Everything is a Practice
I have a client who has completely changed his life — it’s been a complete transformation, and it is breathtaking. One of the most powerful things he’s brought into his life is the practice of self-compassion. It changed everything, once he started bringing this into what he did. But one of the next most powerful things he created for himself is the view that Everything is a Practice. Man, what a ridiculously valuable way to frame our lives! Every difficulty that comes up is simply something ...
Everything is a Practice
I have a client who has completely changed his life — it’s been a complete transformation, and it is breathtaking. One of the most powerful things he’s brought into his life is the practice of self-compassion. It changed everything, once he started bringing this into what he did. But one of the next most powerful things he created for himself is the view that Everything is a Practice. Man, what a ridiculously valuable way to frame our lives! Every difficulty that comes up is simply something ...
Practicing with Zero(2)
When we fall off the plan, when the streak is broken, when we don’t do the morning routine we like … this is when many of us hit the “Ah screw it” moment. (aka the “Fuck It” moment) It’s like, “Ah well, I blew it, I might as well just give up and blow it even more!” It’s as if we’re happy to throw away all of our gains because we had a moment that didn’t go well. What if the “Fuck It” moment could be turned into a “Dust myself off and start again” moment? Every time we missed a day, we would ...
Practicing with Zero(2)
When we fall off the plan, when the streak is broken, when we don’t do the morning routine we like … this is when many of us hit the “Ah screw it” moment. (aka the “Fuck It” moment) It’s like, “Ah well, I blew it, I might as well just give up and blow it even more!” It’s as if we’re happy to throw away all of our gains because we had a moment that didn’t go well. What if the “Fuck It” moment could be turned into a “Dust myself off and start again” moment? Every time we missed a day, we would ...
Practicing with Zero
When we’re creating a habit — say, meditation or practicing a language — we often try to encourage ourselves by creating an unbroken streak. 100 straight days of meditation! 30 straight days of practicing Chinese! These are amazing accomplishments, and we should let ourselves feel encouraged when we have consistency like this. However, what happens when the streak is broken? When the streak goes down to a Big Zero? This can be incredibly discouraging, and we then often want to give up. Howeve...
Practicing with Zero
When we’re creating a habit — say, meditation or practicing a language — we often try to encourage ourselves by creating an unbroken streak. 100 straight days of meditation! 30 straight days of practicing Chinese! These are amazing accomplishments, and we should let ourselves feel encouraged when we have consistency like this. However, what happens when the streak is broken? When the streak goes down to a Big Zero? This can be incredibly discouraging, and we then often want to give up. Howeve...
The Practice of Relaxing the Threat Detector
The Practice of Relaxing the Threat DetectorYou can practice it right now, as it’s likely that your Threat Detector is activated in this very moment. If not, you might notice the next time you’re interacting with anyone, in person, in video calls, or even messaging/email. Here’s how to practice:Pause. Turn your attention to your bodily sensations, and see if you can notice a place where you’re feeling tense. There might be a tightness in your chest, stomach, head or jaw.Stay. Keep your attent...
The Practice of Relaxing the Threat Detector
The Practice of Relaxing the Threat DetectorYou can practice it right now, as it’s likely that your Threat Detector is activated in this very moment. If not, you might notice the next time you’re interacting with anyone, in person, in video calls, or even messaging/email. Here’s how to practice:Pause. Turn your attention to your bodily sensations, and see if you can notice a place where you’re feeling tense. There might be a tightness in your chest, stomach, head or jaw.Stay. Keep your attent...
How the Threat Detector Works
How the Threat Detector WorksPart of our beautiful human brains is always looking around for threats — predators, other humans that might want to attack us, and social cues that we might be kicked out of the tribe (which in our early days would often mean death). So we scan for these threats, and the body tenses up against them in fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses. It tenses up, ready to take defensive action to protect us. That’s how it’s supposed to work — but because we’re in a moder...
How the Threat Detector Works
How the Threat Detector WorksPart of our beautiful human brains is always looking around for threats — predators, other humans that might want to attack us, and social cues that we might be kicked out of the tribe (which in our early days would often mean death). So we scan for these threats, and the body tenses up against them in fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses. It tenses up, ready to take defensive action to protect us. That’s how it’s supposed to work — but because we’re in a moder...
