Category Archives: A meaningful life

This adventure was not a vacation

; it was a trial of my will… Motocross in Iceland is not easy. We rode six hours a day across unforgiving terrain. It rained three out of four days. The cold, an average of maybe 5 °C, was paired with winds so violent we sometimes feared being blown off our motorcycles. I had neverContinue reading “This adventure was not a vacation”

Finding hope during life’s critical moments

In life’s critical moments, when facing uncertainty and accompanying loved ones through painful moments, our minds create stories of hope and meaning. True freedom from suffering isn’t the absence of pain, but moving through it gracefully, supported by compassion. Here was the theme of my meditation this afternoon:  Though I cannot be physically present, myContinue reading “Finding hope during life’s critical moments”

La gestion des émotions : un pilier essentiel pour notre bien-être

(english version and podcast below) La gestion des émotions est au cœur de notre équilibre psychologique et physique. Tout commence par la prise de conscience de ce qui est ressenti. Les narratifs ou “les histoires qu’on se raconte sur ce qui nous arrive” influencent les émotions que nous éprouvons et peuvent même les précéder. EnContinue reading “La gestion des émotions : un pilier essentiel pour notre bien-être”

On elevation…

“elevation” refers to a specific positive emotional state that arises when a person witnesses acts of moral beauty, virtue, or moral excellence. This feeling is often described as a warm, uplifting sensation, typically accompanied by physical responses such as a feeling of expansion in the chest or tears in the eyes. Elevation is distinct fromContinue reading “On elevation…”

Naviguer nos tempêtes émotionnelles : compétences et outils pour les professionnels

“Entre un déclencheur et une émotion, il y a un espace. Dans cet espace se trouve notre pouvoir de choisir notre réaction. Dans notre réaction réside notre croissance et notre liberté.” – Adaptation de Victor Frankl Nous vivons à un rythme effréné, dans monde un axé sur la performance.  Notre attention est une ressource aisémentContinue reading “Naviguer nos tempêtes émotionnelles : compétences et outils pour les professionnels”

Where I find my freedom and my peace…

Last night, as I watched a TV show about survivalists in Alaska and as I heard a couple’s narrative about quitting modern life to live freely, an idea bloomed in my mind.  Nothing looks like freedom to me when one lives in the wilderness and must work so hard for basic food and shelter.  For me,Continue reading “Where I find my freedom and my peace…”

Naviguer nos tempêtes émotionnelles : compétences et outils pour les professionnels en santé

“Entre un déclencheur et une émotion, il y a un espace. Dans cet espace se trouve notre pouvoir de choisir notre réaction. Dans notre réaction réside notre croissance et notre liberté.” – Adaptation de Victor Frankl Nous vivons à un rythme effréné, dans monde axé sur la performance.  Notre attention est une ressource aisément disperséeContinue reading “Naviguer nos tempêtes émotionnelles : compétences et outils pour les professionnels en santé”

Transforming Behaviors through Mindful Observation

In the end, what many people really desire is to change unwanted behaviors, to transform them into desirable behaviors. To do that, we should recognize that more often than not, emotions drive behaviors. So if we want to change behaviors, we need to change emotions. If we want to change emotions, we have to recognizeContinue reading “Transforming Behaviors through Mindful Observation”

Embracing the fire: pain and suffering as fertile grounds for growth

(French translation below) In our contemporary society, there’s a noticeable trend towards avoiding pain and suffering at all costs. This movement has led to a significant sensitization, resulting in a reduced tolerance for any amount of discomfort. A critical examination of this phenomenon reveals that we might be missing an essential truth: pain and sufferingContinue reading “Embracing the fire: pain and suffering as fertile grounds for growth”

Surviving grief: Recognizing the eternal bonds of love and legacy

To a friend in grief… Even in our preparedness for the inevitable grief life brings, each passing carries its own sorrow. Sometimes, we also experience a sense of relief, particularly in cases of prior illness. We should embrace these emotions, even if they are uncomfortable to bear. Through the love we share, I find thatContinue reading “Surviving grief: Recognizing the eternal bonds of love and legacy”

Whining Behind Tribal Fences: Our Self-Imposed Exclusions

Recently, I caught myself in an unsettling behavior while conversing with a close friend. We were discussing a variety of topics when subject “X” emerged. The topic itself is inconsequential; what matters is the pattern of our dialogue. I suspect I’m not the only one who engages in this, and that realization is both comfortingContinue reading “Whining Behind Tribal Fences: Our Self-Imposed Exclusions”

Capture and hijack: a tug-of-war inside my head

My inner life is a wild landscape, a mental ecosystem where a calm sea of stillness can abruptly transform into a turbulent ocean of emotions. During capture, my attention is caught and moved by something, a thought, a memory, an emotion, a sound, a sight, a smell, something happening in the world, and my mindContinue reading “Capture and hijack: a tug-of-war inside my head”

Cultiver l’équilibre émotionnel dans un monde de distractions… une offre

“Entre un déclencheur et une émotion, il y a un espace. Dans cet espace se trouve notre pouvoir de choisir notre réaction. Dans notre réaction réside notre croissance et notre liberté.” – Adaptation de Victor Frankl Où que vous soyez, quel que soit votre état actuel, j’espère que ces mots résonneront en vous. Nous vivonsContinue reading “Cultiver l’équilibre émotionnel dans un monde de distractions… une offre”

Cultivating emotional balance in our distracted modern world… an offering

“Between trigger and emotion, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Adaption of Victor Frankl’s Wherever you are in your life’s journey, whatever your current emotional and mental state, I hope these words resonate with you. We liveContinue reading “Cultivating emotional balance in our distracted modern world… an offering”

Cultivating emotional balance

The main benefit from the “Cultivating emotional balance” CEBTT program I gain is not the mindfulness, not the peace of mind, not the emotional intelligence, it is the commitment that i have to make, every day, to go beyond the knowledge-thoughts-talk and venture into what it really means to be a good kind and compassionateContinue reading “Cultivating emotional balance”

Where true love and friendship are found…

Last year, i lived through a profound experience where I got an insight into the meaning of my personal life. I saw that for me, happiness is found in the love we give. This is it. Period. Nothing else to add. That knowledge stayed with me and I tried to keep it alive, to liveContinue reading “Where true love and friendship are found…”