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How To Handle Your Demons | Vinny Ferraro

Aug 22, 2025 19m 53s 16 insights
<p dir="ltr">We're bringing you some of our favorite gems from the archives, as chosen by our staff. This week, we're hearing from dharma teacher Vinny Ferraro, as chosen by our producer Eleanor Vasilli. Vinny explores the concept of "alignment" and how you can actually choose your own attitude – and choose your own adventure. </p> <p dir="ltr">Full Episode:<br /> <a href="https://www.danharris.com/p/three-buddhist-practices-for-getting-233?r=4o5o&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=false"> Three Buddhist Practices for Getting Your Sh*t Together | Vinny Ferraro</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Join Dan's online community <a href="http://www.danharris.com/">here</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Dan on social: <a href="https://bit.ly/3tGigG5">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://bit.ly/3FOA84J">TikTok</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to our <a href="https://bit.ly/3FybRzD">YouTube Channel<br /> <br /></a>On Sunday, September 21st from 1-5pm ET, join Dan and Leslie Booker at the New York Insight Meditation Center in NYC as they lead a workshop titled, "Heavily Meditated – The Dharma of Depression + Anxiety." This event is both in-person and online. Sign up <a href="https://www.nyimc.org/event/heavily-meditated/">here</a>!<br /> <br /> Get ready for another Meditation Party at Omega Institute! This in-person workshop brings together Dan with his friends and meditation teachers, Sebene Selassie, Jeff Warren, and for the first time, Ofosu Jones-Quartey. The event runs October 24th-26th. Sign up and learn more at <a href="http://eomega.org/workshops/meditation-party-2025">eomega.org/workshops/meditation-party-2025</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit <a href="https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris">https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris</a></p> <p><strong id="docs-internal-guid-a69ffbff-7fff-d145-fc42-581588965a5a"><br /> <br /></strong></p>
Actionable Insights

1. Practice Mental Alignment

Consciously choose to align with the sanest or smartest aspect of your mental repertoire in any moment, rather than venal or unconstructive thoughts, to boost your sanity quotient.

2. Cultivate Brahma Viharas

Actively choose to walk in the direction of the Brahma Viharas—loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity—as these wholesome energies will inform and co-create the world you inhabit.

3. Mindful Choice of Direction

Use mindfulness to clearly see all the different parts of yourself, then wisely choose which direction to follow by asking if it is wise, kind, or generous, aligning with what is wise within you.

4. Don’t Let Thoughts Command

With mindfulness and practice, learn to decide what parts of your personality or thoughts to align with, instead of letting thoughts command and animate you, which can cause immense suffering.

5. Transform with Love, Not Hate

Do not attempt self-improvement through anger, fear, or shame, as these are not transformative; instead, choose to approach change with love and care, which is far more effective.

6. Mind Your Mental Habits

Cultivate a daily habit or practice of carefully choosing what your mind dwells on, recognizing that this discipline is as essential as brushing your teeth.

7. Pardon Your Conditioning

Offer yourself a pardon by recognizing that your current state is a result of conditioning, and understand that this conditioning is not your true identity.

8. Question “I, Me, Mine”

Continuously inquire into what you perceive as “I, me, or mine,” and through this process, identify what is not truly you, such as conditioning or fleeting thoughts.

9. Meet Pain with Compassion

When encountering painful experiences, use the heart qualities, especially compassion, as a reliable refuge to meet and receive them without pseudo-spiritual bypass.

10. Cultivate Equanimity for Balance

Develop equanimity to maintain a balanced perspective, ensuring that qualities like loving-kindness and compassion remain authentic and not overly saccharine or sentimental.

11. Remember Who You Are

Cultivate a deep remembrance of who you are to become unshakable and “unfuckable with,” thereby freeing yourself from the need to engage in every conflict or constantly defend your honor.

12. Flash Your Basic Goodness

Actively remember and “flash” your basic goodness, recognizing that your inherent worth is untarnishable and that forgetting this goodness is a real danger.

13. Others’ Thoughts Not Yours

Internalize the understanding that other people’s thoughts or opinions about you are none of your business, allowing you to remain rooted in your own sense of goodness.

14. Connect to Untarnishable Goodness

Recognize that the four heart qualities (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity) are always present within you, immeasurable and untarnishable, regardless of your past experiences or actions.

15. Reflect Others’ Value

Make an effort to reflect value back to others, reminding them of their inherent worth, especially in dehumanizing situations, as this is a fundamental way to connect.

16. Connect in Every Interaction

Adopt the mindset that every situation or interaction is an opportunity to connect with others, regardless of the stated premise or topic.