Thriving Now

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 - 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/1556

Our primitive brain craves certainty. And this can lead us into a desperate search for how to control the outcome, plan for ALL the possible unexpecteds... and even feel anxious that there is "not enough" (and we're "not enough") — even though we actually are.

Improvising is the skill of being responsive in the Now to What Is. It frees us not to have to know (or delude ourselves that we have certainty) what the future holds specifically. We get to be in it, with it, and go with the flow — but not like a leaf on a stream but rather as a powerful participant. Co-Creating.

If you look at the kid in the image, you see a human making something interesting out of a MESS. Speaking from painful experience, sometimes the mess of life offers moments of deep focus, growth, and heartistry that times of ease do not call forth.

We certainly would never wish a mess on a person or community, but we do embrace that heart-centered improvisation can lead to surprising moments of delight and long term thriving. We hope you'll join us for this exploration together.

Improvising and Uncertainty Real Skills Workshop - Community Event Improvising and Uncertainty Real Skills Workshop: Energy Savvy Hosts: Rick Wilkes () and Cathy Vartuli () Sun Jan 11 2026 at 5pm EST / 2pm PST (90 mins with a 7 min break) We hope you’ll join us, and bring a guest! 👉 Click Here to Register You a...

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 - 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰 𝟭𝟰
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/1549

Gratitude is, for me, is a curious stance. It's a daily “let’s see what’s really alive here” experiment where I notice simple uplifts and explore how they land in my body.

I’m not trying to force a mood or prove any hypothesis. I’m calibrating attention like a friendly scientist, observing small moments, jotting a note, and checking in later to see how recalling moments of gratitude changes my felt sense of the day.

When approached this way—light, honest, repeatable—gratitude becomes less performance and more tuning and recalibrating, a reliable way to carry real goodness forward.

And yes, Gratitude has traditional science behind it, too.

Gratitude Science Experiments Real Skills Workshop - Community Event Gratitude Science Experiments Real Skills Workshop: Energy Savvy Hosts: Rick Wilkes () and Cathy Vartuli () Sun Dec 14 2025 at 5pm EST / 2pm PST (90 mins with a 7 min break) We hope you’ll join us, and bring a guest! 👉 Click Here to Register You...

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 - 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/1548

Join us Tue Nov 11 2025 at 830pm EST / 530pm PST

We look at others and think they have courage figured out—while we sometimes freeze, hide, or doubt ourselves. But the truth is:

Courage isn’t a fixed quality. It’s relational.

Courage is Relational Real Skills Workshop - Community Event Courage is Relational Real Skills Workshop: Savvy Relating & Engaging Hosts: Rick Wilkes () and Cathy Vartuli () Tue Nov 11 2025 at 830pm EST / 530pm PST (90 mins with a 7 min break) We hope you’ll join us, and bring a guest! 👉 Click Here to Reg...

Starting to use a selection of the savewisdom.org 1000 questions to load more personal perspectives into my - I already have 2M "professional" words in there. Now, I am using reflection questions to even more deeply reflect where I've come from and how I see/sense/explore and grow.

Question 7 is How did you cope as a child?

Explore this with my digital mind here:

https://www.thrivingnow.com/ask/How%20did%20you%20cope%20as%20a%20child

SaveWisdom.org – All human wisdom is worth saving. Save Wisdom. Declaration of Mission At the heart of our existence lies something truly extraordinary—wisdom. It is the essence of who we are as individuals, the culmination of our experiences, our triumphs, and our lessons learned. The Save Wisdom Project at SaveWisdom.org is more than an organiza...

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/shame-as-a-fire-blanket/1544

When life gets hot, we throw a blanket of shame over our rising energy. It works—until it smothers who we are...

Shame as a Fire Blanket Shame as a Fire Blanket They dropped the blanket, the fire hushed. Suppression is useful. Therefore, shame is useful. I saw a demo: an electric car catches fire; firefighters whip out a huge blanket, cover the car, and the flames go quiet. But don’t pull it off too soon! Leave it, and what would h...

𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/stillpoints-of-contentment/1543

If I allow a moment of contentment, even just a blink or two, I can move forward from a place of "replenished inner smile."

No, not 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 content or smiling. 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. Good and sufficient contentment.

Stillpoints of Contentment Stillpoints of Contentment I was taught in school that the opposite of discontent is contentment. But energetically they’re not “opposites.” If I’m discontented with my life, there’s an energy of resistance. I don’t accept what is, and I push away any feelings of contentment that are act...

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁... 𝗡𝗼𝘄 - Workshop Recording
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/1523/4

We covered...

1. Cultivate Presence as a Real Skill
Presence isn’t just a nice concept—it’s a capacity we build together for our thriving life. In any moment, our energy is alive within us and around us. Practicing being present right now, with gentle skill, is a key ingredient for real satisfaction and connection.

2. Recognize Our Social Conditioning
Most of us didn’t get taught presence. Society often teaches avoidance—medicating, distracting, fleeing discomfort. Our work is to gently notice this conditioning and invite ourselves to stay with what is, letting presence become familiar and nourishing.

3. Honor the Dance with Discomfort
Discomfort and strong feelings don’t mean something’s wrong. When we try to escape them, we miss the richness of now. Instead, we can build our “muscles” for safely feeling discomfort, knowing we don’t have to wallow in pain—just acknowledge it.

4. Your Primitive Brain Gets First Crack
We all have a primitive, protective wiring and it’s normal. Noticing that our primitive brain wants us to escape, distract, or “fix” things lets us practice the real skill of “what else?”—being present beyond just the first reaction.

5. Embrace ‘Don’t Have To’ Freedom
There’s beauty in realizing, “I don’t have to do anything about this feeling right now.” Even a few moments of freedom create space. Pause and notice what you’re actually free from in this very moment.

6. Practice and Grow New Neural Pathways
Presence grows as we return again and again. We’re reminded: every pause, every gentle check-in, is laying down new pathways. The practice may start awkward, but becomes easier and richer over time.

7. Feelings as Indicator Lights
What we feel (“guilt,” “shame,” “anxiety”) are often pointers to underlying wants, needs, or fears. Instead of shaming ourselves for feeling, get curious. Invite in the message—the underlying wisdom—each feeling carries.

8. Welcome Uncertainty (Even If It’s Hard!)
Uncertainty can trigger our primitive brain. We’re wired to want certainty, but real growth lies in being with “not-knowing” without rushing to judge or fix. Practice sitting with little uncertainties and watch your wisdom grow.

9. Separate Thoughts from Feelings
Judgments like “I’m not enough” or “I’m not capable” are thoughts, not feelings. Notice when you’re labeling or judging instead of feeling. As we distinguish the two, we can honor feelings and gently release self-blame.

10. Micro-Practices for Presence
Everyday acts—eating, showering, breathing—hold hidden treasures when we show up fully for them. Try feeling your feet on the ground and hand on your heart. Notice small moments and sensations. These micro-practices shift energy and open more presence.

11. Gentle Progress, Not Perfection
Building presence isn’t about always doing it “right.” We celebrate every moment noticed, every feeling welcomed. If you reach out for support, invite your inner child or shelved feelings, or just breathe with discomfort, you’re moving towards thriving. The path is gentle, personal, and powerful.

Being Present... Now Being Present… Now – Session Replay 👉 Get your Circle Membership Here Or… Donate $$ to support this community initiative – We so appreciate your generosity! Thanks! We welcome your insights, ah-ha’s, and sharing. Please! Click [Reply] We covered… Cultivate Presence as a Real Skill Pre...

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

"The next yes seemed to arise and we went with it..."

Presence in Motion Presence in Motion I remember vividly the experience of dancing with a professional dancer. You’d think that someone who made a living performing would project a lot of energy outward, toward the audience and those in the space. That was not my experience of her at all. She was so present in the d...

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁... 𝗡𝗼𝘄 - 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 on Sun Oct 12 2025 at 5pm EDT / 2pm PDT
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/1523

“Present!” - Being a good boy, I listened with just enough attention to hear my name called and answer the teacher.

But looking back and feeling into my school childhood, I wasn’t all that Present. I was in my head, often daydreaming (or worrying about what would be on the test so I could get an “A”).

At recess as the years passed I felt less and less safe, more vigilant than Present and Embodied in my climbing, kicking, and running.

Being Present was not part of my growing-up vocabulary. When Presence happened, it happened by accident. No ones fault here. It’s just the cultural focus was different.

For me that was (almost) deadly. I discovered through chronic dis-ease that without Presence my body goes awry. Without being truly Present, there’s no such thing as quality time together and healing touch.

These were Presencing Skills that were essential for me to learn. As a student-teacher at heart, I continue to learn them and share them, and explore them… and perhaps you would enjoy the same?

Cathy and I will be exploring this together on Sunday. We hope you’ll join us if that’s your Yes.

Being Present... Now Real Skills Workshop - Community Event Being Present… Now Real Skills Workshop: Energy Savvy Hosts: Rick Wilkes () and Cathy Vartuli () Sun Oct 12 2025 at 5pm EDT / 2pm PDT (90 mins with a 7 min break) We hope you’ll join us, and bring a guest! 👉 Click Here to Register You are welc...

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/recalling-the-simple-uplifts/1541

If we want to remember the simple uplifts, we can either let that happen by default, by accident, or we can take some positive steps to remember them.

None of us are surprised if someone says, well, if you want to learn the material, you need to study it. If you want to learn a skill, you need to practice it. Repetition and recall are important parts about learning anything.

And yet, to be real, there are so many moments that I don't take notes on. And after a while, they're gone. They're as gone from my brain as Calculus 3… gone, only the vaguest recollection.

Recalling the Simple Uplifts Recalling the Simple Uplifts If we want to remember the simple uplifts, we can either let that happen by default, by accident, or we can take some positive steps to remember them. Listening to a lecture in college, I realized how little of it stuck with me. I needed to take notes. The act of taking....

𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/asking-sacred-decisions-and-the-tender-no/1538

The Universe loves Asking—especially the kind that evolves as we try on possibilities, feel into preferences, and notice timing and ripeness. When something matters enough to enter my life, body, or home, it calls for Sacred Decisions: deeper consideration than impulse, stewardship of what I invite in, and honest space-making. If “the universe doesn’t love me enough to give me this now” flares up… tap, tap, tap—that’s mine to clear. I keep Asking—curiously, courageously—so what’s truly aligned can meet me, in the right way, at the right time.

Asking, Sacred Decisions, and the Tender No Asking, Sacred Decisions, and the Tender No What are you asking for?!? Nothing is more annoying than being pestered. Can I have this? Why can’t I have that? I want it now. But why? I want it. I want it. I want it! As a parent being pestered for something that isn’t a yes for me to provide for th...

𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼-𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/ai-and-the-art-of-co-creating-possibilities/1536

What just happened? I got a work of art that didn't exist before, tuned by me and for me… for my story.

It certainly wasn't my watercolor painting skill, which is quite five-year-old-ish. It was the depth of my words and my curating—refining, erasing this, changing this and that—until I get something that really says, "Oh yeah, that's an energy I want to add to this work of my heart."

AI and the Art of Co-Creating Possibilities AI and the Art of Co-Creating Possibilities I do not have the skills to paint a portrait or capture the beauty of the landscapes I walk. I don’t even dream of doing that. But I create art every day now—with words. I look at my daughter, who is almost five years old, painting with watercolors. He...