Every year, at the start of the year, people ask me about my new year’s resolutions. Usually, I mention a few, like running regularly, eating better, etc. But this year I have no resolutions, only a few intentions. Those include: being mindful, starting slow, and staying consistent.
Why is it so hard to stay present?
There might be many reasons, but for myself I’ve discovered one main reason: usually I try to escape the present because I’m experiencing too much emotional discomfort. An escape into the fixer (problem solving mental) mode avoids the discomfort in my body.
Breaking patterns and the power of awareness
We don’t often believe that mere awareness can change things. We want to fight and grapple with the thing we’re trying to change. Whether it’s something relatively easy like getting up earlier or something difficult such as quitting smoking.
Continue reading “Breaking patterns and the power of awareness”My experience of 2020 and what I’ve learnt
I don’t think anyone will look back on 2020, and say that this was a great year. Most people are in agreement that this was a pretty bad year.
Continue reading “My experience of 2020 and what I’ve learnt”Does the Hero’s Journey suck?
We love stories that portray the hero’s journey. What’s a fantasy novel without the hero mastering magic, overcoming impossible odds, facing their own inadequacies, and fighting a few dragons? These are all things that make fantasy fiction great.
Continue reading “Does the Hero’s Journey suck?”Fractals
The thing about self-awareness is that you can’t really sleepwalk your way through it. You can try. But it doesn’t work. Awareness requires you to wake up. You have to ask the difficult questions and grapple with those aspects of yourself that you don’t like.
Continue reading “Fractals”The Texture Of An Emotion
Spiritual teachers often talk about the importance of being with emotions. This is hard because we usually repress and avoid difficult emotions. Sometimes for years. Also, the physical discomfort of strong negative emotion can be unbearable. Also, we don’t really see the value in feeling it. But awareness and feeling is the way to move past these difficult emotions.
One way to cultivate more emotional awareness is to ask: What’s the texture of this emotion?
Continue reading “The Texture Of An Emotion”