Here are two helpful ways to think about an obstacle or setback that life throws at you: “It’s all good mental training.” or “It’s all good: mental training.”1 Huh? I should explain. What is mental training? Mental training is any endeavor that sculps your mind into one that is healthier, stronger, or more resilient. Mental training could be practicing mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, or patience. It could be pushing yourself to… Read More »Mental Training
This pile of rubbish is what I collected while on a short hike last week, but I’m not here to complain about it. I have a different point to make – one that you can apply every day. I was visiting Twin Falls just outside North Bend, Washington. Twin Falls is a popular trail through a beautiful, mossy forest. It follows the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River and ends… Read More »Picking Up Garbage
Note: You can find the full loving-kindness meditation script at the bottom of this post. Of the many different types of meditation, I practice two: breathing meditation and loving-kindness meditation. The purpose of breathing meditation is to develop mindfulness, while the purpose of loving-kindness meditation is to develop compassion, kindness, and altruism. (You may also hear loving-kindness meditation referred to as “metta meditation” or “loving friendliness” meditation.)1 In loving-kindness meditation,… Read More »Loving-Kindness Meditation
Last week the garage at my apartment building was broken into. I have a storage locker inside the garage, where I keep various athletic gear, which was also broken into. In that storage locker, there were two items of significant value that could have been stolen: my mountain bike and my skis. The thieves, probably for reasons of convenience, took my bike. The obvious reaction in this situation would be… Read More »An Example of Positive Thinking Done Right