Are you stressed out? Why do we become stressed? Can you touch stress? Can you see stress? Can you smell stress? Can anyone go out and get me some stress? Where exactly is stress anyway? Are you getting the point here? Stress only exists within each of us which is actually a good thing because that means that we have some control over it. Read more…

There are Four Noble Truths that were taught by the Buddha. The first pertains to Dukkha or suffering, and states in part that “there is suffering”. The Buddha said “what is the Noble Truth of Suffering? Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness is suffering, dissociation from the loved is suffering, not to get what one wants is suffering: in short the five categories affected by clinging are suffering.” Read more…

So, just what do we need to do to change? Well, the first step to change is awareness and this will be the basis of this post. Sure, we can debate whether or not awareness is actually the first step but the point is that it is important to possess awareness if we want to change. If we are not aware of what needs to be changed, how shall we change? Read more…

I thought I would post some tweets

- Life is as good or bad as I make it. I always have blessings, whether or not I choose to see them is entirely up to me.

- It’s fascinating just how happy & at peace I am when I am not consumed with me, myself & I.

-When I’m consumed with self, I’m consumed with self-centered fear, which ruins everything. No self, no self-centered fear. Simple really. Read more…

I am sure the title of this post will irritate a few people but, for the most part, it is a true statement. I was engaged in back and forth emails with someone and they suggested that I post one of the emails that I wrote to them. So, after a little editing, here it is. Read more…

This post lists some basic child raising philosophies. The format of the post is a bit unusual in the sense that it is in the form of a letter written by someone with a child, to someone who was to care for the child, from time to time. I think the premise of the letter is a great idea and the points made are even better. I have changed the name of the child in the letter to protect the family’s anonymity and edited it slightly so as to better suit the format of the post. If this post helps so much as one child have a healthier, happier upbringing, then it will be a success. Read more…

Thoughts, for the most part, are conditioned and can be changed. Although blaming the way we think on our parents and how we were raised may in fact be accurate, as adults, it is our responsibility to change the way we think. Our thought processes can be changed through awareness and effort, which is a typical combination for any change. Read more…

Is life complicated or do we just make it so? I believe life is much simpler than we make it. I am sure there will be many of you who are reading this saying to yourselves “life is complicated, what’s he talking about? He doesn’t understand all of the problems I have and they are definitely not simple problems.” If you are thinking along these lines right now or have had similar thoughts in the past, then I say to you, you’re complicating things Read more…

This is part II of Is Venting Good for You

There is a fine line between therapeutic talking and the type of talking that makes your problems bigger. I am walking a tight rope here, I know, as there are most definitely times when we need to discuss our problems in order to find a resolution. Perhaps you are the type that bottles up your feelings and emotions which results in other personal problems. Well then maybe you need to talk more. But maybe instead of talking about your problems, you rehash them over and over in your mind. Either way, talking or thinking too much about life’s problems, can make the problems bigger, not better. Read more…

Have you ever wondered if venting was a useful way to release your emotions? Simply put, is venting good for you? I guess that depends on what you mean by venting. If by venting you mean screaming, yelling, ranting or raving about your problems, feelings and emotions with anger, then no, venting is not good. Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “yea, but releasing my emotions that way is necessary, if I keep them bottled up inside, I’ll explode one day.” That would be an understandable way to think, but not a wise one. Besides, if you are screaming, yelling, ranting or raving, then to some degree, you are already exploding. Read more…