I’m Rachel Dickson: TEDx speaker, storyteller, and truth-teller exploring what it means to return to your truest self. This is a space for healing, authenticity, and the bold inner work of choosing yourself, unapologetically.
The Measuring Stick Falls Away — Field Notes with Rachel Dickson
|
02/12/26 Greetings Creators, Edge-Walkers, Hope-Dealers, Bridge-Builders and Light-Bringers! Slipping into the comparison mind-trap. In our current world, where attention is currency, the competition for my and your attention is a fierce battle! There’s a whole plethora of courses being taught on how to quickly gain and how to longer hold our attention via social media, via news headlines, via random tiktok videos and on and on. I am an observer...and many things can be learned while observing. I have noticed incredibly polished work...be it a musical performance, or a nature photograph or an Olympic athlete performance. This of course sets a baseline for comparison of what might be labeled unpolished work...or less polished work. I find it rather interesting that there is a major trend occurring in the world of advertisement called UGC or User Generate Content. Where once upon a time brands would pay marketing firms to create ads to sell their wares. But today the more successful route for ads is to hire creators to provide brands with UGC as ads. You’ve seen these ads and maybe didn’t even realize what you were watching. These are seemingly everyday people, talking about a particular product or telling you why that product is superior to others. One of my favorites (because the content makes me laugh...the way these “actors” present themselves and the script of the ad itself) is for the BÆRSkin Tactical Hoodie. The key point behind these UGC ads is the very fact that they’re amateurish in nature...enforcing the impression that these are everyday people therefore making what they say more believable. So here’s where my recent quandry enters. I am constantly internalizing new ideas for how to better enhance the quality of this work. And automatically within this realm enters comparison and judgment. The measuring stick...is this better, or is that better, is this worse, or is that worse? Ah...the measuring stick. Here’s the thing...I woke up this morning realizing that I’d fallen into the trap of measuring again. I’ve been noticing my thoughts and noticing the words that come out of my mouth...and I’ve noticed that very quickly after observing something...I attach a meaning to it. A label or a judgment really. I’ve been working on breaking this down and the entirety of its meaning because in order to truly sit within the sanctum of inner peace...you cannot judge...you cannot assess...you cannot attach meaning. But rather...true inner peace comes from allowing...and letting things be exactly as they are. Which is of course the door where Gratitude can enter your heart space. It’s much easier to celebrate and be grateful for exactly where you are and what you currently have in your life...when you allow it to be there rather than resist it as “not enough” or “not something likeable”. Could it be that the entire quandry is wrapped up in whether my attention is solely inside my own mind...or whether my attention is to sit within the balance of my body mind and my heart mind? Where I’m tuned into the feeling of love and acceptance of all that is...because we are all one...and no judgment is necessary at all. No doubt a shift is required here. If I am to shift my awareness and lean towards the higher vibration...it would be by tuning into my heart...and getting out of my own head...which of course then means...presence in the now. This has been the sole message of the Venerable Monks for the last 109 days on their Walk for Peace. They arrived in Washington D.C. yesterday having completed the 2,300 mile walk from Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Quite astonishingly...you can read a detailed timeline of their journey here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_for_Peace I firmly believe this Walk for Peace single-handedly united the people of the States in which the Monks walked through...and then they walked this energy right into Washington D.C. yesterday. The impact from this 109 day journey will continue for a very long time. The momentum continues to touch those who have been following this spiritual quest to remind us all of the point of humaning. To choose peace. No judgment, no comparison, no he said/she said...just peace. A shift, out of our minds and back into our hearts. Funny how we need to be reminded of this. Is why we are here together on this wildhearted journey. To remind each other...that love is the way. This topic (which I refer to as the “zero-point”...but is also referred to as “metacognition”) will be one of the experiences we’ll explore together at our upcoming in-person gathering on March the 1st. Want to know more? Details are below. In peace and present awareness. Wild-Heart Practice of the Week:Let Go of the Measuring Stick
Optional Reflection: At the end of the day, journal one moment where you noticed the measuring stick arise—and one moment where you returned to the heart. Join us Sunday, March 1st, 2p-4p for our next Wildhearted Spiritual Gathering ReWeaving: Mending the Divide between Soul-Self and Earth-Self
What is a Wildhearted Soundscape and Why Sound Matters:Sound shapes more than what we hear—it aligns our vibration, soothes the nervous system, and opens space for insight and presence. At our Wildhearted gatherings, curated soundscapes guide this process, blending tones and frequencies to support body, mind, and spirit. New Live Zoom Guided Practice! Writing as Ritual: Turning Up the Volume of Your Inner Voice Join Rachel Dickson for a gentle, soul-centered writing practice designed to quiet the noise, soften into presence, and reconnect with your inner voice. No writing experience needed—just bring something to write with and your honest presence. ✨ Guided ritual you can return to anytime [Learn more or Reserve your spot here.] Shop Wildhearted Coffee Mugs Rachel’s original art, now on a mug! Grab your favorite before it’s gone. *Your support helps keep Rachel’s nature videos, soundscapes, and Wildhearted offerings alive. I’m grateful you’re here — walking this Wildhearted path with me. Field Notes arrives each week as a small offering…whispers from whatever season we’re living through, the heart, and the everyday practices that help us come back to center. If this issue resonated, I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and share — your note might be the very spark someone else needs. Namaste, P.S. Thank you for being here. Truly. 🙏 If this work resonates with you, a small contribution helps keep it alive and growing: → [Support the Work] 💌 In case you missed any past Field Notes, you can find the full collection here: → [View them all] |
Rachel Dickson
I’m Rachel Dickson: TEDx speaker, storyteller, and truth-teller exploring what it means to return to your truest self. This is a space for healing, authenticity, and the bold inner work of choosing yourself, unapologetically.
4/15/26 Hello Wild Souls, Song-Carriers, Quiet Listeners, and Those Tuning Themselves to What Matters! Image by Kev from Pixabay.com Happy to declare—April is officially my favorite month of the year. Why? Yesterday (and a few days before that), I was serenaded by a Carolina Wren. He perched himself on the top railing of my deck and sang at the top of his lungs. It was mesmerizing… watching the soft feathers on his throat trilling as he called out.He’d sing—then pause, as if listening.Then...
4/1/26 Greetings Wild-Hearted Friends, Deep Feelers, Gentle Healers, and Sacred Pausers. My life completely changed forever last week. On Wednesday, Pieces and Willis both crossed over. I have seen this coming for months as they were both 15 years old….so I did have time to prepare myself. But some things you just can’t prepare for...some things you just have to wing on the fly. I shared more of their story—and some of my favorite photos—here if you’d like to see:...
3/18/26 Greetings Wildhearted Wanderers, Hope-Dealers, Bridge-Builders and Bringers of Light! I’m going to blame homeschooling. Yep. My junior and senior years of high school, I was homeschooled. And it was during those years that I realized something important: once I finished the required coursework each day, I was free to study what truly fascinated me. Ahhhh… exploration! The problem was, back then, there was no internet and resources were scarce. Mostly, it was the Encyclopedia...