Tag: buddhism

Whenever I obsess over the end result, I miss opportunities for better outcomes, things spin out of control, or–in the rare instance when everything goes according to plan–I either fail to appreciate the win, or my enjoyment of victory feels short and muted. The reminder to enjoy the journey is not only practical–it keeps me…

Releasing negativity is a tricky endeavor. In the past, I’ve forced positivity in an effort to shake off the negative, but the ensuing resistance only strengthened the negative. So I try and emphasize the acceptance part–it’s okay to feel whatever I feel. It’s a natural reaction. And that focus on acceptance, for me, is the…

As I’ve grown older, I’ve shifted from railing against being stuck to seeing it as an illusion, since circumstances can’t help but dissolve and change (into death and release, if nothing else). My frustration with being stuck, however, can feel uncomfortably real. That can be leavened through my ability to reframe the situation, by my…

I’ve concluded that arguing with negativity-oriented people–those who use creativity and rationale to consistently redirect focus back onto negativity–is a waste of time. Nothing you say or do will be good enough; the best you can do is temporarily quiet them with tangible results. Even then, they’ll eventually find a way to rationalize your efforts…

When I was hellbent on fighting and pushing against events, I would every so often stumble onto peace and contentment. Later, I realized that it was a result of giving up my internal fight–of accepting my emotions and letting them be. While I might have still been outwardly striving, I felt my perception was where…

When I don’t judge others for their outward style, I tend to inform my perception with their actual substance. And strangely enough, they seem to do the same to me. After the static of insecurity, blame, and disdain have faded away to a sufficient degree, I suspect an authentic interaction begins to arise.

In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with feeling good, even in the middle of societally certified disheartening conditions. Sure, I assign responsibility and obligation in response to actions, but I firmly believe I get to feel however I want, regardless of what’s happening. (This may invite cliché ridicule and negative rationale, which is why I…

In my experience, the path to betterment has often taken form as a dangling thread. Once you tug on it, more threads will follow, and you can weave together a thickening rope. Then the way upward becomes all too apparent.

For me, the way forward has often involved a sideways stumble into unrelated territory—or so it seemed at the time. But as the years passed, I began using the knowledge gained from these detours, and I realized I had been blazing a trail for future use. So now, it’s easier to hold off on frustration…

The first thing I try and control is acceptance of my circumstances. Upon that acceptance, I clarify my ability to perceive where I am, what I have to work with, and where to go from here. For me, control of my conditions springs from sharpening my perspective, which springs from allowance of acceptance. I’m not…