Todd Perelmuter's Blog, page 31

How To Achieve Universal Love?

Q: Dear Todd, How To Achieve Universal Love?

TODD ANSWERS: Peace is our centered, natural state. It has no opposite. When we focus on peace to end war, we only succeed in lessening or delaying war, not ending it. If we instead focused on love, only then could we move the needle far enough to actually achieve lasting and real peace.

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Path to Peace Feeling Inadequate and Worthless? Here’s the SOLUTION

If supermodels are insecure, if billionaires feel like failures, and if the world's greatest artists feel like imposters, how the heck are the rest of us supposed to feel worthy and good enough?!

The truth is, value doesn't come from others' praise, worth doesn't come from wealth, and contentment doesn't come from achievement. If we only care about superficial things like money and looks, our lives will lack what truly matters. The more we value love, kindness and generosity, the more we can actually appreciate the blessings we have and the ones yet to come.

In today's podcast episode, I talk about what to do when those feelings of inadequacy arise, why we have those feelings, and how to rediscover our infinite potential and worth.

When we tap into the source of bliss within us, we need no praise, no self-worth, not even self-esteem because this bliss lies beyond the illusory separate sense of self — the state of oneness.

To be alive on Earth as a human in 2023 is a freakin' miracle. You're literally a miracle. Never forget it.

Please enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.

*****
Like what I do and want to SUPPORT what I am doing?
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ToddPerel
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/toddperel

Find all of my BOOKS for wherever you are on your spiritual journey : https://www.eastwesticism.org/spiritual-meditation-books/

Want to gift a book to a prisoner? Click here.

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Can I Change My Perspective Through Meditation?

Q: Dear Todd, Can I Change My Perspective Through Meditation?

TODD ANSWERS: When we operate from our ego, we have a very small, narrow perspective. Looking at things from a broader perspective, from other people’s perspective, or even from the universal perspective, a much greater wisdom can arise within us.

Only through meditation and mindfulness can we truly see things from the broadest perspective possible. We don’t make ourselves the victim because we don’t frame circumstances as “happening to us.” We don’t compare our possessions with someone else who has more. Instead, we simply watch the play of life unfold. This is the secret to living a joyful, peaceful life.

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What Are Your Thoughts On Negativity?

Q: Dear Todd, What Are Your Thoughts On Negativity?

TODD ANSWERS: The thing about negative thoughts is that they are neither good nor bad, but clues to something going on below the surface.

Like anything else that’s undesirable, when negative thoughts arise, we can either get mad or sad about it. Or, we can be totally fine about it, accept it, investigate it joyfully, and be at peace with it. It’s all about the response. Do we lose ourselves in the emotions? Or can we watch them peacefully. I actually go into a lot of detail about how to do that in my book, The Way Out of Suffering.

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3 Things I Wish Someone Told Me

When I decided to leave my job and go to the far East to discover the secrets to life’s deepest questions, it took a solid two years before I saved up enough money to go. People stopped believing me that I was going to go, and I started to feel stuck. But I stuck to the plan, and it finally happened. From my experience looking back, I wish someone told me these three things to unstuck myself:

1. People who feel stuck have lost the love for life itself.

It’s no longer satisfying to just be alive and experience this vibrant world. Now we want to live as luxuriously as the people we see on social media. We expect a perfect life. We want our messy lives airbrushed and on a straight upward trajectory. When real life happens, we resist the challenges instead of appreciating our growth. Practice remembering that there is infinite wonder in every single atom and every single moment. Practice seeing the world through this state of awe. Seek out beauty in everything and you shall find it everywhere.

2. We feel stuck when we feel we have no options.

We always have options. Every option may come with trade-offs. Some may take time and we’ll have to develop patience and acceptance through the process. But if we get creative, if we notice our insecurities, and if we remember that we are just as deserving and capable as anyone else at creating a life that fulfills us, then with confidence and positivity we’ll find the most beneficial and rewarding path forward. See where you want to go, make a plan to get there, take committed action, be nimble, be open, and be excited to take on the challenges as they come. (Somebody recently asked me what my last message would be to the world, here is what I have to say to that.)

3. At the core of any “stuck” feeling is a loss of gratitude in our lives.

Sometimes we can change our circumstances to feel unstuck, but often we’ll just become stuck in our new place because we haven’t changed our underlying mindset. Whether or not we can change our circumstances, we can always improve our inner environment. We can always further develop our gratitude for the infinite blessings we experience in every moment. Immediately, negative feelings like “stuck” and discontentment will seem insignificant under the weight of our gratitude and all the positive things we’re focusing on in our life.

Whether you’re stuck or not, let’s practice some extra mindful awareness this week. The more present we are, the less we are thinking repetitive, cyclical thoughts. The more aware of our thoughts we are, the less they can weave self-destructive tales of inadequacy and impatience. Put up a post-it note, “Goal #1 This Week: Watch Thoughts. If they’re useful and intentional, smile. If they’re useless and irrelevant, let them go… and smile.” In my latest YouTube video, I lay out a roadmap for getting unstuck from the monotony of mundanity, and how we can dive deeper into this wild and magical universe.

Much love,
Todd

PS – What typically causes that “stuck” feeling is becoming unconscious of what we’re doing and mentally switching to “autopilot.” In this state we are completely unaware of the subtleties and the nuances that make each moment different. I talk in detail on how we can break free from this mental projection that says everyday is the same, that it’s all boring, and that the monotony is going to drive me crazy, in my new book, Finding Your True Self. It’s always the mental story that causes the suffering. But we can rise above these stories and allow for this beautiful expression of life to unfold

Also, have you watched The Miracle of Death yet? This movie is made with the intention that it would bring some peace to those who are facing difficult times of loss. My deepest condolences and love.

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Change That Internal Story: Here’s How To Do That

When we grow up unaccepted, unliked, and under appreciated, it’s a totally normal reaction to internalize those feelings. This is our way of making sense of the world — if people keep taking their anger and hurt out on us, we will begin to think that we are the problem and that we deserve it.

If left unnoticed and untended to, this belief system can cause us to accept mistreatment and abuse later in life. If we are rejected or criticized, it can trigger a storm of self-hate and self-blame.

The thing to remember is, our reaction causes our suffering, not the unkind or cruel words of someone else. In this life, we will encounter all sorts of people. Some will be kind and some will be hurtful. If we are always on high alert, always on the lookout for a mean comment, we will always be stressed and agitated, healing will be much more difficult, and we are sure to find that which we are looking for.

When a stranger suffering from mental illness yells at us on the street, we don’t become insecure. And yet, we believe the hurtful words of people who are clearly suffering all the time.

So we have to change that internal story. We have to recognize that our reaction is conditioned, it is not objective truth. We think rejection and criticism are hurtful, but they are just other people expressing their own internal mental state. We think we need not be liked by everyone, but even you probably don’t like everyone!

You are the miracle of life itself. The universe manifested you! This is no accident. You are infinitely worthy of love and kindness. If other people can’t see past their own egos, be grateful that you can and move on with love. Here’s how we can be happy with what we have while still striving for more, how we can we struggle our way towards success, and yet be happy along the way, and how we can feel content no matter where we are, where we’ve been, or where we will reach tomorrow.

 

ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Whenever you feel most down, most conflicted, most angry, most hurt or most upset, do this one simple thing: Ask yourself, “Where is the lesson?” You cannot be both upset and curious at the same time. Curiosity, intellectual exploration, and reflection cannot coexist with anger and rage. You may not even find an answer, but at least you’re open and curious instead of closed and certain.

The simple act of turning our attention inward and observing our mental and emotional state with clarity and equanimity, instantly transforms our thoughts and emotions.

This week, seek criticism and rejection. What I mean is, put yourself out there, take chances, and start living like a confident person with nothing to lose. Be smart, be safe, and be mindful, but notice that when we embrace the idea of criticism and rejection, the fear and aversion instantly melt away, we no longer resist rejection, and we no longer cling to acceptance. This is freedom. To know how to get your desires, intentions and actions into alignment, watch this video.

Much love,

Todd

If we are meditating for a “high” or for purely selfish reasons, we’re going to have a harder time going beyond thought because meditating is about temporarily letting go of all attachments. When we dedicate our practice to the benefit of all beings, our growth is accelerated because selflessness is the path to freeing ourselves from our ego. I cover this topic of needs, wants and desires in detail in my book Death, Life and Oneness.

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Does Desire Go Against Spirituality?

Q: Dear Todd, they say that desire goes against spirituality. Then, how can I aim to become a better human being because it also stems from a desire for betterment?

TODD ANSWERS: There is a difference between selfless desire and selfish desire. Selfish desire is about instant gratification at the expense of our future. Selfless desire is about planting the seeds for a better future for all beings, including ourself. There is no attachment to outcomes with selflessness. There is none of the longing or suffering that comes with selfish desires.

If we are meditating for a “high” or for purely selfish reasons, we’re going to have a harder time going beyond thought because meditating is about temporarily letting go of all attachments. When we dedicate our practice to the benefit of all beings, our growth is accelerated because selflessness is the path to freeing ourselves from our ego. I cover this topic of needs, wants and desires in detail in my book Death, Life and Oneness.

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Path to Peace How to Be Satisfied in Life Part 2: When Your Family Doesn’t Support You

The world is changing faster than ever. Today's generation is growing up totally different than their parents.  Not everyone will understand the changes, and not all changes will be beneficial to human flourishing.

When we stay balanced on our middle path, we can take into account our family's feelings, but we can also live our own life, our way and on our terms. We can welcome advice, but we can listen to our heart. And when we come up against resistance, pessimism, stubbornness or pushiness, we can do what is right for us with love and kindness for those who will never understand.

In today's podcast, the second part of a 2-part series on contentment and satisfaction, we dive into meaning, purpose, ambition, dreams, goals, success, family dynamics, and confidently living the life the of your dreams.

Please enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.

*****
Like what I do and want to SUPPORT what I am doing?
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ToddPerel
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/toddperel

Find all of my BOOKS for wherever you are on your spiritual journey : https://www.eastwesticism.org/spiritual-meditation-books/

Want to gift a book to a prisoner? Click here.

The post Path to Peace How to Be Satisfied in Life Part 2: When Your Family Doesn’t Support You appeared first on EastWesticism.

Aren’t We Just Making Excuses For Mean People?

Q: Dear Todd, if mean people who hurt others have a “disconnect from infinite joy and peace within”, then what about those people who have had horrible lives and yet don’t hurt people or lie, cheat, etc…? Aren’t we just giving these mean people a free pass? Making an excuse for them?

TODD ANSWERS: I definitely don’t give them a pass, but I just don’t know what good comes from judging others. I know love has transformed lives. I know I want to help people see the light, not shun them and fuel their anger. I hope we can live in a world where dangerous people are removed from society, but where they can also be rehabilitated and taught how to become more mindful of their thoughts and behavior.

I believe in a world where we show everyone compassion and help each other heal instead of hate. I believe there is so much unhealed trauma from our species’ violent and difficult history, and we’re all just acting it out in one way or another.

There are those who have endured great hardship and remained loving, sweet, sensitive souls. There are so many things that go into why we can respond to the same situation differently. We are each the effect of infinite causes, with a unique karma and purpose in this world.

For those lucky enough to find that inner peace and joy within, I hope they can help those less fortunate find it as well. When I didn’t have it, people and places were there for me. In turn, I hope my words can reach even those people who have been hurtful, and hopefully, end that cycle of pain. More on why forgiveness is a gift to yourself and not others in my book, Finding Your True Self.

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How Consciousness Got Infected

Q: Dear Todd, I want to know how consciousness got infected in the first place. Why isn’t all of this just common knowledge and our natural operating system? Why are there errors in the code? If everything is one… why is it so… human?

TODD ANSWERS: Physically, we are not much more evolved than neanderthals. We think we are wise, but in reality we are merely the first species smart enough to make really bad decisions. Most species have every impulse programmed into them and their number of options to influence the world are limited. We are still evolving as a global society. We decided to try out an experiment that involved leaving our home, the African jungle. This was our natural habitat.

We acquired a great deal of knowledge but we lost the wisdom that every other animal has — the wisdom of living within nature. No monkey has chronic worries, stress, cancer, diabetes or heart disease. This is because they live naturally.

Because we have moved out of the forest, we have had to create new systems to help us live within our nature. We go to gyms, we visit parks, we try to eat the fresh foods of the forest, and we need to meditate because of all the constant content we’re bombarded with.

We’re not broken, we just don’t live in a society designed for optimal human development. But, with conscious awareness, we can get back to our true nature of presence and bliss. And that will change society.

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