Q: I feel helpless in the face of the world’s suffering. I don’t know what to do about the pain I see all around me. It’s driving me crazy. Well, you know, it takes a lot of energy and attention to drive yourself crazy. If you redirect that energy away from “feeling helpless” and bring […]
Archive | Death & Dying
How Bad Holiday Memories Can Help You
It’s no secret that our personal associations with the holidays can bring us sorrow as well as joy. Extremes of happiness and sadness may have good cause. In my case, wonderful memories of warm celebrations filled with great food, gifts, and rowdy cousins to play with, are tempered by the memory of my 20th year: after […]
How to Keep Your Courage in the Age of Ebola, ISIS and Climate Change
People have been asking me how I recommend thinking about the threats of Ebola, ISIS, and climate change. As these threats begin to seem more immediate and personal, we tend to feel more afraid. Those of us who are used to having a good life can tend to feel ashamed that we’re afraid. This unfortunate […]
Depression, Addiction, and Aikido: Contemplating the Death of Robin Williams
Like so many others last week, I was shocked and saddened, and also drawn into deep contemplation, on hearing that the beloved actor, comedian and social activist, Robin Williams, had taken his own life. As a hypnotherapist who has worked with many people suffering from depression, it reminded me of a shocking, and critical, teaching […]
Gratitude for the Vastness of Our Blessings
Last year about this time my wife and I saw the movie, Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg. November 19 is the 151st anniversary of the Gettysburg Address (1863). Watching this excellent portrayal, I was struck by the enormous sacrifice millions of people made for the sake of freedom and human dignity, all mixed in with […]
You Can Recharge Your Enthusiasm for Life! (Don’t Be Like Henri.)
I’ve just been watching the antics of the award winning French cat, “Henri the Cat”. There are now 3 episodes on YouTube. Henri even has his own store! Here is the second episode – Henri 2, Paw de Deux: After you’ve stopped laughing (or just sitting blank-faced because you see a little of yourself in Henri), […]
“I do not agree with what you have to say”
“…but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire May Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recover. May the families of the injured and dead in Pima County, Arizona find peace and renewal. May we all resolve to promote non-violence and mutual respect. As a hypnotherapist, I find my contention that language is inherently hypnotic […]
Do You Know the Original Intention behind Mother’s Day?
I didn’t! Mother’s Day has always been a time to appreciate and show gratitude to My mother, to My wife as mother, or to any mother I might see that day, saying, “Happy Mother’s Day!” bringing a smile to their face. A wonderful day of candy, roses and brunch! Today, two days after Mother’s Day, […]
Hypnotherapy for Loss and Grief
Healthy grief also bestows on us a tender heart of compassion for all beings, because our loss makes us vividly aware of their (and our own) fragility. There is another mental process that is also mistakenly labeled as grief. This kind of grief, however, hardens our hearts and makes us bitter. This is not true […]