The advantages of journaling have long been touted. On the scientific side, studies list its many health benefits. On the spiritual side, it can help us bring ourselves into account each day. There is also the sheer pleasure of putting pen to paper which might be linked to the number of beautiful journals (here, here,… Read More Journaling: Fleeing Mordor to Seek the Safety of the Shire
The refinement of one’s character is intimately related to the taming of one’s ego, the extreme manifestations of which being both the easiest to identify and to learn to control (no, really, it’s NOT all about you!) But then come the trick questions, the ones we don’t quite expect to be ego driven at all,… Read More Putting Your Spouse First: Not Quite What You Thought It Looked Like
The culture of backbiting and gossip is clearly an unhealthy one, and while it is (relatively) easy to stop talking about people, it often does not mean that we are not thinking about other people in a negative light. I have seen, in the last couple of months, how poisonous these thoughts has been to… Read More Refusing to Undermine One’s Integrity: The Role of Dwelling and Self-Doubt
I have come a long way when it comes to mantras. At first puzzled by what they were and how they were used, I became curious and starting researching them. As I read and heard about some interesting experiences both strangers and friends had had using mantras as part of their personal spiritual development, the… Read More Mantrafying Ego Management
I noticed that a recurrent topic in Baha’i circles is that of compliments. Many have a tough time receiving compliments graciously, that is, with a simple, heartfelt thank you. Instead, we recoil; we shrug, chuckle, and deny the good others see in us – typically, by pointing out something negative about us, shedding light on… Read More Compliments of the Insistent Self
I have been participating as a tutor in a Ruhi Book 5 study circle for over a month now. The book, Releasing the Power of Junior Youth, is a study in who we would want to be as youth/what kind of youth we would want the junior youth we are serving as animators to become,… Read More From a Whack-A-Mole to a Three-Headed Dog: The Insistent Self is a Tough Beast to Overcome
I have been a part of the Bahá’í community for a long time, and a curious phenomena has had me intrigued all these years: while the strength of the community is completely dependent on each one of us doing our best, we are, each one of us replaceable. It’s like each one of us is… Read More The Curious Case of Being Needed and Being (Easily) Replaceable
I really like Lady Gaga’s new song for two reasons. The first is that it’s so catchy. I have listened to it so many times I have lost count. I have the feeling it’s one of those songs that, years from now, will stay be playing on the radio and people will not be tired… Read More Some quick initial thoughts on Lady Gaga’s new single “Born this Way”