Wisdom from a Buddhist Monastery on Slowing Down – Musings in Missoula
This summer, the clinical psychologist Diana Hill, Ph.D. and her husband skipped the usual family vacation and took their kids to a Buddhist monastery in southern France. While such a major turn in plans might be out of reach for most of us, there is a lot we can learn from her experience. Diana and her husband were feeling the same burnout that most of us have felt these last
The Benefits of Generosity – Musings in Missoula
Generosity sometimes feels like a virtue from the distant past, like chivalry or thrift. It seems like everyone around us is becoming far more individualistic. Oftentimes, this means they are becoming more cut off from the world. They are more focused on image and self-branding and less focused on community and generosity. In a news report I heard today, Britain’s pubs have issued a dire call for help from the
Letting Go of Grudges – Musings in Missoula
We all hold grudges. But it’s important to know that holding a grudge against others—or even yourself—can cause immediate and lasting harm to your mental health. It can even cause you to feel physically unwell. And if you practice a religion or spirituality, it can cause you to feel out of alignment with the universe. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is a great “letting go” of the unnecessary burden
The Healing Power of Empathy – Musings in Missoula
Empathy is one of the most powerful emotions we have as humans. Many other animals also have empathy. Certainly, if we’ve had pets, we have seen them recognize our suffering at one time or another. There are even stories of wolves adopting the pups of another wolf or animals in captivity such as chimpanzees, elephants, dogs, and cats becoming friends and comforting one-another. Empathy is our ability to emotionally resonate
The Bully Story (Part 1) – Musings in Missoula
Last night I dreamt of my 7th grade bully again. Jason Canine. Yes, like the dog. Plus, his first name is literally Jason, just like the character in “Friday the 13th”. What are the odds? And that he’s been making quite the nocturnal appearances! Which is hysterical because he’s not been in my life at all. I haven’t literally seen the guy in over 30 years. We can say what
The Joys of Seclusion – Musings in Missoula, MT
In this age of instant connectivity, one connection many of us have lost is the one to our inner stillness. It is out of that inner stillness that what is often called our “still quiet voice” might arise. And as many of us know, listening to that quiet voice often leads to the greatest changes and joys in our life. As a long-time meditator here in Missoula, I have learned