwAMomsEBNC7t8wJQncDOxqj3xHKzJQ9mfDTPf8lToLx6b4_6OPrFG4fMH7txoCkk0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds