The parts of ourselves we left behind
As someone who has devoted my personal and professional life to deep self-inquiry, I am often surprised by the degree to which I can still become estranged from parts of myself, even in the midst of my steadfast and diligent pursuit of self-exploration. Life is funny that way. For the better part of a year […]
When you look inside, what do you see?
In so many ways, throughout years of personal discovery, I have reclaimed a greater sense of sovereignty, strength, and resilience. But recently I went through a series of traumatic events that shook me to my core and left me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself. Over the course of about a month, my […]
Performative wellness, self-commodification, and the new paradigm
Living in LA, as in most places in this country, the struggle to accept our own bodies is real. Our culture tells us our status and desirability are dictated by how we measure up to a conventional standard of attractiveness: some ideal of how bodies are supposed to look to make others want us. I […]
What is indestructible in us
“Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found.” — Pema Chödrön Self-transcendence is the art of radical responsibility: assuming ultimate ownership of our experience regardless of what our external lives may hold. This is no small feat. And most of us […]
Who do you want to be?
“Admit your distant love affair is with yourself.” -David Whyte It’s deeply ingrained in us to dream about what we want to have, do, and achieve. But this future-oriented, external focus often distracts us from our most important inner values. Our fixation with the superficial aspects of our wellbeing interferes with the most […]
Intuition or intellect?
“Surrendering to our inner knowing, which is not always logical, yields fruit that is easeful, joyful, and beautiful even in the face of circumstances not lining up the way we want.” –Brooke Sprowl, Waking Up Podcast In our culture, we put a major premium on logic. We tell ourselves to “be rational” and often attempt […]
What is true spirituality?
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” -Carl Jung Let’s face it. It’s trendy to be “spiritual.” And while I’m glad we’re experiencing a cultural renaissance surrounding new and non-dogmatic ways to relate to the innate mystery of existence, we have to be increasingly vigilant […]
How to Cultivate Childlike Wonder, Laughter, & Play
“The trick is to grow up without growing old.” -Casey Stengel In every area of life, play is an extension of mastery. Guitarists who have mastered an instrument can playfully and effortlessly improvise. Athletes who master a sport can play with simultaneous ease and focus. Dancers can move with true playfulness when at the top […]
Are you playing the infinite game?
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” -Thomas Paine To the extent that each of us looks in the mirror honestly and does our own inner work steadfastly, we begin to change the culture. As we do this together, we have the power to shift the collective consciousness and affect […]
How to Leave the Matrix
If you’re reading this you probably already know, your inner revolution will not be televised. But in so many ways, even those of us on the path are still the products of our cultural programming. Our ideational landscape, our media, and everyone around us are loudly and constantly broadcasting their conditioned beliefs about reality. Amidst […]