A lot of people think spirituality means that monks who renounce everything are the most spiritual, and the rest of us are doomed to suffering. I myself have found great peace in letting go of possessions and bad habits. I have discovered the freedom that comes from practicing minimalism and asceticism.But don’t get me wrong, I love all the pleasures and comforts of life. I used to love them too…
We all exist because of events that take place in this eternal stream of presence. The future is tied to the past, it is not separate. But it all happens in the present moment. The future will happen because of what we do now, and what we do now is because of what came before. So you could say we are also only here because of what will happen in…
Q: Dear Todd, Perhaps you have some advice for people who are different—whether it's ADHD, autism, or high sensitivity—on how to find their place in society. We often live on the fringes, but not at the center of society.TODD ANSWERS: As a person who considers myself in this category with my history of ADHD and high sensitivity, I struggled with this for a long time. Ultimately the place we can…
Q: Dear Todd, I live in a developing country that is corrupt, where money and connections really matter. The people here seem irrational. I chose the wrong path back then, but I was sensible enough to recognize that it was a defining moment in my life. I made up my mind with courage, but now I’ve lost everything, including my relationships with important people. What should I do? Should I…
Q: Dear Todd, I don't know how it is possible to not judge something as "negative" when I have found a wish in my heart and then things happen that seem to be the opposite to what my heart sees. TODD ANSWERS: I know exactly what you mean but it really is true that nothing is positive or negative. They really are two sides of the same coin. There is…
Q: Dear Todd, I feel extremely unsettled when I sense that I am being deliberately excluded. How do I find the source of why this unsettles me so much? TODD ANSWERS: The source is not in the situation but in the mind. It is caused solely by mental activity. Like an improv troupe, our mind throws out a suggestion and then we create a whole show around it. Instead of…
Q: Dear Todd, my narcissistic mother only preyed on me during my most vulnerable times. I'm beyond disappointed, and there's a lot of anger in my heart when I think of her. How can I heal? TODD ANSWERS: This is a very tough experience to go through. It is not fair that the person who should be our greatest source of love and support should act in this way. Children…
Q: Dear Todd, my problem is that I become depressed when reading the news and seeing angry, bigoted, homophobic, leaders who spew hatred. I can look at individuals as loving souls, however, if they follow certain political beliefs, I find it very difficult. And there are people who are simply cruel selfish beings. Can you speak to this in more detail and how to live in peace with such hatred…
Everyday for a few moments, put away all distractions and find peace in the present moment, in the stillness.There is awe and wonder and beauty in everything. If you don't see it, you have to look deeper because it's there.As long as you make a life worth living, as long as your job is just a job, and the more you can be happy for other people's successes and happy…
Q: Dear Todd, some kid in my high school class is talking bad about me, and I don't even know them. I don't get it. I even showed my own mother, and she said, "What do you want me to do?" I feel like everyone is just against me. I feel like such an outsider everywhere I go. I'm always in the wrong, and I wish I could say I…
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