If you’re looking for books by Andy Puddicombe, you’ve probably seen his TED talk on mindfulness. What struck me most the first time I saw it is that we spend 47% of our time lost in thought — that’s almost half of our waking hours spent ruminating on the past or being anxious about the … Read more
None of us are immune from adversity. At some point, we’ll be desperate for a moment of human kindness and connection; we’ll need someone who’d be willing to lend a helping hand without expecting anything in return. But for that to happen, we need a world that believes in kindness as the single most … Read more
In a preface to one of her bestselling books, Pema Chodron (b. July 14, 1936) revealed how the paradox of productive inactivity helped her write and be creative like never before. Chodron felt she needed to take a time off “before fully appreciating” what she’d learned from her root guru, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and sharing … Read more
As my daily meditation comes to an end, I anticipate the act of writing. Sometimes, it’s a moment of inspiration, prompting me to reflect on past events and past relationships, no matter how distant or painful they may be. Sometimes, however, my mind resembles a blank sheet of paper, resulting in apathy and inertia. During … Read more
Have you noticed a buildup of negative energy and want to release it? The great Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said that “trouble is easily overcome before it starts.” When applied to your situation, it means that sometimes it’s easier to prevent a buildup of negativity than trying to release it later. I’ve recently … Read more