Are you actually a bitch? An asshole? Then try tonglen — a practice for love, vulnerability, strength in tough times, compassion and empathy—and see us in the morning.
Me? I suffer from ARF – asshole resting face. If I’m not consciously making an effort to smile, people assume I’m ready to pull out a gun and go postal. If there is some truth behind the humor in this video for you, Elephant Journal recommends this post…
We need to think harder about why privacy is important, what we mean by privacy, assess the various trade-offs and create public policies that reflect our values regarding the relationship between individuals and society.
The fear that the US will become a surveillance society is misplaced. It already is one.
The reality is that almost everything about you is already known, if not by the government, then by business. Every time you get on an airplane, you are scanned. Every time you search for a product online, the information falls into the hands of retailers who want you to buy their products.
We are instantly connected to the world—we talk, socialize, get the news, play, pay bills, state our opinions, research, shop. So it should be no surprise that the world knows everything about us in return. The flow of information goes in both directions…
Ever wondered why your dad drove an old car (which you were incredibly embarrassed of) throughout your entire childhood, while you went to a good school?
Or why the monsters from under your bed never came out as long as he was there?
Or as an adult, why he still tries to protect you just as he did as a child?
In honor of Father’s Day, we wanted to share this touching 2-minute video as it reminded us of all the small things dads do to show their love and support, which often as children, we never noticed.
“We are like children building a sand castle. We embellish it with beautiful shells, bits of driftwood, and pieces of colored glass. The castle is ours, off limits to others. We’re willing to attack if others threaten to hurt it. Yet despite all our attachment, we know that the tide will inevitably come in and sweep the sand castle away. The trick is to enjoy it fully but without clinging, and when the time comes, let it dissolve back into the sea.” ― Pema Chödrön
The happiest people I know have something in common: they are whole-hearted in how they engage in their lives…whole-hearted in relating with others, in work, in meditation, and in play. They have a capacity to give themselves thoroughly to the present moment.
Yet for many, it’s challenging to engage with this quality of presence. Take this personal ad for example. It says:
Free to a good home, beautiful 6-month old male kitten, orange and caramel tabby, playful, friendly, very affectionate, ideal for family with kids. OR handsome 32-year old husband, personable, funny, good job, but doesn’t like cats. He or the cat goes. Call Jennifer and decide which one you’d like.
How often do we find that in our relationships, rather than loving presence, we have an agenda for someone to change, to be different? How often do we find that our insecurities prevent us from being spontaneous, or whole-heartedly engaged with friends? You might think of one important relationship and ask yourself: “What is between me and feeling fully present when I’m with this person?” Notice the fears creeping in about falling short, the urge to get your needs met, the sense of “not enough time,” the wanting for your experience together to unfold a certain way!
This same conditioning plays out in all aspects of living, and it is well grounded in our evolutionary wiring. We need to manage things, to feel in control. We try to avoid disappointments, to prevent things from going wrong.
Tara Brach quoted this in a meditation I was listening to today:
It is often said, accurately, that violence begets violence. There is a virus buried deep in all violence that is contagious, that inspires an equally brutal and mindless response. A terrorist blows up a bus, and an army comes out to settle the score. This exchange of violence and this contagion of terror have been handed down for eons from family to family and from nation to nation. It is a chain of terror made up of people gone amok with anger and those just as disturbed with their feelings of virture and righteous vengeance.
But there is good news. The Gospel of Jesus, the Dharma of Buddha, the Tao of Lao Tzu, and the tariqa, or way of love, in Sufism all teach that you can let go of your grip on this chain. You can be free of it. When obscene violence interrupts your life, you don’t have to respond with virtuous, justified, and reasonable force. You can choose not to be part of the destructive cycle, and that choice not to participate is a first step toward peace.
But to step outside the circle of terror you have to do something quite unreasonable. You have to forfeit vengeance and abandon all reasonable expectations that the majority of your community, friends, and family may take for granted. You will probably have to go it alone and trust your spiritual instincts. You may appear passive and weak. Only you know the inner courage needed to overcome habits of vengeance and punishment that are assumed to be right and virtuous.
“How’s your financial blueprint? Don’t worry, I didn’t have mine either until I read T. Harv Eker’s great (and surprisingly funny!) book. If you’re committed to creating financial freedom (who isn’t?) then my strong recommendation is that you add this to your must-read list.”
In today’s challenge, we’ll take a quick look at some of Brian’s favorite big ideas (this book is so full of them he had to stop himself at 21!) – everything from defining financial freedom, learning to play to win, and seeing how the size of your character determines your response to various sized problems.
What you’ll see is that T. Harv believes strongly in the fact that: “Your inner world reflects your outer world,” and dedicates a great deal of the book to teaching us how to change our thinking – to reprogram ourselves to think and act like rich people do.
So… let’s get to work on that financial blueprint, shall we?
To take part in today’s challenge, simply watch Brian’s video above and share your responses to it below (and to get a copy of the book, just click here).
Officer Brigitte Brousseau is a certified yoga teacher. In this 1 minute video, she discusses how she has become clear with the responsibility and power to take away another’s freedom.
Don’t you just wish that you could hit a magic button and it would come to your rescue when you need it the most – or for some of us, each and every day?
In this empowering 13-minute TED Talk, athletic director and head coach of the Varsity Soccer team at Ryerson University, Dr. Joseph, explains why he believes self-confidence is the most important skill in both athletics, and in life.
We really enjoyed this motivating talk as it reminded us that even if we’re not blessed with a natural healthy glow of self-confidence – it’s a skill that can be mastered, no matter how lacking in it we may be.
Today’s challenge is on Spiritual Liberation by Michael Bernard Beckwith.
For those not familiar with Michael, he is the founder of the Agape Spiritual Center, where his talks have been described as “electrifying,” and he also was one of the featured teachers in The Secret.
“My central message is not about religiosity or churchianity. It is about aspiring toward spiritual liberation, which I define as becoming free from the narrow confines of fear, doubt, worry, and lack, and living instead from a conscious awareness of one’s Authentic Self, one’s true nature of wholeness.
Spiritual liberation results from discovering and expressing the intrinsic qualities of enlightened consciousness that have been ours since the moment we came into existence. Simply put, all that is required to live up to our highest potential is already inside us awaiting our conscious activation. Living up to our potential is about becoming more ourselves, more of who and what we are as awakened beings, a central theme you will encounter throughout this book.” – Michael Bernard Beckwith from Spiritual Liberation.
Here at MBG, we love Pema Chodron, and were thrilled to discover this candid conversation between the great Buddhist monk and Bill Moyers on PBS.
In this interview, Pema Chodron talks about the pain and anger she felt after her divorce and explains how her strong emotions drove her to her spiritual practice.
“If we could learn to not be afraid of groundlessness, not be afraid of insecurity and uncertainty,” she says, “it would be calling on an inner strength that would allow us to be open and free and loving and compassionate in any situation.”
With gems like this, the entire video is worth a watch.
In this highly engaging 31-minute presentation, the incredibly charismatic, best-selling author and featured teacher in The Secret, Lisa Nichols, shares her secrets… quite literally.
Listen to this inspiring video to hear the entertaining story behind her appearance in The Secret, and to learn of her soulful tips on living an authentic life and creating holistic success.
Lisa would have to be one of our most favorite people. Her energy, honesty and hard-working attitude is an inspiration to all of us.
Okay guys, are you ready for day 2 of the challenge?
This time we’re going to be studying How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie.
Carnegie is also the author of the famed, How to Win Friends and Influence People, so we can’t wait to start today’s challenge.
Our favorite quote from the book is:
“Seventy per cent of all patients who come to physicians could cure themselves if they got rid of their fears and worries.”
We love that line. It reminds us of a quote from another great book by Jose Silva, The Silva Method, where Mr. Silva says that he believes 90% of illness is caused by stress and our own negative beliefs.
So, are you ready to take part in today’s challenge?
Simply watch the above video, and tell us what’s the biggest takeaway you got from this lesson, and how you can start implementing the wisdom from this book into your life.
