Maintaining Peace in Chaotic Times
There can be no doubt that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought us into extra-turbulent times. Despite it having no direct impact on me, my family, or my job, I have found myself “doomscrolling” on Twitter and Facebook already a few times today, eagerly seeking for more news: something somehow definitive. And yet, in the early fog of war, everything is unclear. And so the scrolling continues. And then
What it Means to Be an Island Unto Ourselves
In a famous teaching of the Buddha, he advises his monks to “be islands unto yourselves,” to be their own refuge and to have no other, except, perhaps truth itself. The reasoning, he explains, is that all things are impermanent and change drives most of us to despair. Focusing on ourselves, the wisdom goes, we can work on making positive change where we are most capable and it is often
4 Myths about Mindfulness Practice
Six years ago, as I was finishing up my PhD in Buddhist ethics, I moved back to Missoula, Montana. I had a part-time job teaching philosophy for a community college, but wanted to do more with my time. So a friend convinced me to teach her meditation. Then she suggested I teach some friends. And then they suggested I reach out to a friend who had a yoga studio to
“Tools of Titans” – 15 Great Ideas
As counselors in Missoula, we're always looking for new ideas. And Tim Ferris's book "Tools of Titans" is filled with them. So back by popular demand, okay, not really, but it's really cool - let’s look at part 2 of the “Wealthy Section” of Tim Ferris’s book “Tools of Titans”. This was one of the best books of 2017. As we turn to this section we get hit with 2
Building a Long, Happy Life
There’s an old joke about a man at his friend’s 50th birthday asking, “how does it feel now that you’re getting older?” The man thinks for a minute and responds, “well, it sure beats the alternative.” Getting older in our culture is sometimes treated as a curse. The pop stars seem like they are always in their 20s. When we’re younger, they are the beautiful icons. Then as we get
Reflections on Love (Post-Valentine’s Day)
First off, happy (post) Valentine’s Day! It’s a day of love, of showing affection, and of reveling in the beauty of relationship. Or is it? For many, it’s a tough day. Those in tough relationships or those having a hard time finding that special someone can find the whole affair off-putting at best and downright depressing at worst. Whether we are single, happily coupled, miserably coupled, exploring polyamory, or somewhere