I'd ran into a guy in India who told me about this Vipassana retreat he'd done. He told me it was super difficult but really great. You have to wake up at 4am everyday and meditate for 12 hours a day. No phones, no reading, no talking, no writing, don't even look other students in the eye.Eager for real, transformative experiences, I signed up the first chance I got. It…
To eat or not to eat, that is the question. During my travels throughout Asia and India, every guru, monk, meditation instructor and meditator told me the same thing when it comes to eating before or after meditation. In this episode, I'll share the wisdom I learned on my travels. And, I'll share what I have found both in my own experience, as well as the experience of people I've…
Being in pain can make doing the things we need to do feel almost impossible. When we're in pain, we're not thinking clearly. We are fixated on the pain and we are often mad that we are not feeling well. This is why meditation is most important when we are in physical pain. So how do we meditate in pain? Recent scientific studies have shown that meditation can actually lesson…
While some people block out troubling memories, others live with painful memories their whole lives. But it's not about whether we forget or remember, it's about whether we have healed from our past. A painful past only stays painful if we haven't healed. But over time, with patience and self-love, with reflection and introspection, we can heal from anything.The problem is, painful memories don't just stay in our head. They…
“The greatest relationship we’ll ever have is with ourselves, yet so many people don’t take the time to know what makes them truly happy.” – Todd PerelmuterWelcome to the first step on the path to peace. Before you can heal thyself, you must know thyself. Once you finish this short quiz, you’ll be able to achieve the following:Know yourself better.Know where you are.Discover where you want to be.Understand how to…
Most people think dealing with mental health issues has only two options: medication and talk therapy. What people often don’t realize though is that there are now stacks of literature proving that meditation can help with mental health. Everything from depression to anxiety, bipolar to BPD, addiction to OCD and more.In this article, I will share some of the literature and studies on how meditation can help with mental health…
Nearly all of human behaviour is conditioned, sometimes by society, sometimes by our families, and sometimes by our own unique experiences. These behaviors are conditioned through rewards and punishments. How a behavior makes us feel determines whether we continue that behavior. And while a lot of conditioning is well-intentioned, sometimes, especially when there's been trauma, we learn to internalize stress even though we are perfectly safe. But, we can unlearn…
When we operate from our ego, we have a very small, narrow perspective. Looking at things from a broader perspective, from other people's perspective, or even from the universal perspective, a much greater wisdom can arise within us.Only through meditation and mindfulness can we truly see things from the broadest perspective possible. We don't make ourselves the victim because we don't frame circumstances as "happening to us." We don't compare…
Q: Dear Todd, I have noticed that I am most often in the moment when I working in my garden or when I am drawing. How can I extend this? TODD ANSWERS: You bring up the wonderful distinction between meditative activities and meditation. While meditative activities force us to be present while doing that thing, meditation is the practice of training our mind to always be present. Join 10,000 Mental…
There are many people who have unpleasant experiences when they first try meditation. This is not uncommon. It's only natural that when we've lived our whole lives busy and always doing things, the first few times where we put away all distractions and turn our attention inwards can be unpleasant. There may be repressed emotions and negative thoughts for us to confront. This episode explores the causes of these negative experiences,…
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
