When others disturb us…
How we respond to others disturbing behavior reveals our character much more than whatever we might speak in words. Actions speak louder than words. This [...]
The secret of effective devotion
Devotion is not just emotion, it is emotion expressed through dedicated action. Some people dismiss devotion as simply expressive and sometimes ineffective emotion. However, devotion [...]
Emotions: not commanded but cultivated
Even though emotions can't be commanded, they can still be cultivated. Suppose someone is feeling cold. We can't command them not to feel cold. But [...]
Two ways to avoid agitation
Whenever something happens in the world, which is agitating, be it in the form of some temptation or some trouble coming upon us, how can [...]
The cure for dissatisfaction
Whenever we feel dissatisfied, we often attribute it to some external cause: 'I don't have this house. I don't have this car. I don't have [...]
When things are unsettled
When things around us are unsettled, it is natural that our thoughts also get unsettled. We feel worried, and we hope and wait for things [...]
Peace in the presence of disturbance
Whenever we are disturbed and we are seeking peace, how do we go about doing that? Often, we seek to drive the disturbance away. If [...]
Can’t hold the mind still?
Even if we can't hold our mind still, we can still hold ourselves still. Suppose a mother is trying to get her child to sit [...]
Peace for a bigger war or war for a bigger peace?
Some people think that fighting is bad and seeking peace is good. While that's generally true, why somebody is fighting or seeking peace also matters. [...]
The capacity to appreciate our blessings
The capacity to appreciate our blessings is the greatest blessing. We are all surrounded by blessings in our lives, be they small or big. Yet [...]
Frustration and renunciation differentiated
Externally, frustration and renunciation may both look similar because in both a person is not endeavoring to go towards and gain and enjoy tempting sense [...]
When our mind doesn’t cooperate what can we do?
Suppose we are working on an important project, and we have a clear vision of how that project will be executed most efficiently and effectively. [...]
How humility empowers amid difficulties
Amid difficulties, our mind tends to propel us between extremes, akin to the extremes of a pendulum. For example, when we are faced with a [...]
What to pray for amid distress
When confronted with a huge problem, especially one that causes acute or unbearable distress, we often desperately turn to God for help. We pray for [...]
Humility in the inner war
When we strive to discipline ourselves by breaking free from our self-sabotaging cravings, we are essentially launching a war against them. Underscoring the reality and [...]
Two kinds of contentment — and how they are opposite
The sentiment of contentment is sometimes seen negatively. Some people think of it as the symptom of laziness and the cause of stagnation — they [...]
How to be grateful when things don’t go our way?
When things go our way, it's relatively easy to feel grateful. But when things don't go our way, not only is it difficult to feel [...]
Gratitude demanded is gratitude diminished
Many virtues, like gratitude, are difficult to cultivate and easy to lose. One counterintuitive way we may lose gratitude is by our overzealousness in insisting [...]
The pillow of gratitude
Even when we understand that gratitude is beneficial for our well-being, feeling grateful constantly throughout the day is not easy, given how demanding and [...]
The healing power of gratitude
When we lose a loved one, for example, or when we experience rejection in an important relationship, the catastrophic severity of the wound to our [...]
Learning the language of gratitude
For two people to connect effectively, they need to learn a common language and be on speaking terms. A similar dynamic applies to our mind’s [...]