Begin a practice of non-religious centering meditation (e.g., counting breaths 1-10) and rote prayer, even without theological belief, as a foundational step for mental well-being and sobriety, especially when previous approaches have failed.
Develop an inner ’noticer self’ to observe your thoughts and emotions, particularly fear, anger, or loss of control, without identifying with them. This allows for a healthier response to challenging situations rather than being consumed by them.
When faced with decisions, especially if your mind is noisy or fearful, postpone the decision until a sense of quietness emerges. Acting from this calm state, rather than fear, can lead to better outcomes and improve your life.
Engage in meditation practice regardless of your spiritual beliefs, as scientific evidence shows it improves mood, immune system, stress levels, blood pressure, and cognitive function. It works whether you attribute the clearing to spiritual healing or psychological processes.
Approach meditation without attachment to how your practice ‘should’ be, understanding that healing or clearing can occur even when you don’t perceive immediate clarity or success. It’s a gradual process, like sediment clearing or a boil draining.
When self-correcting or criticizing yourself, avoid aggression, as it increases mental noise and attachment to performance. Instead, make soft mental notes (e.g., ‘judging,’ ‘anger’) to detach from the critical process.
Create a daily gratitude list, going through the alphabet to identify things you are thankful for, even if initially done by rote. This practice helps shift your perspective and recognize existing blessings.
Actively engage with a community of like-minded individuals who share a commitment to spiritual practice. Discussing experiences and challenges with others provides significant support and insight, helping you navigate potential ‘cul-de-sacs’ in your journey.
Implement a daily routine that includes 20-30 minutes of morning centering prayer (following your breath), an ‘Examine of Conscience’ to savor positive moments and seek forgiveness for negative ones from the past 24 hours, and evening prayers for others who are sick or struggling.
During meditation, occasionally introduce the mantra or saying ’not wanting’ to reveal and observe subtle desires for your current experience to be different. This technique helps to disarm attachments and foster acceptance.
Instead of only praying to ‘get through the day,’ articulate specific desires or needs in your prayers. This focused intention can lead to unexpected positive outcomes, as experienced by praying for increased income.
If you are skeptical, begin prayer by simply repeating positive sentences or affirmations by rote, without needing to believe in a higher power. This practice can still cultivate a more peaceful mindset and positive outlook.
Begin any writing project by simply ‘vomiting up whatever you got’ onto the page, without overthinking. Nothing can be shaped or refined until initial content has been generated and put down.
Be prepared to discard a significant amount of ‘finished pages’ during the writing and editing process, as this is a normal part of refining a manuscript. For example, 1,200 finished pages were discarded for one memoir.
When writing a memoir sequel, dedicate 3-5 pages to summarize necessary background information from previous books. This allows new readers to understand the narrative without having read the earlier works, making the sequel standalone.
Identify an ‘inner enemy’ or central conflict within yourself to serve as the organizing principle for your memoir. Structure the narrative around this struggle to give your book a cohesive and compelling framework.
If you host a podcast, encourage listeners to subscribe, rate the show, and tell friends about it. This helps grow the audience and reach more people.