Author Archives: j1velasco

Building Resiliance and Hope in Troubled Times

Posted on April 7, 2020 by j1velasco

A couple of weeks ago I learned that my sister in law was sick with Corona Virus. When I talked to my brother, I realized there was three different layers to the crisis. In order to build resilience in troubled … Continue reading →

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Who Are You?

Posted on June 12, 2018 by j1velasco

During my years of Zen training I learned that no matter whether you are in a good or bad situation, your true self is always free. Many wisdom traditions point to that realization—regardless of anxiety or fear, we are always … Continue reading →

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The Music of Being

Posted on May 14, 2018 by j1velasco

My little niece, Daniela, is learning how to play the cello. We are both enchanted by the instrument–this large piece of empty wood that turns vibration into melody and song. It takes skills to lightly embrace the instrument and delicately … Continue reading →

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Co-Create Your Growth

Posted on April 26, 2018 by j1velasco

Look closely. Everything that you see around was visualized in somebody else’s mind before it came to exist. Your mind, your power to imagine a better, more peaceful life for yourself and others, is a great gift of God. Whenever … Continue reading →

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Where Do You Live?

Posted on October 30, 2017 by j1velasco

I came back home from a difficult trip and the taxi driver shot a questioning glance at me: “Where do you live?” My answer came back fast like a trigger, “In my head most of the time, actually.” He looked … Continue reading →

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Your Story

Posted on September 26, 2017 by j1velasco

In the age of social media I see people sending pictures, leaving brief comments on the news, and sharing great amounts of information created by corporations and networks. I also enjoy the abundance of data that is always available through … Continue reading →

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The World as your Self

Posted on September 15, 2017 by j1velasco

I often think about the struggles my students go through, the challenges I face in my profession or the little problems I face in my life. I also struggle sometimes to see how  those moments of taking care of my … Continue reading →

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Reach Out to Joy

Posted on August 31, 2017 by j1velasco

I was exhausted at the beginning of the summer. After multiple deadlines and the completion of different projects I felt tired, unfocused, depleted. How do we return to our best selves when exhaustion settles in? Who are the friends that … Continue reading →

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Something to Prove

Posted on June 23, 2017 by j1velasco

A friend of mine went into retirement after a successful career in business, but when I met him again he was reluctant to celebrate. I was moved because even though he was being celebrated for his career, I could still see … Continue reading →

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Noticing and Releasing

Posted on May 16, 2017 by j1velasco

Whenever I lead a retreat, I encourage participants to keep a journal. Autobiographical writing is part of our spiritual practice, and through our reflections of the past we can arrive to powerful moments of realization. Lindsay, one of the participants … Continue reading →

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