Tag Archives: meditation
Our Divided Minds – Part 2
My last post explored the eminent social psychologist Daniel Kahneman’s description of our minds as divided into two separate but cooperating functional units, to which he gave the simple names “System 1” and “System 2”. Now, in this continuation post, we’ll move on to … Continue reading
Our Divided Minds – Part 1
Two books I’ve read recently – The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt, and Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman – offer some surprising new insights into how our minds function. Both authors are social psychologists renowned in their field (Kahneman is a Nobel … Continue reading
The “Hitch-22” Paradox
I just recently finished reading Hitch-22, Christopher Hitchens’s account of his forty-plus event-filled years in the public eye as a journalist, author, public speaker, and frequent television news-show guest – a multi-faceted career that was cut tragically short by his death … Continue reading
Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness
Tagged Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, meditation, mindfulness, paradox, self-awareness, self-observation
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A Mighty Purpose
I recently re-discovered this passage from George Bernard Shaw, and found it every bit as compelling today as when I first encountered it a few years ago. “This is the true joy in life – that being used for a … Continue reading
Sharpening the 7th Habit: Further Thoughts on Stephen Covey’s Habits of Effectiveness
Last month in this space, I marked the unfortunate passing of Stephen Covey by recalling the circumstances surrounding my first reading of his classic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People some twenty years ago, and by reviewing a few of … Continue reading
What to Expect When Your Expectations are Excessive
It was a memorable, almost magical, moment. I was standing on the top observation deck of the Eiffel Tower, attempting to position myself in a slightly northwestern direction so as to be looking – in my mind, at least – … Continue reading
Stopping
In his book Wherever You Go There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn includes a thought-provoking essay entitled “Stopping”, in which he suggests that the best way to understand, and to practice, meditation is simply to stop for a few moments – completely … Continue reading
Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness
Tagged balance, Jon Kabat-Zinn, meditation, mindfulness
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The paradox of “Engaged Mindfulness”
“Mindfulness must be engaged. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what is the use of seeing?” ~ Thich Nhat Hahn When I first began the practice of sitting meditation a few years ago, I was very sensitive … Continue reading
Engaged Mindfulness 