I posted this in GBOT, but thought it was appropriate here based on the latest comments: Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience. – M. Scott Peck This has been requested over and over again. One thing I’ve written about … Continue reading →
Mental Health in the Media – Why We Should All Be Concerned
It would be easy to just accept film and television portrayals of characters with mental health issues as entertainment, and nothing to take too seriously. But consider that 64{2879bc8f2cf0c7badc0ba0b91bc88170008fa0b1cee68ceb4afb7fd46d4bfeb9} of mental health sufferers say they find the stigma and discrimination around having mental health challenges either equally or even more damaging than actually dealing with a mental health …
Quotes of Wisdom: Jacob Needleman on Self-Development
Man must have results, real results, in his inner and outer life. I do not mean the results which modern people strive after in their attempts at self-development. These are not results, but only rearrangements of psychic material, a process the Buddhists call *samsara* and which our Holy Bible calls *dust*. ~ Jacob Needleman Related posts: Quotes of Wisdom: David Cherubim on Alchemy in Practice Quotes of Wisdom: Krishnamurti and Seneca on the Wisdom of Learning How to Die
To see anew
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust (encore) Quit making excuses. It’s not about geography, neighborhood, living space, environment. It’s less about where you’re working today, the classes you’re taking, the challenges you face. You’re already standing in the midst of …
Hidden, Subtle Levels of Physical Fear and Agitation
You probably don't realize it, but right now, subtle levels of fear and agitation are probably moving through you. They're so invisible and so seemingly natural that you may think you are relaxed. But you are not. You are habituated to this level of fear and agitation, and it only tends to become apparent when we truly stop…
No showmanship required
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie When you work too hard at making you look smart, clever, and hip, you risk diminishing and minimalizing the worth, the intrinsic value of those you’re with. Get out of center focus, release the ego, and start winning friends and influencing people by being a genuine person. Show more interest in…
Webinar: Becoming a Modern Day Spiritual Teacher or Healer
Many of you will discover that you have a calling to become a spiritual teacher or healer as you grow on your spiritual journey. Others of you have always felt this pull within. And some of you will be quite surprised when people start putting you in places to teach or heal. Any way that you end up on the path of the spiritual teacher and healer is sacred, but it still involves work.In this webinar, I want to spend time talking about the dedication, self-care, and business of becoming a spiritual teacher and/or healer in our modern society. For those of you who have been dabbling or hard at work in this area already, this…
3/2 Check-in Thread
I don’t know how it is where anyone else is, but here in the Northeastern US, March came in like a lion. Please go out like a lamb. Here is your new check-in thread. How is everyone doing???
Drained All the Time? The Psychological Causes of Exhaustion
Our modern lifestyles can mean sleep slips to the bottom of the list so often that ongoing tiredness can feel a normal part of life. But don’t assume it’s just a lack of sleep leaving you drained. Tiredness is actually a sign of several psychological health conditions. Why is fatigue related to our moods? And how can …
Your focus becomes your reality
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” – George Lucas What’s on your mind today? What’s your priority? How you focus your mind determines what you get from your day. Focus on drama and you’ll wonder why you spent so much energy to get so little. Focus on personal growth, getting results, adding value – you’ll be amazed. What do
How to Stop Feeling Disappointed
There is no two ways about it; we have all experienced what it feels like to be disappointed. We’ve been disappointed in ourselves, others, outcomes, the weather, our job, and just about anything else we can think of. So, here’s my question: Why? It’s a simple enough question! Why do we get disappointed? Is it because people and situations let us down? Well, I know that’s the way it feels sometimes, but that is not why we get disappointed. In reality, feeling disappointed has nothing to do with other people, places, or circumstances. The fact is, being disappointed doesn’t actually originate with external sources…
7 Common Spiritual Awakening Experiences
There are many spiritual websites discussing all kinds of spiritual awakening signs and symptoms, and I know that it can be quite confusing. In my spiritual awakening blog post "5 Signs of a Spiritual Awakening," I offer my definition of some of the most basic aspects of an awakening. These are what I call primary spiritual awakening signs. From these signs, all kinds of byproduct experiences arise. What do I mean by byproduct experiences? I simply mean that an experience results because of the existence of the other signs of awakening. Without those signs, fatigue may simply be a sign that you aren't sleep well and not that any kind of spiritual shift is going on. You see what I mean?After …
Wisdom Born of Pain and Desperation
The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of … Continue reading →
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Depression – How Connected Are They?
Feel tired even after you’ve had plenty of sleep? Achy and flu-like even when you aren’t sick? Become exhausted after doing normal, everyday activities that most people can do easily? It’s possible you may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Also known by its more scientific name, Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME), it’s a condition that has become more …
Enlightening Lectures: Neil Postman – The Surrender of Culture to Technology
A lecture delivered by Neil Postman on Mar. 11, 1997 in the Arts Center. Based on the author’s book of the same title. Neil Postman notes the dependence of Americans on technological advances for their own security. Americans have come to expect technological innovations to solve the larger problems of mankind. Technology itself has become … Related posts: Educational Interviews: Neil Postman – Are We Amusing Ourselves to Death? Educational Interviews: Neil Postman – Technology Is No Substitute For Human Values
Are you a Shark or a Goldfish?
If you are facing a challenge and anxious about your situation, I know how you feel. I lost my job in 2001 during the dot.com bust. The company was losing money faster than we could raise it and eventually the company sank faster than the Titanic. I thought it was the worst event of my life. I was two months away from being bankrupt. I had a wife, two young children, a mortgage, no health insurance, and very little savings. I was a paycheck away from losing it all. It sounds bad. It felt bad. At the time it was bad. But one day I decided that I wasn’t going to let this …
Keep raising the bar
“Never fight a battle where nothing is gained by winning.” – General George Patton If you’re not gaining ground – every day – you’re falling behind. Put your energy into moving forward, not standing still. Far too many people waste precious time and energy with matters that result in no gain, no value added to themselves or their world. Don’t live your life as the poster child for some crazy, combative character in a reality series. Seek higher goals, put your efforts into raising …
Is an Honest Response Better Than Making Excuses?
Making excuses is a bad habit that anyone can slip into. I’ve done it, you’ve done it, and now it’s time to get passed it. Sometimes we make excuses because we are trying to be polite, or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. Maybe somebody invites us to…
D-bom Moments
For those new on the blog, this is another abbreviation we use around here, so this is how it began: “We see and understand more about our behaviors. We come aware. And aware. And aware. . . Often, we feel … Continue reading →
Never hinder your genius
“He knows himself greatly who never hinders his own genius” – William Blake Step aside. Get out of your own way. Quit censoring yourself and begin to cultivate your inner genius. Quit suffocating that brilliance within by bowing to the expectations of others, by failing to question conventional wisdom. Question your fears and doubt. Become bold, take a chance. Let go and begin to see your genius grow; begin to discover the wonderful possibility within. – We’ve been working on a new website! Whenever we read these posts, we’re inspired to write our own private thoughts. Now you can write your own private thoughts at 130words.com. It’s easy. It’s private. It’s free. Try it! Let us know…
5 Popular Spiritual Awakening Videos
For those of you who are new to my spiritual teaching or didn't already know, I have a YouTube channel with a bunch of spiritual awakening and other spirituality-related videos. The channel is under my name: Jim Tolles.Since my channel has been up for awhile, I felt like sharing the videos over there that…
Real Respect and Real Love In Action
Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience. – M. Scott Peck This has been requested over and over again. One thing I’ve written about is that most people don’t understand that saying “He’s in a better place.” (after a death), … Continue reading →
Shyness in Adults – Is It a Mental Health Issue?
It’s estimated that up to fifty per cent of adults identify themselves as ‘shy’. But when does shyness move from a manageable personality trait to a serious mental health issue? “Garden variety” shyness Many people are shy and under confident some of the time and in some situations, but not in all facets of their lives. …