Looking for Resources for Self Improvement, Motivation, Etc.

[Kevin Perry]

Originally Posted by Mike ODonnell

You've probably read these posts from the blog....but they may help inspire a bit:
Winning the mental battle in life

How to be Happy right now

Get Anything you want in life

The whole living in the present moment/Now is how to achieve happiness and drop all the other negative emotions associated with the past or future....as there is only happiness in the now (or I like to think so).

At some point I would love to go sit in a Buddha temple for 3 months in solitude to see what kind of mental clarity I can get....but until then I can make time daily to get away with my own thoughts wherever I am. My favorite 2 books on the topic are (and there are probably a ton of them out there...but until I master any of these I have no need for more reading):
- The Power of Now (Tolle)
- Awareness (Anthony DeMello)

DeMello is by far my favorite author as I call his stuff "end game" material....once you can read his stuff and get it, there is really nothing left to do but just live it.

Good Stuff MOD, I've checked out pretty much everything on your site plus Zen Habits along with some religious material and I'll tell you my outlook has changed completely in the past several week and life is much better since I've better learned to better manage stress, negativity, depression, etc.

I've read some of Tolle's stuff including the Power of Now. I'll have to check out DeMello sometime.

Originally Posted by George Mounce

One day in a Zen center you will learn that nothing is everything.

Planning a future trip for next year, there's one up in Columbia.

Originally Posted by Gant Grimes

Grappling arts (wrestling, judo, BJJ, sambo, etc.) will address all those issues.

I've tried getting into Martial Arts out here but I've since lost a lot of interest although I would love to learn Tai Chi.


Thanks for everyone's input.

[Mike ODonnell]

Originally Posted by Kevin Perry

Good Stuff MOD, I've checked out pretty much everything on your site plus Zen Habits along with some religious material and I'll tell you my outlook has changed completely in the past several week and life is much better since I've better learned to better manage stress, negativity, depression, etc.

Just remember....it's all in your head (literally)...learn to detach from feelings...learn that depression is just a state you experience and not something that is "part" of you...and then try to figure out where it really is all coming from....usually something in the past like you think you are missing something, or lack something right now that you used to have. Life is just an experience of present moments....that's all we have. Learning to just live in the now and detach from the past is hard....but then again we just need to work on it one day at a time. No matter what has happened, or what is right now....you can control your actions and thoughts and make the moment whatever you need it to be once you realize what is really going on inside. Fear, jealousy, stress (usually based on a fear of something), negativity....all useless and life draining emotions. We all rant and slip into negative thoughts, the key is being aware when it happens and reminding yourself to change your mindset.

All deep stuff...and I am no master....but then again like the zen monks say "the day you stop asking if you have reached enlightenment and just leave the temple is the day you achieve it".....or something like that....

[Daniel Labuz]

I recommend Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living, I read most of this book and it really helps me think of the things that really matter (and not matter) in life.

Quite an inspiring book for me at least