How being courageous is different from being fearless
Suppose someone shows no fear even in the presence of great danger. We may appreciate that person as incredibly courageous, but would that lack of [...]
A likely feature of our likely future
Few technological advances have changed our daily lives as much as smartphones. Though phones have made many routine activities easier for us, we may have [...]
Our mind as an Alzheimer’s patient
Suppose we are the main caregiver for a dear relative suffering from Alzheimer's. When they become non-communicative or even violent, we will be concerned, but [...]
So boring or sobering?
Suppose we are traveling by boat through a vast ocean and we hear a weather warning on the boat radio, “The water ahead is stormy; [...]
Going beyond counting our blessings
Counting our blessings is an oft-recommended activity for cultivating gratitude and positivity: When we count our blessings, we learn to appreciate what we have and [...]
Why counting our blessings is so transformational
Count your blessings – this oft-repeated exhortation can seem cliched. To appreciate its potency, let’s consider two significant benefits of counting our blessings. Feeling enriched: [...]
Three ways to avoid being misdirected by our mind
Suppose we are walking toward a destination and some passerby suggests we go somewhere else. Just because of their suggestion, we won’t change course. Yet [...]
Three ways to live more effectively
Suppose we are driving a car. If our car map is unclear, if a distracting partner is sitting next to us and if excess baggage [...]
Three practical benefits of remembering Krishna
The Bhagavad-gita repeatedly recommends that we remember the ultimate reality, Krishna. Let’s consider three practical benefits of such remembrance: Clarity: Our inner world is often [...]
Three principles for managing stress
Stress is becoming alarmingly widespread in today’s world. Naturally, people are seeking effective ways to deal with it. Sometimes, acute stress needs to be treated [...]
How to overcome spiritual weakness
When we are spiritually weak, we can’t resist the world's allurements and we get caught in things that don't really matter to us. To overcome [...]
Why spiritual weakness is tougher to detect than physical weakness
What happens when we become physically weak? Many of our normal activities become difficult or even impossible. We can't lift heavy weights; we can’t even [...]
Why we need to transform pain
Suppose we catch an infection. If we aren’t careful, we will transmit it to others. While we are usually aware that physical infection is transmissible, [...]
What’s wrong with unrestrained sexual activity?
Today’s culture glamorizes lust as the source of immediate and immense pleasure. However, such glamorization impoverishes our existence, depleting three of its vital dimensions: Spirituality: [...]
Dealing with the mind’s negativities (Why we need inner redesigning 3)
Suppose we are trapped in a cell with a cellmate who constantly draws our attention to the many terrible images on the cell walls. While [...]
How to change our inner imagery (Why we all need inner redesigning 2)
Suppose we were confined in a room filled with the darkest images of our life. The first thing we would want to do is to [...]
When achievement translates into fulfillment
We all want to do something worthwhile, something that the world will notice and appreciate. Unfortunately, that isn’t easy. What is even more perplexing and [...]
How can we redefine our relationship with failure
Suppose a bully has been terrorizing us for a long time. Suppose further that they are always going to be a part of our life. [...]
Are we living in a hall of mirrors?
Suppose we were in a hall filled with mirrors, most of which are deliberately designed to give a distorted reflection of us. By looking at [...]
Let the mind be
Suppose we have to work with a colleague who tends to hyperventilate. Once they calm down, it’s possible to work with them and sometimes to [...]
How to stop struggling with our feelings?
We often find ourselves obstructed by our feelings, as when we feel bored, annoyed, perplexed, frustrated, enraged, lonely, misunderstood, neglected, rejected, tormented, discouraged or defeated. [...]