Mindful life

The other day, I woke up in a truly lousy mood and was immediately hit with several small problems in my inbox. My mood amplified these issues, making them seem like minor emergencies. Later that day, I was having lunch with a friend and started complaining about these problems. My friend said two things that were extraordinarily wise, illustrating the psychological value of good company and the importance of having a certain mindset.  After hearing me out, she first said, "None of these problems seem that big, or you can easily deal with them. So, do you really want to be this stressed out right now?" Of course, this was a rhetorical question. I knew the answer was no, and she was simply right. She reminded me that I could be mindful of my thoughts and emotions, like a perpetual motion machine of dissatisfaction. She was reminding me that I could give them space and achieve real equanimity in the present, regardless of these problems. However, without knowing how to meditate...

Hi,  my  name  is  Ambuj,  and  welcome  to  my Blog.   One  of  the  last  bits  of  advice  I  remember  before  leaving  the  monastery in Himachal  was  from  one  of  my  teachers  who  to  this  day  is  still  a  really  important  part  of  my  life.  He  said  to  me,  "Think  big."   And  you  might  think  from  a  monk  that's  a  strange  bit  of  advice.  You  know,  it's  normal  when we  think  of  monastics,  we  think of keeping  life  very  simple  and very  clean, not  really  thinking  big 😀.   But it's easy to think that being present and focusing on the present mome...

Ever feel like you’re running on a hamster wheel, repeating the same actions and expecting different results? It’s a common struggle, but mindfulness offers a way out. By becoming aware of these patterns, you can start making small changes that lead to greater happiness. My Own Story of Repetition and Change A few weeks ago, I was caught in a cycle at my startup. Every day, I’d wake up feeling anxious about my overwhelming to-do list. I’d start my day by diving straight into emails, letting other people’s priorities dictate my schedule. By mid-afternoon, I was drained and frustrated, feeling like I hadn’t accomplished anything meaningful. This pattern repeated for days, leaving me stressed and unhappy. One morning, I asked myself: "How are you stuck right now? In what way are you repeating a pattern that is making you less happy than you might otherwise be?" The answer was immediate—I was letting external demands control my day. I realized I needed a change, however small, to...