Empathy and overcoming Bullies
As I embark on the journey of parenting, I join all of the other parents out there in wanting the very best for my child. And among the many concerns we have is that she not become a bully or a target for one. Already at the age of two, I’ve watched with some degree of horror as some older kids have played very rough with her, reducing her to
On Cosmology and Clear Perception
One of the central insights of Buddhist psychology is that our preferences shape our perception. Other factors, like mood and energy levels play an important part as well. Realizing this, we can see that shaping our minds can literally shape the world as we experience it. This goes against the common-sense idea that what we perceive is simply what’s around us. After all, whether I get great rest or have
Book Summaries: “Tribe of Mentors” by Tim Ferriss – 5 More Great Ideas
Here at Sunflower Counseling, we love great ideas that can improve our lives. With this said, here are 5 great ideas from "Tribe of Mentors" by Tim Ferriss - let's do a countdown: #5 Terry Crews, former NFL player, actor and writer told Tim that his favorite book is "The Master Key System" by Charles F. Haanel. He said: "I have read hundreds of personal development books, but this is
Forgiving Oneself and Others
One of the side-effects of a regular mindfulness practice is that “stuff” comes up. Distant memories, as vivid as if they had just happened, can play out in the mind’s eye during a period of meditation. And the feelings that accompany them, too, can be strikingly powerful. For some meditators, without strong dedication to their practice and guidance, this can be overwhelming. Many people will quit meditation at the first
Take a Class on Happiness
About 15 years ago, well into my student life as a philosophy and religious studies scholar, Harvard and Yale began offering classes on “Happiness.” Without fail, both classes became the university’s most popular class. Of course, philosophers have been debating the nature of happiness for 2500 years or more. For Socrates, it is tied up in self-knowledge. For Aristotle, it is a life of virtue. The English philosophers Jeremy Bentham
Local Actions and the Emotional Roller Coaster
We’re two years into the coronavirus pandemic. Or are we two weeks into the post-pandemic? Sometimes it’s hard to keep track. Since last fall I’ve been hearing that we’re in or will soon enter a post-pandemic phase of life. But then a new variant comes along. Delta. Omicron. Son-of-Omicron. Deltacron! It’s like we’re watching one of those zombie movies and the producers ran out of good ideas. “Let’s do zombies!”