Jessica Davidson's Blog, page 38

Active Hope and Expanding the Sense of Self

Last time we looked at the transformation of pain into healing and how it reminds us that we need each other. One of the problems with pain is that it can make you withdraw into yourself. But this just makes the pain worse because now you feel isolated too, and that messes with your head… Continue reading Active Hope and Expanding the Sense of Self

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Be Mean

Don’t Be Mean is about not being nasty about other people, either to their face or behind their back. Words can hurt just as much as sticks and stones. The original lojong slogan is: Don’t malign others, which is a noble idea, but not easy to live up to. It’s no good pretending to be… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Be Mean

Active Hope and the Healing Power of Transforming Pain

Last time we looked at the benefits of gratitude, and if you’ve been practising you should be feeling warm and fuzzy by now. Which is a good thing because in this post we delve into the realm of pain. Nobody likes it. Everybody experiences it. So it’s about time we got to grips with it.… Continue reading Active Hope and the Healing Power of Transforming Pain

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Be Predictable

Don’t Be Predictable is about breaking out of your bad habits so you don’t react automatically in the same way all the time. The original lojong slogan is more or less the same: Don’t be so predictable. Some of our habits are helpful, but others can become straightjackets. When you do things the same way,… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Be Predictable

Active Hope and the Benefits of Gratitude

Last time we looked at the spiral of transformation and how we can become more resilient during a crisis. It may be surprising, but this process always begins with gratitude. In fact, if the news and miscellaneous madness of the world is getting you down, this is one guaranteed way to cheer yourself up. Gratitude… Continue reading Active Hope and the Benefits of Gratitude

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Poison Yourself

Don’t Poison Yourself is about not feeding your ego with negative or positive reinforcement, because it will feast on whatever you focus your mind on. The original lojong slogan is: Abandon poisonous food, which means looking at how you nourish yourself, not just in terms of the food you eat, but on every level: physical,… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Poison Yourself

Active Hope and the Spiral of Transformation

Last time we introduced the idea of Active Hope and the stories that shape our society. The old myths are failing and the new ones are still being shaped, so we find ourselves poised between worlds – lost, confused, and a little freaked out. It’s hard to keep up with the pace of change or… Continue reading Active Hope and the Spiral of Transformation

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Abandon Hope

Abandon Hope is about not being attached to the outcome of whatever you’re doing. You might succeed or fail but focusing on either possibility takes you out of the present moment which is the only time in which you can act. The original lojong slogan is: Abandon any hope of fruition, which means letting go… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Abandon Hope

Active Hope and the Spiritual Revolution: Stories of Our Time

It might not feel like it, but we’re a lucky bunch. We’re living at a time of great upheaval and confusion when everything we’ve known is crumbling under our feet. Why is this lucky? Because we’re the ones who get to decide how things turn out. It’s the choices we make today that will determine… Continue reading Active Hope and the Spiritual Revolution: Stories of Our Time

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Work With Your Biggest Problems First

Work with your biggest problems first is about getting to the heart of whatever holds you back and dealing with that first. Don’t waste time worrying about minor upsets because they’ll heal themselves if you deal with the root of the problem, the thing that never goes away and never seems to get better. The… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Work With Your Biggest Problems First