Have you ever gotten really frustrated with yourself for making a mistake or struggling mightily with with something? Have you ever had difficulty accepting some part of yourself or your life that you don’t really like? Have you ever felt so beaten down and overwhelmed by your life that it seemed like you could barely see straight,
Acceptance
This Blog Is Gonna Have Typos: Reflections on Perfectionism
I often joke with my patients that there is evidence of my perfectionism hanging on my office wall in the form of my higher education degrees. You don’t have to attend graduate school, however, in order to be a perfectionist. Perfectionists tend to buy into the belief that they can always be better and do […]
“But why would I want to breathe in the bad stuff?”: A Brief Intro to Tonglen Meditation
That’s the question I often get asked when I teach a specific meditation style called Tonglen. Before I explain Tonglen meditation, think about any guided relaxation exercises you might have done in your life. Many of us have experienced guided meditations, relaxation exercises, and even yoga practices that encourage us to breathe in the “good […]
Be a Buddhist Turtle: A Mindfulness Metaphor
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be a different kind of animal? A few years ago, when I was going through a difficult time in my life, I developed the practice of trying to be like a Buddhist turtle. Yes, I know this sounds weird but go with me for a moment!