It is the day before the US election in 2020 but I promise you that this post will be relevant beyond. If you want to practice mindfulness, one of the worst things you can do is engage in "what if" thinking. Right now, the airwaves are filled with the "what if" scenarios. Steve Kornacki, of MSNBC, has even named his election board "What If." In fact, all Continue Reading
Your Freedom To Choose
At each moment, as people in an open society, we have the freedom to choose our actions. Every action we take builds on the previous. For example, if on a regular basis, you act with integrity and honesty, after a while, this becomes part of your character. It becomes difficult to act otherwise. Similarly, when you continually close your eyes to the truth Continue Reading
Hold Both Truth & Joy
Rosh Hashanah 2019 This is the sermon I delivered on Rosh Hashanah at the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County. People asked to read it - so here it is: Rabbi Alan Lew, of blessed memory, writes that the High Holy Days season promises nothing less than total personal transformation - IF we do the work, and pay attention. Each of us should leave Continue Reading
Add Kindness To This World Today
When the world at large feels harsh, you have a choice. You can either amplify that energy, or you can add kindness. This week has been filled with ugly racism, directed to people who have given their lives to public service. We have read about citizens and children treated inhumanely at our border. We even saw a 74-year-old universally respected man of Continue Reading
Lovingkindness Practice for Self & Others
Love is on my mind today. Love of others and love of ourselves. Two issues arise again and again when I teach about lovingkindness and mindfulness: the lack of self-compassion and the lingering hurt in relationships. Luckily, there is a lovingkindness mindfulness practice you can learn that addresses both. Self-Compassion In terms of self-compassion, Continue Reading