Yesterday, I committed to spending twenty minutes thinking about an important person in my life. Considering life from her perspective. Hoping for her. Praying for her. Beseeching the universe on her behalf.

It was a challenge.

Staying with an empathetic thought — holding space for that mindset — is difficult. Our mind wanders. The world distracts us. A shiny tangent pulls our attention. We start to think about ourselves.

I found, however, that I was able to refocus. To recommit to my intention. And in doing so, I happened upon new thoughts. New perspectives. New concepts I might not have otherwise considered.

And something else became clear: the world generously offers us expansive opportunities to think deeply. But the culture ... the culture is an ever-moving, ringing bell.

Here. Now over here.

Now there. Now over there.

While the culture can offer delightful paths to explore, it may come at the expense of our deepest thoughts and our most profound discoveries.

Choose a thought. Stay with it. Stay with it more.

See what can blossom.