“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.” ~ Pema Chodron from When Things Fall Apart
Don’t run away from your fear, Pema says.… Read More
“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” -Lao Tzu
In my quest for personal development, I’ve done a ton of processing, meditating, reading, praying, exercising, eating well, and helping other people. All of these things are amazing, and I still do them regularly, but none of it matters if I don’t guard my thoughts as though my life depends on it.… Read More
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault
As a fairly recent grad student at the time, it was painful when I had to pay for things that were out of my control.
While in Tahoe one weekend, I found my parked car without a right side view mirror.… Read More
“The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.” –Robert Pirsig
The other evening I was I was laying in the bath following yet another hectic day in the office. As I sat there in the bubbles, I could feel my tension rising.… Read More
“Don’t seek, don’t search, don’t ask, don’t knock, don’t demand – relax. If you relax, it comes. If you relax, it is there. If you relax, you start vibrating with it.” ~Osho
As I drove home today, I embarked on a familiar exercise: planning out—in ridiculous detail—the next week, month, and year of my life.… Read More
“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.” ~Anonymous
Before September 2009, I thought I wanted to run a personal development blog—a place to share the lessons I’ve learned and generally build a community around the idea of teaching people to improve their lives. Then I realized that wasn’t my vision.… Read More
“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.” ~James Thurber
As I begin each day, I must remind myself, “Erin, stay where your feet are.”
If I keep my attention on the place where my feet reside, I have a better chance of remaining in the here and now.… Read More
“You, yourself, as much as anybody else in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” ~Buddha
In our personal development-focused, life-coach dependent world, it’s all too easy to think you need to change. Not just the things you do, but who you are.
It’s one thing to invite transformation for the sake of growth, improvement, and new possibilities.… Read More
Update: This winners for this giveaway have already been chosen. Subscribe to the Tiny Buddha List to learn about future contests!
When I was 21 years old, I got into a series of car accidents, just after getting my license.
The first time, I drove the wrong way down a one-way street.… Read More
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” ~Buddha
It happens all the time…
You’re driving, listening to music–just enjoying life and the feel of the road. Then car roars past you and the driver promptly swerves and cuts you off, seemingly oblivious to anything but his own destination.… Read More
“Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” ~John Lennon
There have been times in my life when I believed all my happiness revolved around how busy I was. If I was busy, I was using time wisely. If I was busy, I was proving to myself that I was valuable.… Read More
“If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Frazzled! Doesn’t that word seem to apply to how we feel so much of the time? Take this morning for example.
I’m dashing about the flat and running late for work. I’m drinking a cup of tea while drying my hair.… Read More
“If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
While in the process of “re-branding” my business, I’ve been reading a lot about business marketing. One of the articles that I really loved contains an analogy of a lighthouse for a business model, but to me, it speaks of so much more.… Read More
“This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival” – Rumi
Not more than half an hour ago, I was, in a very typical fashion, struggling and getting frustrated trying to gather my thoughts for this post. I could even feel the tension in my shoulders clawing its way up to my neck (over a blog?).… Read More
“Practice random beauty and senseless acts of love.” ~Unknown
I recently decided to reverse the order of common sense and senselessly follow my heart through an unplanned acts of kindness. After I made the choice, it was amazing how the world changed before my very eyes.
No longer was I fixated on how quickly I move through the events of my day.… Read More
Update: The winners have already been chosen for this giveaway. Subscribe to the Tiny Buddha List to learn about future contests!
Last week, I received an email from the marketing team at Shambhala Publications informing me about the upcoming “Smile-at-Fear” retreat, to be hosted by Pema Chödrön.
This three-day event, focused on wisdom from Pema’s teacher, Chögyam Trungpa will take place in Richmond, California from October 15–17.… Read More
Up until recently, I received communication online in 10 different places.
In addition to getting messages through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and StumbleUpon, I got emails through six different email accounts. I have not always managed this ever-flowing stream of information in the most mindful and productive way.
Studies show we actually get a little endorphin rush when something new pops up in the inbox.… Read More
We all get stuck: paralyzed about a decision, unsure what choice to make. Stuck in resentment or disappointment we can’t quite recover from. Stuck in a plan that’s not working as anticipated. Stuck in a destructive, repetitive dynamic with family members, coworkers, or friends.
When we’re stuck, things feel immovable, entrenched, even hopeless.… Read More
LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL (fear is conditional)
LOVE IS STRONG (fear is weak)
LOVE RELEASES (fear obligates)
LOVE SURRENDERS (fear binds)
LOVE IS HONEST (fear is deceitful)
LOVE TRUSTS (fear suspects)
LOVE ALLOWS (fear dictates)
LOVE GIVES (fear resists)
LOVE FORGIVES (fear blames)
LOVE IS COMPASSIONATE (fear pities)… Read More
“Hope is the feeling that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.” ~Joan Kerr
A year ago I lost my best friend of forty-eight years to a pulmonary embolism. It came quickly and unannounced, and it took him instantly.
I found out about his death on Twitter. Because of the length and depth of our friendship I had never known life without him.… Read More
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. Click here to read more.
