What’s your big, scary, hairy, crazy, totally unrealistic dream? The one you wish for fervently and find yourself thinking about on and off while wandering? Where does your mind go when you daydream? That big dream, that thing in your mind–the really big one. Yes, that one. Have you thought about making it real? Making it… Continue Reading
A few weeks ago, I was teaching some of Spring’s early-season open water courses down at Aquatic Park near Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. A group of new swimmers stood, shivering, outside of the water while the coaches and I explained the process of getting acclimated to cold water temperatures and critical things to know… Continue Reading
I was sitting at a restaurant not too long ago, reading through another incredibly long list of options, both overwhelmed and exasperated by the choices in front of me. I just want something good to eat! I thought. I don’t want to read everything and choose. My analytically-focused brain, however, often prompts me to read every single option before making… Continue Reading
Sometimes the answer is just doing it. Not thinking about doing it. Not writing about doing it. Not talking about doing it. And not waiting on it, or giving it more time. Anticipation can be deadly. … Continue Reading
William James, from the University of Amsterdam In the 1961 text titled Psychology: The Briefer Course, William James, (an eminent theorist and one of the founders of modern psychology), writes a series of essays on habits, consciousness, the self, attention, association, memory, sense of time, and several more topics. The book, a compilation of James’… Continue Reading
I’ve had a few people ask me about writing habits, what compels me to write, and how to keep the habit. A couple of thoughts: Don’t worry about what it looks like, or how much of it you’re doing. Don’t worry about who’s reading it, or what they’re saying, or whether or not anyone’s reading… Continue Reading
“We’re not here, for that long, anyway. But to spend almost half our time lost in thought, and for the most part unhappy at that–well that’s pretty tragic, isn’t it?” – Andy Puddicombe How does your mind work? What brought you here? What patterns occupy your thoughts and recur, repeatedly? Andy Puddicombe talks about the… Continue Reading
Feelings, emotions, troubles and woes: no one is immune, despite the shiny glory of the internet and our addictions to various social-media outlets. I have a handy trick that I’ve used with a lot of success over the past couple of years each time I get overwhelmed, scared, afraid, worried, or wondering what to do a… Continue Reading
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one… Continue Reading