Path to Peace What It Really Means to Be Human

I am fascinated by those timeless thoughts that every generations ponders: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? For tens of thousands of years, humans have looked to the skies and wondered about these questions. And yet, after all that time, we're no closer to an answer. However, one key phrase keeps getting passed down: Know thyself. But what does…

The Truth About Meditation: Myths, Fears, and Misconceptions

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Is Meditation a Placebo?Meditation can often look like doing nothing, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Meditation is very active. It is the act of mastering being both highly alert and highly relaxed. Being in these two states simultaneously trains our mind and body to remain…

Can Practicing Gratitude Lead to Toxic Positivity?

Forcing gratitude on people, especially people in pain, can be harmful. Nobody should be told to “stay positive” or “just be grateful” when they are going through trauma or real suffering. To truly help someone: We cannot deny their pain. We cannot push delusion, denial, or false hope. We must face the truth directly. Stress, fear, trauma — all of it needs to be felt, acknowledged, and understood. Ignoring it…

Are There Alternatives to Meditation?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.For many people in the West, the mere idea of meditating is a significant source of stress. People will try almost anything before attempting "not doing," aka meditating. Many people will say walking or swimming or dancing is their meditation. So, is that really meditating? Is that equally…

Is Meditation for Everyone? And If Not, What Then?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Meditation makes us happier, healthier, and wiser. It gives us more energy, better focus, and greater awareness. You don’t need to be suffering from a midlife crisis to start a meditation practice. Meditation is the key to preventing a mental crisis in the first place. We all, kids…

Everything I Was Grateful For Is Gone

It’s important to understand that listing gratitudes is a symptom of a grateful mindset, not the cause of it. If our list contains things that can be taken away — money, people, achievements — then losing them feels like gratitude failed us. But real gratitude is not based on possessions. Real gratitude can be for: Life itself Breath in your body Sound Sight Warmth A moment of peace Anything that…

Path to Peace How I Learned to Be Okay With Being Misunderstood

We know that people will lie. We know that people will say hurtful things because they've been hurt. We know that what people say about us can have absolutely nothing to do with us. And we know that people judge, blame, and criticize in ways that have no relationship to the truth. So why then do their words hurt so much? Why do we suffer so deeply when people slander…

Mindfulness, Meditation, & Introspection: What’s the Difference?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice. Meditation vs Mindfulness What Does It Mean to Be Mindful? We hear the word, “mindful” a lot. On one hand, it sounds like a full mind, but on the other hand, people talk about it as though it means the mind is empty. The truth is, mindfulness…

What is Meditation Really About?

This article is part of the ongoing Meditation for All challenge. Subscribers to the free newsletter receive weekly guidance and a daily practice.Meditation is our natural state of being. It is a state of being totally present and alert. We are mindful of ourselves and our surroundings. It is a state of complete inner peace and joy.Ever since humans began farming and settling down, we lost this way of being.…

Why Live a Normal Life in a Spiritual Way

Q: After leaving the US and traveling to all these places, why did you return to the US? TODD ANSWERS: For me, a peaceful or happy life, which could be found in a cave or a forest, meditating in solitude, is not the point of life. My purpose is to look back and feel that I built great relationships, built financial stability for my family, and lived a life filled…