Taming the monkey mind

by Chris on June 20, 2011

We all have one… a monkey mind. What is it? It is the phenomenon of the uncontrolled, unquiet mind. The mind that is constantly bombarded with thoughts of every kind. Sometimes the thoughts are related, and a lot of times they are not. In fact, when we are not actively engaged in some specific activity that requires concentration – and sometimes even when we are – many of our thoughts are random. And there are lots of thoughts!

And these are just the thoughts we are aware of! (See my blog post on unconscious thoughts). [click to continue…]

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The paradox of acceptance

by Chris June 6, 2011

Suffering = Pain x Resistance This is a formula developed by Buddhist teacher Shinzen Young to describe how our suffering is not caused by the pain (physical, emotional, or psychological) we experience, but by our resistance of it. In other words, suffering is not caused by the actual events that we experience, but by our [...]

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What is integrity?

by Chris May 5, 2011

Integrity is another of those slippery concepts, much like “character.” When people talk about integrity, they often do so in the context of being honest. This is certainly an aspect of integrity. However, this honesty extends beyond telling the truth to others. More importantly, integrity means being truthful with ourselves. For the purposes of this [...]

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The power of words

by Chris May 3, 2011

Although I love YouTube, and there is a ton of great content on it, I typically do not republish. However, this video is an exception. It is beautiful in its simplicity and power. What do you think?

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What is “character”?

by Chris May 2, 2011

Character is a slippery topic. Do a Google search on character and you will find dozens of different definitions and concepts of character. Many of these focus on moral qualities, such as trustworthiness, honesty, loyalty, courage, etc. But these qualities, while they may contribute to character, do not really capture the essence of what having [...]

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Who is your best friend?

by Chris February 3, 2011

A few years ago I had a client whose chief complaint was that he had difficulty building and maintaining good relationships. He felt he was in a state of near constant conflict with others. He argued with his family, his girlfriend, his friends, and his co-workers. In fact, the “final straw,” and why he decided [...]

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How to prioritize your ideas for best results

by Chris January 4, 2011

Last week I wrote about how I ensure, or at least try to ensure, that I do not lose my best ideas. (When I speak of ideas in this context, I am speaking of ideas for projects, not abstract ideas, like, “Wow! That eclipse the other night was funky!”). As I mentioned, I get a [...]

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A different strategy for New Year’s resolutions

by Chris December 30, 2010

Each year at about this time I, like most people, sit down and set my goals for the coming year. Typically, I open up the file where my goals from the previous year are kept, and take stock of my achievements. I am never really disappointed, but I often find that while I have accomplished [...]

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When inspiration strikes

by Chris December 27, 2010

Inspiration doesn’t usually follow a schedule, at least not for me. Many of my ideas seem to flash across my neural network (aka come into my mind) at rather inconvenient times, like when I am driving, just about to fall asleep, or at other times when pen and paper aren’t handy, or when I simply [...]

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6 tips to getting a better night’s sleep

by Chris November 14, 2010

Adequate sleep is a must for everybody. Without it, our bodies and minds rapidly degenerate. Prolonged periods without sleep, or without enough sleep, can result in serious medical and psychological conditions, such as reducing the immune system’s ability to fight off disease, or even hallucinations.

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