Q & A with Dr. B. – You have written about practice being a way of life—something to practice throughout the day. What are the main practices that encompass this way of life?

Dr. Larry Berkelhammer

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 column, I post questions from students and from people who attend my presentations along with my answers.

Here is this month’s question:

QUESTION: You have written about practice being a way of life—something to practice throughout the day. What are the main practices that encompass this way of life?

ANSWER: When you make the following practices into a way of life, the quality of your life will improve.

1. Ask yourself: What is my state of mind (felt bodily)?
2. What belief am I holding that is making me feel the way I’m feeling?
3. Is it based on fact?
4. If unable to quickly & easily disprove the unhealthy belief, then go to step 5.
5. Accept and welcome whatever you are experiencing. The more fully present you can be with the unpleasant state of mind, the sooner you will feel better.
6. All processes can be enhanced with slow diaphragmatic breathing.
7. Follow sensations of breathing.