To be responsible means to stop blaming the outer trigger for the inner trouble
To be responsible means to stop blaming the outer trigger for the inner trouble Suppose we feel tempted by someone who wears revealing clothes. Or [...]
Self-pity makes feel-bad seem feel-good
Self-pity makes feel-bad seem feel-good Suppose we are in physical pain. We will naturally do whatever we can to free ourselves from that pain as [...]
The mind is like ice to truth and fire to lies
The mind is like ice to truth and fire to lies The mind is meant to serve as a tool for us souls to perceive [...]
Speak in a way that educates and engages not enrages and estranges
Speak in a way that educates and engages not enrages and estranges Suppose we have some knowledge that will be helpful or valuable for others. [...]
The mind often recasts antipathy as inability – what it doesn’t want to do, it presents as if it can’t do
The mind often recasts antipathy as inability - what it doesn’t want to do it presents as if it can’t do Suppose a child doesn’t [...]
Those who underestimate their mind undermine their intelligence
Those who underestimate their mind undermine their intelligence Suppose a country has a hostile neighbor. If they underestimate their neighbor, they will not pay attention [...]
As long as we don’t mine under the mind, the mind will undermine us
As long as we don’t mine under the mind the mind will undermine us Suppose someone is digging for buried gold. If they find iron [...]
If we justify our weaknesses by comparing ourselves with those who are weaker, we weaken our motivation to rectify ourselves
If we justify our weaknesses by comparing ourselves with those who are weaker we weaken our motivation to rectify ourselves Suppose we have a weakness, [...]
If we are robbed repeatedly by the same suspect, it is our intelligence that is suspect
If we are robbed repeatedly by the same suspect it is our intelligence that is suspect Suppose we are robbed and the prime suspect is [...]
Watch the mind, or the mind will catch you
Watch the mind or the mind will catch you Suppose we are living in a high crime locality where thieves will catch and steal from [...]
Commitment is emotional investment, attachment is emotional dependence
Commitment is emotional investment attachment is emotional dependence During the course of our relationship with our loved ones, we may get the question: How can [...]
Just because we have a right to be angry doesn’t mean we are right to be angry
Just because we have a right to be angry doesn’t mean we are right to be angry Sometimes, people wrong us by acting foolishly, irresponsibly [...]
The body reacts mechanically – don’t take its reactions personally
The body reacts mechanically - don’t take its reactions personally Suppose we had a machine that was programmed to behave in a particular way, to [...]
Even if we can’t control our emotions we can control the attention we give to our emotions
Even if we can’t control our emotions we can control the attention we give to our emotions Suppose some hawker comes near our property and [...]
Regulate emotion with reason animate reason with emotion
Regulate emotion with reason animate reason with emotion Reason and emotion are two of our fundamental human faculties. By reason, we can be orderly, logical, [...]
Never make irreversible decisions based on reversible emotions
Never make irreversible decisions based on reversible emotions Our emotions can easily mislead us. When we become strongly emotional, we tend to make snap decisions. [...]
Make judgments but don’t be judgmental
Make judgments but don’t be judgmental When doing anything responsible, we need to make judgments: we need to evaluate who is suitable for doing what [...]
Managing our emotions – shift focus from emotions to actions
Managing our emotions - shift focus from emotions to actions Stop trying to control how you feel, start taking control of what you do Our [...]
The truth may be bitter, but it doesn’t have to be told bitterly
The truth may be bitter but it doesn’t have to be told bitterly When we see someone doing something wrong, we may feel tempted to [...]
To treat our emotions as the only reality is to live in unreality
To treat our emotions as the only reality is to live in unreality Suppose we are driving a car, and suddenly the car lurches. We [...]
Hating the wrongs done to us blinds us to the wrongs done by us
Hating the wrongs done to us blinds us to the wrongs done by us When we feel wronged, we often magnify our side of the [...]