Ditching Belief….

… and the “Need to Know” is a big step on the road to peace and the elimination of suffering.

No Man is an Island

Peace can be found by treating life as a whole, and not otherwise.

How to Meditate

I am no teacher.  All I can tell you is how I meditate and what it has done for me.  Anything else would be a shocking arrogance.

Contemporary Art

As a pacific anarchist, I find up to the minute art much to my taste.

Lost in Thought

Lost is often a good thing. Thought may not be so good.

Doing it Differently

Breaking up my routine seems to add enormously to my well-being. While I might not persuade my wife to let me go trekking in the Empty Quarter, even mild change can be very beneficial.

Hope and Despair

For the miserable, moody and mercurial, one’s outlook can swivel on a sixpence. Or dime, if you prefer. Not so … More

Anger is Self-Harm

The anger I felt after a set-to a week ago was a futile exercise in self harm. 

Depression – Mind or Matter?

The state of depression is easy enough to describe but it is doubtful whether mere words manage to convey the depth of the misery to one who has never suffered from it.

The Shameful, Avoidable Horror of Dementia and Old Age

We would put an animal down, surely we can offer the same courtesy to a human?

Norman Nembutal

For the ever mercurial Alfred the sun did not rise yesterday. After a splendid microdosed  Sunday,  he woke with a bump on Monday morning. 

Facing down the Black Dog

Perhaps it is best to acknowledge the endless pawing of the black dog at your door.  For some, it is a rare day that the gentle scuffling can not be heard.  

Happiness and Genetic Bingo

We can expect limited success in our endeavours to change but some change is better than none. We may be able to tip the balance in our favour.

Really Bad Hair Day

Bad hair day doesn’t begin to describe the awfulness of a day of real negativity.  There are days when the sun just seems to go out.

Free Legal High

Earlier this morning I had been contemplating nihilism.  I was feeling nihilistic and unconstructive.  I wondered if some pill or other could improve my mood and cheer up my day.

Scandinavian Happiness

I am disappointed to hear that Scandinavian happiness is “more a matter of class whether you can afford to take time to take care of yourself”.

Positivity

Embrace the positive avoid the negative.

Depression – Rational Enquiry vs Emotional Wallowing

Depression can only be defeated by science and rational enquiry not airy faerie emotional wallowing such as is to be found in most useless self help books.

Dealing with Depression

If you can deal with depression at all you need to determine whether your life is causing your anxiety or whether it is your anxiety which is ruining your life.

Job Satisfaction and Happiness – Pigs’ Ears and Silk Purses

If you are not satisfied and fulfilled by your job it is a fair bet you are not happy.  Certainly not as happy as you could and should be.

Self-Help Gurus

Self help gurus are guaranteed fakes.  So are all other self anointed gurus.  Avoid them – run for your life and keep your purse locked.

Happiness

Happiness is perhaps best described as the absence of unhappiness.

Dementia – A Carer’s Survival Guide

“Dementia” is simply an umbrella term for a vast and cruel range of hideous and debilitating symptoms.