If we use an inferior recipe for baking bread, the bread will also be inferior. This is obvious: if we substitute sawdust for half the flour the recipe calls for, we can still make bread, but its quality will be awful and its taste will be horrible. We create similar...
Reversing psychic self-destruction can be greatly assisted by seeking guidance from higher intelligence. But it is one thing to know that such guidance can be tapped, and quite another to discover the actual steps that lead us to this resource. Some naïvely expect...
An old question poses an important paradox for all who struggle with the problems of life. “Should we condemn a rose for having thorns, or rejoice that it is a beautiful, fragrant flower?” This inquiry challenges how we see our world. Do we focus predominantly on the...
The initial steps for managing severe physical or mental health problems focus on controlling symptoms. We want treatment for our distress. The emotional bleeding of regret and anxiety must be curtailed. The paralysis of hesitation and doubt must be relieved....
Possessing brilliant ideas and good intentions does not automatically guarantee great results. Many people become frustrated when their good plans produce few or no achievements. Even after engaging the powerful Law of Attraction, little change may occur. Clearly,...
Sometimes our annoyance with distress narrows into an obsession about getting rid of what we do not want. Whether our concern is a bad mood, chronic fatigue, or some other problem, we assume that our success and contentment depend on removing these obstacles. While...
As we have seen, sustained resentment is one of the most destructive ways we harm ourself. Many of us waste enormous amounts of energy in chronic recriminations and irritation focused on those who have harmed us. The wheels of anger go round and round as if we could...
When we find ourself in the dark, a flashlight can help us see where we are and how to proceed. In the same way, whenever we are in doubt about what to do, the equivalent of a flashlight can help us search into the darkness of ignorance and uncertainty. We need to...
Mindfulness is the perfect complement to detachment. It allows us to use the calm, thoughtful state of mind created by detachment for repair and healing. By stepping back from our usual level of involvement in our mundane experiences, we gain access to our best...
The practical demands of physical life require us to concentrate on our duties and obligations. Unless we can stand back to examine what we are doing and where we are heading, we will let immediate demands on our thinking and behavior assume control of our life. By...
