Blog Posts

One of the cornerstone distortions in love relationships, friendships and all other kinds of relationships is inaccurately seeing “the other’s” expression of a need as a demand. When we exaggerate the genuine expression of a need and instead experience it as a demand, it sets up the unfortunate and inevitable likelihood of misunderstandings. It can also compromise your own ability or desire to be responsive in a kind and cooperative way.  Read More . . .

One of the most unrecognized patterns by the general population, and even unwittingly by most therapists, that causes suffering, especially in love relationships, is when one partner or party views and experiences the other’s “perceptions” as “judgments.” Turning perceptions into judgments is one of the least understood dynamics in communication, and is a real source of loss of intimacy, trust and compatibility.  Read More . . .

All over the world, we’re grappling with family and friendship dilemmas. In America alone, these challenging situations are probably more complex than they have been in a very long time — probably even since the Civil War. Most of my friends, colleagues, and clients are in the midst of dealing with impossible relatives or conversations that revolve around prejudice, hatred, racism, insurrection, political divisions, immigration, or homeless intolerance, to name a few. Read more . . .

Great wisdom and messages in general and in many different aspects of life and the world. I love that he is embracing the world’s challenges in a direct way now and making the connection between inner and outer peace. However, when he highlights the importance of keeping “his center on his identity and not that … Read more . . .

One of the areas that each of us have enormous needs that usually get unrecognized is to become much more aware of our own aggression and all the different ways it expresses itself.

Psychotherapist Robert Strock discusses how beneficial it would be for spiritual teachers to share their own struggles and model how they helped guide themselves with their own teachings.

When you are frightened or feeling really anxious while reading the news about the coronavirus epidemic, the key in situations like this is to be aware of and allow whatever feelings are there. Recognize these feelings are perfectly natural given the circumstances, be as kind and accepting of yourself as possible, and ask, “What thoughts … Read more . . .

Extreme black and white thinking about socialism or anti-socialism is imbalanced. Of course we need socialistic elements like Medicare and social security. We also need to have the potentiating of a free market to give maximum individual incentive and to create a balance. If we could look to find the optimal balance we would be … Read more . . .

The first guided meditation from Robert Strock’s book, Awareness that Heals, helps you maintain awareness of a challenging emotion in order to have a chance to have a healing influence on yourself.

In the first four chapters, we explored awareness that heals, friendly mind, moving from self-rejection toward self-compassion and inquiry. All of them, especially inquiry, can help us access our wisdom guidance and persevere when access is difficult. To define it from a different perspective, our wisdom guidance frames in word and tone the message that … Read more . . .

Discover the part of you that wants to care about yourself while you are feeling emotionally challenged. Awareness That Heals Chapter 1 Meditation #2.

Robert Strock and Shelley Pearce talk about how “friendly mind” differs from positive thinking, conventional thinking, and negative thinking.

An Awareness that Heals dialogue.

Inquiry can go on intermittently for days in the background of your mind and heart when you are really interested in exploring a specific part of your life. When this happens, you want to be sure that you keep the same positive focus of questioning where it is clear that you are looking to support … Read more . . .

This guided meditation helps you explore the relationship between courage and fear and how to transform it to be able to reside primarily in your courage.

Psychotherapist Robert Strock discusses how to avoid patterns of judgment and bring yourself from being in a rut to caring for yourself.

To criminalize homeless people, let alone act like they are just one group, is an incredibly naïve and cruel way to deal with this suffering. It is quite evident that there are at least 6-7 different types of homeless people’s issues. There are issues of drug abuse, alcohol, and schizophrenia, other less severe mental illness … Read more . . .

The best way each of us can help with the fires is to recognize that we are all interconnected with Global Warming and therefore all of our actions matter. Look at the side of yourself when you think, “Well, I’m only one person, so what difference does it make if I get an electric car, … Read more . . .

Robert Strock and Shelley Pearce discuss how “friendly mind” can steer you in a neutral — and sometimes playful — way to find the thoughts that are most helpful to you.

Inquiry from the heart is essential because, if we make this practice part of our lives, it is one of the key ways to focus our awareness in the direction of our own healing and fulfillment. It can also alert us when we are not heading in a healing direction. When we develop awareness that … Read more . . .

When we look closely, we’ll discover that the tone of voice of ourselves and those that are closest to us is the source of our greatest suffering and our greatest intimacy.

Psychotherapist Robert Strock discusses the importance of awareness of tone of voice when dealing with your teenager, connecting with their heart, and setting firm boundaries.

This is a good article as far as it goes. Of course, how we handle our distribution of money and the work opportunities throughout our population is going to have an immeasurable impact on quality of life and homicides as well. Besides the denial of death, the denial of income inequality is a disease throughout … Read more . . .

This is a great article with a long-term world perspective. How long will it take for America to see that it has built its brilliance on the backs of the American Indians and slaves? Unfortunately, this is how it’s been throughout history. This beginning insight is, for some, the inspiration to commit to a life … Read more . . .

Although most of us already ask ourselves questions about how we might make positive changes in our lives, those questions are often asked in ways that do not support us and do not bring healing. They can be expressed with a negative edge like, “Why aren’t you making more progress?” or “Why are you stuck … Read more . . .

This guided meditation crystallizes a healing path when we are feeling righteous, victimized, impatient and aggressive. Where are you most righteous, moralistic, antagonistic, or feeling like a victim in your life?

Psychotherapist Robert Strock discusses how to adapt to the new normal of a longterm illness, be the quarterback of your team of caretakers, and focus on the possible rather than dwell on the impossible.

Mindfulness is only a starting point. We could analogize it to God or Faith. We can be devoted with a very dear part of ourselves, but the question is how much is this integrated into our life? We can go to church on Sundays, but not practice or express our faith during the week. We … Read more . . .

This is a message to those of us who don’t believe that the assassination of General Soleimani was a wise strategy even though we recognize that he was a murderous killer of Americans. The normal reaction is to criticize the Trump administration for not having a plan or clear strategy immediately in place. This is … Read more . . .

A 17-year-old tradition! A volunteer day with the Skid Row Project as we sorted and distributed 650 packages full of warm clothing, toys, and health care kits with friends of The Global Bridge Foundation. If you have a humanitarian project in the area of homelessness, climate change, or wealth inequality, please be in touch. We want to help … Read more . . .

We have all been blessed by Ram Dass’s simple heartfelt wisdom to give us such a leap in our evolution into our lives. His elegant living room style of living in all of our hearts as family has been contagious for a long time. Sending so much gratitude to his spirit and messages that he … Read more . . .

There has never been an issue in American history in my lifetime or likely yours as well that is the effect of a cult-like mass psychological hypnotic trance. It is familiar in many misguided spiritual “Guruistic” communities. The ultimate one was how the German people believed blindly in Adolf Hitler. I am not trying to … Read more . . .

This human being is telling it like it is in a way that no one I know of can duplicate. We need to soak it in. She has moved so many of us to tears with the truth of our sleepy, self-destructive way of living and that the values of our own lifestyle are dwarfing … Read more . . .

In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. For more, order the book today and receive a 10% new release discount and free shipping When we access our awareness that heals, we are able to … Read more . . .

Starting with the Dilemma In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. For more, order the book today and receive a 10% new release discount and free shipping. In the following examples, you will see … Read more . . .

A video dialogue.

An Awareness That Heals Audiocast.

The young people now in high school, college and just spilling out into the workplace, part of Generation Z, are frustrated, angry and scared. In 2019, their exasperation broke out in a firestorm of just two words: “OK Boomer.” (TIME) Young or old, we are all in the same dilemma. Yes, our generation is passing … Read more . . .

Donald Trump represents the most self-centered part of all of us in the extreme. He is like a cartoon character who is constantly telling himself a story about his motives, actions and reactions. He represents the darkest, most devious side of humanity. He gives us a chance to see how we each tell ourselves stories … Read more . . .

Mindfulness and meditation is going to help anyone that is open to it with a broad array of benefits in dealing with life issues including pain care and opioids. This is a tool that is among what I would call the invaluables. The even greater issue for most people in today’s world of pain care … Read more . . .

In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. For more, order the book today and receive a 10% new release discount and free shipping. Take a look at any areas of your life where you … Read more . . .

A Guided Meditation.

One of the largest places of suffering in my life was particularly from 7th grade through high school because the issues we were dealing with didn’t relate to my current and anticipated future life. Problem based learning is motivating as you can so much more likely see that it will benefit your life. Creative learning … Read more . . .

It was an honor to have supported Indivisible this past week through The Global Bridge Foundation. If you have a humanitarian project in the area of homelessness, climate change, or wealth inequality, please be in touch. We want to help support everyone to find each other.

This guided meditation helps the viewer have self compassion in the face of harmful self talk that can be chronic.

Mindfulness isn’t just good for us as individuals. Here’s how it can help your company grow. It completely makes sense to bring mindfulness into the workplace. How could it not help to have more peace, sensitivity and cooperation? There isn’t a part of society or life that wouldn’t benefit from greater mindfulness whether it is … Read more . . .

In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. The voice of friendly mind simply and sensibly deals with what is possible rather than continuing to go for the impossible. It is pragmatic, unbiased, and even-tempered. … Read more . . .

International Medical Corps is one of the true heroic agencies of our time. If you can support them with whatever kind of donation, it is money well spent. We are honored to be partners with them for the last 10+ years. Each of us that isn’t locked in a survival struggle ourselves needs to look … Read more . . .

It’ll Also Change the Taste of Our Favorite Species. New research shows shrimp can lose their flavor when ocean chemistry shifts. (The New Food Economy) Losing the taste of our favorite fish is a “tip of the iceberg”. We are working with several great organizations at The Global Bridge that are working directly with the … Read more . . .

While the sound of our friendly mind’s voice varies depending on the circumstances we are facing, it does have abiding qualities. It is either neutral or, when the challenges are not all consuming, it is supportive. To demonstrate this, here is the summary of a series of sessions in dialogue form, showing how friendly mind … Read more . . .

A guide to support a communication bridge between your wisdom heart and everyday challenges.

Robert Strock and Shelley Pearce talk about how “friendly mind” can confront the most common irrational standards that can affect our mood throughout the day.

Deeply tragic. Such a horrible symptom of a culture that still is loaded with bigotry and violence. What can each of us do to support less violence? It seems the first thing is to realize that virtually all of us have anger that we underestimate that is inside us. That would be a major contribution … Read more . . .

Those of us that are able to take care of our livelihood need to open our hearts, wallets and minds to help develop alternatives for the homeless. It is important that we not trivialize the homeless and believe that they are unworthy of our help. This means we will have to create intentional communities eventually … Read more . . .

In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. How often have you found yourself feeling bad or thinking about yourself in a critical way and thought, “I wish I knew what I could do to … Read more . . .

Existing only with an Intellectual Awareness almost inevitably leaves us feeling like we are caught in a dead end of painful feelings—and we can’t see a way out. Because this level doesn’t actually lead to any significant healing, it is no wonder that we might have a tendency to turn away from these feelings or … Read more . . .

Starting with the Dilemma In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. For more, order the book today and receive a 10% new release discount and free shipping. Here is one way my clients have … Read more . . .

Will I take the time today to create a safe space to be more aware of and harmlessly feel my resistance and anger, and infuse it with kindness?

Robert Strock and Shelley Pearce talk about the principles for developing a friendlier mind.

The Indivisible Project’s mission is to cultivate a grassroots movement of literally thousands of local Indivisible groups to elect progressive leaders, realize bold progressive policies, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda. I’m honored to be supporting Indivisible with fundraisers through The Global Bridge Foundation and for Indivisible founder Ezra Levin for endorsing Awareness … Read more . . .

Trump also asked the Ukrainian leader to work with his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and US Attorney General William Barr on the issue, the call transcript reveals It is so important that we break our level of denial and see that close to half our country really believes that our president is within his rights … Read more . . .

In this series, we take a look at one of the eight key practices for navigating life’s challenges that are explored in my new book, Awareness That Heals. For more, order the book today and receive a 10% new release discount and free shipping. Awareness, in my definition, does not mean a cold, clinical, “neutral” … Read more . . .

Robert Strock and Elle Pearce talk about how “Friendly Mind” can help guide you to confront impossible standards and focus your attention on what’s actually possible.

Presence coexists with whatever is happening without a need for changing anything.

Easy Solar is making clean energy affordable to those undeserved by the grid across West Africa. (Acumen) I’m proud to partner with Acumen in Sierra Leone and to work to lessen carbon emissions related to tilling of the soil and support high risk business investments. Acumen is an organization that is the leader in aggregating … Read more . . .

These are great wisdom teachings to create and support balance. One danger that I would watch for is the illusion that emotions need to be short term and converted into compassion. That’s a very advanced practice that only somebody that’s been working with themselves for decades might be able to pull off. It’s a lot … Read more . . .