“Personal awareness precedes personal transformation”
If you’re tired of people, look no further than yourself.
That’s right – take a look at you.
There’s only one person you can change, and that’s you!
Self-awareness is having the ability to step back and see yourself from a distance, to analyze your internal dialogue, and to examine your agendas and expectations.
The most important part (and the hardest part) is to observe all these things from a nonjudgmental perspective. When it comes to personal perspectives we are all guilty of cognitive biases and blind spots that work against our quest for self-knowledge.
Follow these steps:
- Awareness of the internal dialogue
- Clarify and evaluate the thoughts (don't judge)
- Acceptance (change what you can change - let go of what you cannot)
“Know thy self; the unexamined life is not worth living” - Socrates
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Mastery of Self
The anxious sense of self
Forged in a flawed reality
The blind internal drives
Percolating in the cortex just beneath
Ubiquitous is the struggle
Antiquities impressions preside
Reptilian hardwired features
Dominance – an extreme will to survive
Anxiety, fear, and anger
Emotions hard to please
Audacious insatiable appetites
Malignant cancerous disease
The struggle - the fight
A metaphorical demonic hold
We fall - dropping to our knees
Surrendering to our insufferable lonely souls
A metamorphosis occurs
Emerging - as if from a really bad dream
Awareness to the Truth
Nothing - is as it seems
We’re not worthless and dirty
Decrepit and weak
We’re a conscious creature of habit
That’s what makes us special and unique
The subconscious desires are what move us
They indiscriminately influence our lives
But consumed in abundance
Tragically – will lead to our demise
So be ravenous in moderation
Temper - don’t deny
Learn to live in the present moment
Be real – not a fictitious virtuous disguise
Awareness of our human nature
Acceptance – the glory; the triumph of our past
Appreciation for this opportunity
Autonomy - liberation manifest at last
The Mastery of Self
Striving to fulfill all that be one can be
Transcending all self-expectations
Profound – a unique master in modernity
Forged in a flawed reality
The blind internal drives
Percolating in the cortex just beneath
Ubiquitous is the struggle
Antiquities impressions preside
Reptilian hardwired features
Dominance – an extreme will to survive
Anxiety, fear, and anger
Emotions hard to please
Audacious insatiable appetites
Malignant cancerous disease
The struggle - the fight
A metaphorical demonic hold
We fall - dropping to our knees
Surrendering to our insufferable lonely souls
A metamorphosis occurs
Emerging - as if from a really bad dream
Awareness to the Truth
Nothing - is as it seems
We’re not worthless and dirty
Decrepit and weak
We’re a conscious creature of habit
That’s what makes us special and unique
The subconscious desires are what move us
They indiscriminately influence our lives
But consumed in abundance
Tragically – will lead to our demise
So be ravenous in moderation
Temper - don’t deny
Learn to live in the present moment
Be real – not a fictitious virtuous disguise
Awareness of our human nature
Acceptance – the glory; the triumph of our past
Appreciation for this opportunity
Autonomy - liberation manifest at last
The Mastery of Self
Striving to fulfill all that be one can be
Transcending all self-expectations
Profound – a unique master in modernity
Friday, October 19, 2018
CBT Disputing Negative Thoughts
If you find that you are feeling angry, depressed, upset, or anxious, take this as a clue to examine your thinking. Make a habit of using your negative feelings as a cue to begin the Disputing Negative Thoughts practice.
Reality Testing
-What is my evidence for and against my thinking?
-Are my thoughts factual, or are they just my interpretations?
-Am I jumping to negative conclusions?
-How can I find out if my thoughts are actually true?
If your thought is a core belief, write it out and ask yourself, “Is this thought 100% true ALL of the time?”. Begin creating a list of any and all instances you find that are not true.
Look for Alternate Explanations
-Are there any other ways that I could look at this situation?
-What else could this mean?
-If I were being positive, how would I perceive this situation?
Put Things in Perspective
When you are feeling upset, you are likely to think about things in a way that is much more extreme than the actual situation. This can make the negative feelings a lot worse. Putting things in perspective, can help you to reduce this extreme self-talk.
-Is this situation as bad as I am making out to be?
-What is the worst thing that could happen? How likely is it?
-What is the best thing that could happen?
-What is most likely to happen?
-Is there anything good about this situation?
-Will this matter in five years’ time?
Use Goal-directed Thinking – Recognizing that your current way of thinking might be self-defeating can sometimes motivate you to look at things from a different perspective.
-Is thinking this way helping me to feel good or to achieve my goals?
-What can I do that will help me solve the problem?
-Is there something I can learn from this situation, to help me do it better next time?
Do a cost-benefit analysis of believing your thought. Ask yourself, “How will it help me to believe this thought?” and “How does it hurt me to believe this thought?”. Write down your answers and decide if believing this thought is more harmful than good. If so practice choosing to let it go, or opening to the possibility that your thought is not true.
History
This technique is one of the core practices of cognitive therapy. This direction in therapy was mainly pioneered by Aaron Beck.
Reality Testing
-What is my evidence for and against my thinking?
-Are my thoughts factual, or are they just my interpretations?
-Am I jumping to negative conclusions?
-How can I find out if my thoughts are actually true?
If your thought is a core belief, write it out and ask yourself, “Is this thought 100% true ALL of the time?”. Begin creating a list of any and all instances you find that are not true.
Look for Alternate Explanations
-Are there any other ways that I could look at this situation?
-What else could this mean?
-If I were being positive, how would I perceive this situation?
Put Things in Perspective
When you are feeling upset, you are likely to think about things in a way that is much more extreme than the actual situation. This can make the negative feelings a lot worse. Putting things in perspective, can help you to reduce this extreme self-talk.
-Is this situation as bad as I am making out to be?
-What is the worst thing that could happen? How likely is it?
-What is the best thing that could happen?
-What is most likely to happen?
-Is there anything good about this situation?
-Will this matter in five years’ time?
Use Goal-directed Thinking – Recognizing that your current way of thinking might be self-defeating can sometimes motivate you to look at things from a different perspective.
-Is thinking this way helping me to feel good or to achieve my goals?
-What can I do that will help me solve the problem?
-Is there something I can learn from this situation, to help me do it better next time?
Do a cost-benefit analysis of believing your thought. Ask yourself, “How will it help me to believe this thought?” and “How does it hurt me to believe this thought?”. Write down your answers and decide if believing this thought is more harmful than good. If so practice choosing to let it go, or opening to the possibility that your thought is not true.
History
This technique is one of the core practices of cognitive therapy. This direction in therapy was mainly pioneered by Aaron Beck.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Journal to Self-Awareness
Journaling is the first step in self-awareness. A thought is fleeting; a paragraph is reflective.
Let’s start this year off with a different approach. Rather than looking externally for “fixes”, let’s look internally for “resolutions”.
There are many ways to self-reflect, but keeping a journal and reading it out loud is one of the best ways to gain insight to your thoughts which create your universe.
Epictetus said, “Write them, read them aloud, and talk to yourself and others about them.”
Journaling is important because it creates a space amid the relentless mind chatter from which to pause, collect, organize and untangle. Journaling enables us to set things down, sort through them, unpack them, understand them and heal them. I believe that keeping a journal is one of the healthiest things that we can do, fundamental to emotional well-being and on a par with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and plenty of sleep.
I’ve included several Stoic thoughts that can serve as a reminder as well as providing a clearer view regarding our perspectives.
As Marcus Aurelius’ said, “The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your thoughts”
Now put your thoughts down on paper!
Clarity — Remember, the most important task is to separate the things that are in your control from those that are not in your control. This allows us to get real clarity about what to focus on in life.
“It’s not activity that disrupts people, but false conceptions of things that drive them mad.” Seneca
Equanimity — (Mental calmness) Passions are the source of suffering. “A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent,” Marcus Aurelius reminded himself, “and such a person has strength, courage and endurance—unlike the angry and the complaining.” Calmness is strength.
Awareness — Accurate self-assessment is essential. Know thyself, was the dictum from the Oracle at Delphi. Knowing your strengths is just as important as knowledge of your weakness, and ignorance of either is ego.
“Nothing is more hostile to a firm grasp on knowledge than self-deception.” Zeno
Unbiased Thought —command to himself. Our life is colored by our thoughts, and so to be driven by this bias or that bias—this delusion or that false impression—is to send your whole existence off-kilter.
“Objective judgement, now at this very moment,” -Marcus Aurelius
Right Action — It’s not just about clear thoughts, but clear thoughts that lead to clear and right action.
“First, tell yourself what kind of person you want to be; then do what you have to do.”-Epictetus
“Don’t talk about what a good man is like. Be one.” -Marcus Aurelius
Problem Solving — Are you vexed by daily obstacles or do you throw yourself into solving them? “This is what we’re here for,” Seneca said. No one said life was easy. No one said it would be fair. Let’s make progress where we can.
Duty — “Whatever anyone does or says,” “I’m bound to the good...Whatever anyone does or says, I must be what I am and show my true colors.” -Marcus Aurelius
He was talking about duty. Duty to his country, to his family, to humankind, to his talents, to the philosophy he had learned. (Don’t preach your philosophy; embody it!)
Pragmatism — If the food is bitter, toss it out. If there are brambles in the path, go around. Don’t expect perfection. Be ready to be flexible and creative. Life demands it.
Resiliency — Do you want to count on good luck (passive) or be prepared for anything that happens (prepared)? “Let come what may” because we have cultivated inner-strength and resilience.
Kindness — Be hard on yourself, and understanding of others. See every person you meet, as an opportunity for kindness and compassion. Nothing can stop you from being virtuous, from being good. That’s on you.
Amor Fati — Don’t just accept what happens, love it! Because it’s for the best. Because you will make it for the best. Embrace everything with a smile. Every obstacle provides a path for growth…for adaptation
Memento Mori — We’re strong but we’re not invincible. We were born mortal and nothing can change that.
Seneca said, “prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life.” Let us put nothing off, let us live each moment fully.
Let’s start this year off with a different approach. Rather than looking externally for “fixes”, let’s look internally for “resolutions”.
There are many ways to self-reflect, but keeping a journal and reading it out loud is one of the best ways to gain insight to your thoughts which create your universe.
Epictetus said, “Write them, read them aloud, and talk to yourself and others about them.”
Journaling is important because it creates a space amid the relentless mind chatter from which to pause, collect, organize and untangle. Journaling enables us to set things down, sort through them, unpack them, understand them and heal them. I believe that keeping a journal is one of the healthiest things that we can do, fundamental to emotional well-being and on a par with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and plenty of sleep.
I’ve included several Stoic thoughts that can serve as a reminder as well as providing a clearer view regarding our perspectives.
As Marcus Aurelius’ said, “The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your thoughts”
Now put your thoughts down on paper!
Clarity — Remember, the most important task is to separate the things that are in your control from those that are not in your control. This allows us to get real clarity about what to focus on in life.
“It’s not activity that disrupts people, but false conceptions of things that drive them mad.” Seneca
Equanimity — (Mental calmness) Passions are the source of suffering. “A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent,” Marcus Aurelius reminded himself, “and such a person has strength, courage and endurance—unlike the angry and the complaining.” Calmness is strength.
Awareness — Accurate self-assessment is essential. Know thyself, was the dictum from the Oracle at Delphi. Knowing your strengths is just as important as knowledge of your weakness, and ignorance of either is ego.
“Nothing is more hostile to a firm grasp on knowledge than self-deception.” Zeno
Unbiased Thought —command to himself. Our life is colored by our thoughts, and so to be driven by this bias or that bias—this delusion or that false impression—is to send your whole existence off-kilter.
“Objective judgement, now at this very moment,” -Marcus Aurelius
Right Action — It’s not just about clear thoughts, but clear thoughts that lead to clear and right action.
“First, tell yourself what kind of person you want to be; then do what you have to do.”-Epictetus
“Don’t talk about what a good man is like. Be one.” -Marcus Aurelius
Problem Solving — Are you vexed by daily obstacles or do you throw yourself into solving them? “This is what we’re here for,” Seneca said. No one said life was easy. No one said it would be fair. Let’s make progress where we can.
Duty — “Whatever anyone does or says,” “I’m bound to the good...Whatever anyone does or says, I must be what I am and show my true colors.” -Marcus Aurelius
He was talking about duty. Duty to his country, to his family, to humankind, to his talents, to the philosophy he had learned. (Don’t preach your philosophy; embody it!)
Pragmatism — If the food is bitter, toss it out. If there are brambles in the path, go around. Don’t expect perfection. Be ready to be flexible and creative. Life demands it.
Resiliency — Do you want to count on good luck (passive) or be prepared for anything that happens (prepared)? “Let come what may” because we have cultivated inner-strength and resilience.
Kindness — Be hard on yourself, and understanding of others. See every person you meet, as an opportunity for kindness and compassion. Nothing can stop you from being virtuous, from being good. That’s on you.
Amor Fati — Don’t just accept what happens, love it! Because it’s for the best. Because you will make it for the best. Embrace everything with a smile. Every obstacle provides a path for growth…for adaptation
Memento Mori — We’re strong but we’re not invincible. We were born mortal and nothing can change that.
Seneca said, “prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life.” Let us put nothing off, let us live each moment fully.
Monday, October 16, 2017
The Diet ‘khor ba (Circling)
“I yearn to be free of pain, but rush straight to it; I long for happiness, but foolishly crush it like an enemy” -Shantideva
‘khor ba, in Tibetan means circling, This “circling” is an endless round of compulsive flight and fixation. We feel compelled to struggle ahead completely blinded by the emotional highs that bring us right back to where we first began.
Optimism- This time is different!!!
Excitement- This is new!!!
Thrill- I’m seeing changes!!!!!
Cockiness- Haters gonna hate!!!!
Euphoria- Look at me now!!!!!
Anxiety- How can I keep this up?
Denial- This can’t be happening?
Fear- What will they think?
Desperation- What will I do?
Panic- No!!!!
Capitulation- I quit
Despondency- There’s absolutely no hope
Depression- There’s nothing left
Hope relief- This sounds interesting?
Optimism- This time is different!!!
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth, only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”
-C.S. Lewis
‘khor ba, in Tibetan means circling, This “circling” is an endless round of compulsive flight and fixation. We feel compelled to struggle ahead completely blinded by the emotional highs that bring us right back to where we first began.
Optimism- This time is different!!!
Excitement- This is new!!!
Thrill- I’m seeing changes!!!!!
Cockiness- Haters gonna hate!!!!
Euphoria- Look at me now!!!!!
Anxiety- How can I keep this up?
Denial- This can’t be happening?
Fear- What will they think?
Desperation- What will I do?
Panic- No!!!!
Capitulation- I quit
Despondency- There’s absolutely no hope
Depression- There’s nothing left
Hope relief- This sounds interesting?
Optimism- This time is different!!!
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth, only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”
-C.S. Lewis
Friday, October 13, 2017
IT’S NOT THE FOOD!
Personal awareness precedes personal transformation
Tips:
Paradigm Shift - A fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions
The reason we don’t change for long is because we have a set of beliefs that keep us who we are, not who we want to be
Things don’t change…we change
Traditional Method (externals)
What?
What can I do to lose weight?
How?
I’m going to restrict my food, and exercise more
Why?
I want to look better
Transformation Method (internals)
What?
What can I do to get what I want out of life?
How?
Personal awareness of thoughts
-Internals are primary (self-awareness)
- External are secondary (diets, exercise)
Why?
Because I’m important and I want to fully experience all of what life has to give.
Tips:
Paradigm Shift - A fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions
The reason we don’t change for long is because we have a set of beliefs that keep us who we are, not who we want to be
Things don’t change…we change
Traditional Method (externals)
What?
What can I do to lose weight?
How?
I’m going to restrict my food, and exercise more
Why?
I want to look better
Transformation Method (internals)
What?
What can I do to get what I want out of life?
How?
Personal awareness of thoughts
-Internals are primary (self-awareness)
- External are secondary (diets, exercise)
Why?
Because I’m important and I want to fully experience all of what life has to give.
“The day you decide you are more interested in being aware
of your thoughts than you are in the thoughts themselves - that is the day you
will find your way out” - Michael Singer
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
5 Steps to Euthymia
Eu.thy.mia (yu-thi-me-a) Energetic tranquility
Principle 1: Acknowledge
There is only one person you can change. You can’t change things outside of your control.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Be mindful…Recognize/accept the events in your life that you do and don’t have control over. If you focus on events outside of your control, you are wasting energy and fostering negative emotions. You can’t change events; you can only change your attitude towards them. Through this realization our mind can become impenetrable. So long as we can control our attitudes and reactions, we can very well never be negatively influenced by outside events.
Principle 2: Contentment
Don’t fall prey to modern society’s materialistic nature.
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
― Epictetus
You can't buy happiness. Tranquility is something that comes from within.
“There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind” -The Zack Brown Band
Principle 3: Appreciation/Gratitude
Picture life without the people and possessions you have to truly appreciate them.
“Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
We’ve realized now that wanting more leads to dissatisfaction…so how do we find happiness? The key lies in gratitude. We must appreciate all that we have and find joy in it. Ironically, in modern times, we already have everything we need.
Principle 4: Do the right thing
Be genuinely cheerful (passion) in all your interactions. “A man thus grounded must, whether he wills or not, necessarily be attended by constant cheerfulness and a joy that is deep and issues from deep within, since he finds delight in his own resources, and desires no joys greater than his inner joys.”― Seneca
Now, utilizing the stoic principles, our happiness can become independent of other factors; we should be cheerful all the time as stoics because we desire nothing more than human experience. If we desired more, we could allow ourselves to be disappointed. This doesn’t mean that stoics can’t enjoy the finer things in life…it just means we shouldn’t think of them as necessary for our happiness. Only providing goodness to the world through helping people and advancing society…something we each are able to do on a daily basis, can make us truly fulfilled.
Principle 5: Embody
Practicing your values beats preaching them.
“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”
― Epictetus
Stoicism must be practiced if you want to influence the world in a better way. Ask yourself regularly, “What’s the best way to act in this situation?” You should be looking to make choices based on your personal values to increase the greater good. Live by your moral code.
To Summarize:
-Don’t get caught up in materialism
-Let your cheerful attitude (passion) elevate your colleagues to bring them up; perform work diligently and for the greater good
-Recognize and acknowledge what’s in and out of your control…don’t let things out of your control affect your joy
-When frustrating things happen, breathe, recognize your emotion and the reason for it, and let it pass. You can’t do anything about it anyway. All that you can control is your reaction, and all you can do is embody goodness and appreciate all you have, which is something I’m sure we’ll all find joy in.
"You are here for my benefit, though rumor paints you otherwise." And everything is turned to one's advantage when he greets a situation like this: You are the very thing I was looking for. Truly whatever arises in life is the right material to bring about your growth and the growth of those around you. This, in a word, is art -- and this art called "life" is a practice suitable to both men and gods. Everything contains some special purpose and a hidden blessing; what then could be strange or arduous when all of life is here to greet you like an old and faithful friend?” -Marcus Aurelius
Principle 1: Acknowledge
There is only one person you can change. You can’t change things outside of your control.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Be mindful…Recognize/accept the events in your life that you do and don’t have control over. If you focus on events outside of your control, you are wasting energy and fostering negative emotions. You can’t change events; you can only change your attitude towards them. Through this realization our mind can become impenetrable. So long as we can control our attitudes and reactions, we can very well never be negatively influenced by outside events.
Principle 2: Contentment
Don’t fall prey to modern society’s materialistic nature.
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
― Epictetus
You can't buy happiness. Tranquility is something that comes from within.
“There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind” -The Zack Brown Band
Principle 3: Appreciation/Gratitude
Picture life without the people and possessions you have to truly appreciate them.
“Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
We’ve realized now that wanting more leads to dissatisfaction…so how do we find happiness? The key lies in gratitude. We must appreciate all that we have and find joy in it. Ironically, in modern times, we already have everything we need.
Principle 4: Do the right thing
Be genuinely cheerful (passion) in all your interactions. “A man thus grounded must, whether he wills or not, necessarily be attended by constant cheerfulness and a joy that is deep and issues from deep within, since he finds delight in his own resources, and desires no joys greater than his inner joys.”― Seneca
Now, utilizing the stoic principles, our happiness can become independent of other factors; we should be cheerful all the time as stoics because we desire nothing more than human experience. If we desired more, we could allow ourselves to be disappointed. This doesn’t mean that stoics can’t enjoy the finer things in life…it just means we shouldn’t think of them as necessary for our happiness. Only providing goodness to the world through helping people and advancing society…something we each are able to do on a daily basis, can make us truly fulfilled.
Principle 5: Embody
Practicing your values beats preaching them.
“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”
― Epictetus
Stoicism must be practiced if you want to influence the world in a better way. Ask yourself regularly, “What’s the best way to act in this situation?” You should be looking to make choices based on your personal values to increase the greater good. Live by your moral code.
To Summarize:
-Don’t get caught up in materialism
-Let your cheerful attitude (passion) elevate your colleagues to bring them up; perform work diligently and for the greater good
-Recognize and acknowledge what’s in and out of your control…don’t let things out of your control affect your joy
-When frustrating things happen, breathe, recognize your emotion and the reason for it, and let it pass. You can’t do anything about it anyway. All that you can control is your reaction, and all you can do is embody goodness and appreciate all you have, which is something I’m sure we’ll all find joy in.
"You are here for my benefit, though rumor paints you otherwise." And everything is turned to one's advantage when he greets a situation like this: You are the very thing I was looking for. Truly whatever arises in life is the right material to bring about your growth and the growth of those around you. This, in a word, is art -- and this art called "life" is a practice suitable to both men and gods. Everything contains some special purpose and a hidden blessing; what then could be strange or arduous when all of life is here to greet you like an old and faithful friend?” -Marcus Aurelius
Monday, October 2, 2017
Amygdala Hijack (Social media)
Have you ever sent an email or posted a Facebook comment that you've dreaded later? If so, there's a high probability that your brain has been hijacked by an ancient structure in the lower mid-brain area that represents our personal "smoke detector". The Amygdala.
Amygdala hijacking is an immediate and disproportionate emotional response to a stimulus that has triggered it. This is because the stimulus is perceived as a threat to one’s emotional stability. This is produced because the amygdala prevents the activation of other areas of the brain, especially the neocortex. Emotions end up dominating the individual’s behavior. Also, it shuts off the area of the brain that makes us more rational... more human.
“Intense negative emotions absorb all of the individual’s attention, serving as an obstacle to any attempt to attend to other things.”
-Daniel Goleman
The frontal area of the cortex that is inhibited in the hijacking is the one responsible for our logical thinking and the planning out of our actions. Instead, the amygdala forms part of the most primitive parts of the brain. It’s the one that regulates our emotions (flight or flight). Thus, our logical thinking winds up subordinated to the command of our emotions.
“You have to keep in mind that impulses are the vehicle of emotions and the seed of every impulse is an expansive feeling that seeks to express itself through action.”
-Daniel Goleman
Amygdala hijacking is an immediate and disproportionate emotional response to a stimulus that has triggered it. This is because the stimulus is perceived as a threat to one’s emotional stability. This is produced because the amygdala prevents the activation of other areas of the brain, especially the neocortex. Emotions end up dominating the individual’s behavior. Also, it shuts off the area of the brain that makes us more rational... more human.
“Intense negative emotions absorb all of the individual’s attention, serving as an obstacle to any attempt to attend to other things.”
-Daniel Goleman
The frontal area of the cortex that is inhibited in the hijacking is the one responsible for our logical thinking and the planning out of our actions. Instead, the amygdala forms part of the most primitive parts of the brain. It’s the one that regulates our emotions (flight or flight). Thus, our logical thinking winds up subordinated to the command of our emotions.
“You have to keep in mind that impulses are the vehicle of emotions and the seed of every impulse is an expansive feeling that seeks to express itself through action.”
-Daniel Goleman
Friday, September 1, 2017
Three Fitness Truths
1. Physical looks are 80% nutrition and 20% exercise
2. Training specificity is extremely important in reaching your goals
-Cardio…You don’t increase caloric expenditure by shrinking your muscles
-Weight training (not circuit training)… Increases caloric expenditure, builds bone density, and aids in preventing injuries in other sports.
3. Your body is a reflection of how you think. The reason we don’t change for long is because we have a set of beliefs that keeps us where we are, not where we want to be
Changing your body is really about changing your mind
2. Training specificity is extremely important in reaching your goals
-Cardio…You don’t increase caloric expenditure by shrinking your muscles
-Weight training (not circuit training)… Increases caloric expenditure, builds bone density, and aids in preventing injuries in other sports.
3. Your body is a reflection of how you think. The reason we don’t change for long is because we have a set of beliefs that keeps us where we are, not where we want to be
Changing your body is really about changing your mind
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Awake: Three Behavioral Truths
1) When the student is ready, the teacher will appear
-We cannot change what we refuse to confront
-Nothing changes; we change
-Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it
-What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while
-Learn to love yourself first, instead of loving the idea of other people loving you
2) A motivated person will not be deterred from achieving their goals
-Don’t think of the cost. Think of the value
-If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse
-Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come
-You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them
-You don’t drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there
-Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together
3) Motivation can only be validated by the efforts made by the individual
-In life, if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything
-You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one
-You will never become who you want to be if you keep blaming everyone else for who you are
-If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.
-Growth demands a temporary surrender of security
Nothing changes; we change
Friday, August 4, 2017
Point of Reference
Thoughts emerge
Emotions illicit fear and pain
Critical egoic attachments
Creates distortions and disdain
In seeing who you’re not
A metamorphosis occurs
The truth has always been there
A little voice was never heard
Awareness of the “now”
Enlightenment to past thoughts
We see the point of reference
The manifestation of flawed ought’s
So love the little one
Who suffered years of pain
There was nothing the child could do
Liberation from self-shame
A whole new world emerges
Our childhood now lights the path
No need for affirmation
Self-esteem has come at last
“In the seeing of who you are not,
the recognition of who you are, emerges”
-Eckhart Tolle
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