Video: Take the Risk of Diving Into Your Fears or Pain
I have often talked about suffering less by accepting and being fully present with pain or other symptoms. But, this seems counterintuitive and risky. A common question is: When I’m really afraid or in a lot of pain, why would I want to experience…
Video: You Are What You Practice
We are all masters of practice in that we are practicing something in every moment. We commonly practice unhealthy behaviors and behaviors that are not aligned with our personal life values. If we go around all day being self-critical, we will…
Video: Meaning and Purpose to Your Life
The terms meaning and purpose often appear together, and I would frame their relationship this way: when we act with purpose, we take actions that are important enough to lend meaning to our lives. Meaningful actions are always in accord with…
Video: Ships Are Safe In The Harbor But They Are Built To Sail The World
Many of us hold ourselves back from doing things that would enhance our lives because we’re afraid of embarrassment, shame, or failure. On the other hand, some people, especially those with bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder,…
Video: The Importance of Being Open and Vulnerable
We are a lot like lobsters. Lobsters have a hard exoskeleton, which they must shed several times in order to grow into a mature lobster. Because of the hard shell, the only way for the lobster to grow up is to shed its exoskeleton each time…
Video: The Wisdom of Coach John Wooden
By all accounts John Wooden was one of the best coaches of any sport in history. One of his most famous players tended to complain a lot. Coach Wooden said the following to him: “Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of…
Q & A with Dr. B. – Why The Focus On Practices?
The purpose of this website, my book, and the Community Education course I teach at the College of Marin, is to teach people how to live a vibrant, meaningful life through the cultivation of self-empowerment and self-efficacy. In this monthly…
Q & A with Dr. B. – Do the mindfulness practices, especially the MBEP walking practice, ever become more natural?
The purpose of this website, my book, and the Community Education course I teach at the College of Marin, is to teach people how to live a vibrant, meaningful life through the cultivation of self-empowerment and self-efficacy. In this monthly…
Video: Becoming Who You Really Are
Most of us grow up in cultures that value achieving, acquiring, and becoming. The richest life can be found by looking inward in order to discover who you really are. There are many paths that can serve as inward journeys. Since the 1960s, psychotherapy…