Key Points: 1. The point of an argument is NOT to win. It’s to find common ground and understand where and why you disagree. 2. When we forget this, we dehumanize those with whom we disagree and lose any chance of finding actual solutions. 3. Just like we are not our thoughts, we are also … Read more
Key Points: 1. Meditative practices provide one of the best strategies for handling discomfort. 2. However, there are a ton of misconceptions about what meditation is. 3. Put simply, meditation is a focus on “being” rather than “doing.” It’s definitely not about trying to stop thinking! Estimated Reading Time: 4-8 Minutes Last week, we briefly … Read more
Key Points: 1. When it comes to being vs. doing, we’re obsessed with being the “doer.” 2. This can actually make it harder to learn new skills, and more painful when we fail at things we enjoy. 3. The book, The Inner Game of Tennis, offers an incredibly intriguing model for learning and competing without … Read more
Key Points: 1. We tend to think of the mind and body as two different “things.” 2. But, separating mind and body requires drawing arbitrary lines that don’t actually exist. 3. Doing so has negative consequences on our physical and mental health, which aren’t actually different things! Estimated Reading Time: 4-8 Minutes I wanted to … Read more
Key Points: 1. Homeostasis is the tendency of living organisms to maintain equilibrium. 2. Emotions are associated with the presence of various hormones and neurotransmitters in the body. 3. Our bodies actively try to keep us in the same general emotional state, positive or negative. We can use this knowledge to make change easier! Estimated … Read more
Well, I’m out of the darkness and back into the world of the light. The experience was varyingly intense, peaceful, joyful, challenging, boring, exciting, scary, and highly insightful. I plan to write a much more detailed piece about the experience in due time, once I’ve finished transcribing my darkness journals and utilizing the benefit of … Read more
By the time you read this, I’ll be in the dark about what’s going on in the world. Literally. From May 17th-27th, 2022, I’ll be in Oaxaca, Mexico, participating in a fairly intense meditation retreat. During this time, I’ll be spending 10 days alone in total darkness. Why the heck would I do such a … Read more
To answer the question you’ve been waiting for…what was it like spending 10 days in the dark? Well, let me paint you a picture first. Check out this 1-minute video so that you can see my accommodations during my time in Mazunte. Below, you can see what they looked like from the outside. As a quick reminder, … Read more
Key Points: 1. When something challenges a strongly-held identity, it often feels like being faced with death. 2. No single part of your self-constructed identity is truly integral to you. But, it often feels that way. 3. When you understand that this isn’t actually true, life becomes much easier, happier, and more fun. Estimated Reading … Read more
Key Points: 1. Thoughts are like reflexes, mostly automatic. 2. You can choose whether or not to believe them and act upon them. 3. Life is happier and simpler when you know this. Estimated Reading Time: 5-10 minutes When I say, “You are not your thoughts,” what I mean is that any thought you have … Read more