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…

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…

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other. Read more…

There may be character and physical traits that we don’t like about ourselves, even if we have an overall good self-esteem. Many people have low self-esteems and therefore can’t stand many of their personal traits. I am all for changing that which we do not like about ourselves providing that the changes are possible and for the better. There are certain traits however that we will not be able to change and still others that will take some time. So, why not be kind to yourself while you’re trying to change that which can be changed and learn to accept that which cannot? Read more…

Have you ever noticed that when you’re angry it’s difficult to feel anything else? I’m guessing that you’re not feeling very happy when you’re angry. What about acceptance? Have you ever noticed where your acceptance level is when you’re angry? Read more…

As I touched on in the post titled Letting Go, we become afraid at the thought losing what we possess or of not getting what we want. In other words, when we don’t get our way we become afraid or upset in some way. So, what might you do when you find yourself in such a situation? Do you smile and accept the way things are or do you try to control the situation or other people so that you can keep what you have or get what you want? Which way do you think might bring you peace and happiness? Read more…

Most of our fears can be put into one of two categories. Fear of not getting what we want or fear of losing what we have. Most of our negative reactions to life result from a lack of acceptance. We are afraid and we don’t accept because of our lack of faith in a Higher Power or to put it another way, we don’t trust in the way things are. Did I rub anybody the wrong way yet? Read more…

Although you may want to feel good and be happy, you may still feel bad and be unhappy. You may blame your unhappiness on external circumstances such as loss of a job or loss of a home. These examples are certainly reasons to be unhappy, right? Or maybe it’s snowing and you just don’t like the snow and you will not be happy again until it stops snowing and spring arrives. Does any of this sound familiar? Read more…