Counselor Corner: Cutting Ties with Malignant Narcissists
A psychopathic narcissist, often known as a malignant narcissist, is a person who displays characteristics of both narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders, and in some cases, traits of psychopathy as well. This combination often results in a complex and potentially harmful personality type that can cause significant distress to those they interact with. Such individuals are usually marked by an excessive sense of self-importance and entitlement, and they often lack
Counselor Corner: The Art of Forgiveness
Just the other day, I ran into an old friend of mine, Sheila. Our friendship had been on a long pause, stretching back years before the Covid era. The incident that caused our rift was rather mundane - it took place in a Target store. Having forgotten my wallet, I borrowed 5 dollars from Sheila for a trinket that had caught my eye. I thanked her and promised to repay
Counselor Corner: The Joy and Wisdom of Letting Go
When I was a Missoula undergraduate student in philosophy at the University of Montana some 20 years ago, I attended a Buddhism event led by the late Alan Sponberg, then the professor of Buddhism at UM. He invited us all to summarize Buddhism in just three words as a sort of exercise. “Hmmm, I thought, how about: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.” These, of course, are the “three refuges” of Buddhism. It
AI is Now in Our Music and Art … Thus, Is AI Making Our Life Pointless?
"Oh my God I can't watch. If computers turn out to be more artistic than we are, then life is truly pointless. Love you buddy but I can't watch. Too vulnerable right now." These anguished words came from my dear friend and musical compatriot of over 20 years, Curtis. I had just sent him a new song: an AI-rendered track from YouTube, where artificial intelligence had refashioned an Oasis song
Counselor Corner: Ancient Wisdom From a TV Weatherman
In an era defined by the pressing challenges of climate change, personal reflection and effective communication strategies are crucial for fostering collective action. Recently, a TV weatherman took to Twitter, advocating for a more compassionate approach to addressing climate change. His message resonates with the principles of Buddhism, which also emphasizes the power of truth, wisdom, and understanding. In his Tweet, Jeff Berardelli, a TV meteorologist in Florida who has
Counselor Corner: Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional Wellbeing (SPIRE)
Are we responsible for our own happiness? Can we think or act in ways to manufacture a happier life? Or is our happiness level now likely to determine how happy we are throughout our lives? In this blog post I will delve into a model for happiness devised by the Harvard psychology professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, known as the SPIRE model. I’ll use myself as a test case for some things