A question I received recently was, "I added 4 inches of height to my dating profile. I now have dates lined up for the first time in my life. Now, I am tempted to keep it this way." These days, it may seem like everyone is stretching the truth on dating sites. Camera angles are purposefully mysterious, pixelated old photos hide our age, and the bios may better describe fictional…
Study after study has shown that meditation can lower our perception of pain. Some dentists now even offer meditation training for pain reduction instead of using anesthesia!The fact is, our mindset not only affects how much we feel pain; it also often creates the pain by holding tension in the body. Tension in the body is one of the leading causes of chronic pain. It leads to tight muscles which…
We’ve all seen the memes about cutting out anyone in your life who drains your energy or doesn’t appreciate you. But those people too are clearly suffering and maybe we can help them. If we cut every person out of our lives who isn’t perfect, we’d have to cut everyone out of our lives, including ourselves. So where’s the line? How can we show compassion and forgiveness, but still protect…
We all have trouble thinking before we speak and act. We want to be present and flow, but we also want to be careful and thoughtful of what we do. So how do we think before we act and still be present? How do we stop impulsive behavior, giving into addiction and addictive urges, and reacting from anger or losing our temper? Why do we sometimes say something we don't…
We humans are a funny bunch of social creatures. We are not machines who can just change our emotions at will. And one of the things we crave almost as much, if not more so, than food is human connection.A hug or a hand on someone else's is the simplest yet most profound act of showing love and compassion. It can instantly transform our mental and emotional states. In just…
There are no wrong turns on your path if your intuition and instincts are your guides. Be careful about letting others take away your inner voice and your inner power. This path is about liberation and freedom, not freeing ourselves from our own ego only for it to be replaced by someone else’s ego. No enlightened being would charge huge sums of money for their “secret.” Retreats in beautiful places will…
1. Consistency is key. Like exercise, it doesn’t matter if you used to be fit, you have to stay fit. On days when I am very busy or traveling, I will find times to fit in my meditation, even if I have to break it up through the day or wake up extra early.2. I find an hour in the morning sets me up for a great day, and an…
No one can bring out our best and worst selves quite like the people we're closest to. When approached mindfully, relationships can be incredible opportunities to grow in presence and as people. But when there is insecurity, doubt, jealousy, suspicion, or possessiveness in relationships, this can create a toxic, fertile soil for mindlessness and trouble to grow. Because most of us want to be in a relationship, we can cling…
Q: Dear Todd, can you explain the dual and non-dual aspects of mindfulness, especially in relation to experiencing both ultimate and relative bodhicitta?TODD ANSWERS: Using the mind intentionally and consciously is exactly what it was designed for. When we are fully mindful and present, we become one with our surroundings and our conscious awareness expands beyond ourselves. So, I think it is really non dualistichttps://youtu.be/unm8ROYfrmU These 5 Minutes Could Shift…
Q: Dear Todd,I sincerely wonder if by taming our egos, we are serving the ruling elite. We remain grateful for having nothing while they privatize resources, declare wars, and enslave us through debt for basic needs.TODD ANSWERS: I think it's a great question and we need to be on the lookout for people who would twist this ancient knowledge for some personal motives. I hope everyone can have all the…
If something here helped you feel less alone, would you help me keep it alive?
Even the smallest support matters.
Weekly Writings from the Desk of Todd Perelmuter
