Spirituality and psychology and interrelated for so many of us. Some of us grew up in a certain faith-based tradition, while others grew up agnostic or in atheistic homes. For many adults, finding beliefs and practices that resonate on a deep level can be hard to come by.
Discovering the texts, messages, and ideas that support you to live a life of meaning and purpose can be transformative.
As a child, I was raised in an interfaith household, with a Jewish mother and a Catholic father. While I appreciated elements of both traditions, my heart longed for something that made sense to me, applied to my day-to-day life, and held the promise of supporting me throughout the ups and downs of my life.
I discovered Buddhist Psychology when I was in graduate school and began my meditation practice at that time, over twenty years ago. I became certified in Buddhist Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in 2007 and I have found is that Buddhist practices including meditation can be used for many practical purposes, most notably, it can help to increase your overall self-awareness.
Additionally, meditation can help with things that are crucial for your emotional well-being. These include self-compassion, forgiveness, and dealing with strong feelings such as anger or fear.
Whether you already have an existing meditation practice or you are interested in incorporating Buddhist philosophy into your personal growth journey, I would be happy to support you. These ancient teachings and practices are powerful ways to improve the quality of your life.
Buddhist Psychology Practices
Relaxation
A wonderful way to use Buddhist Psychology is through meditation for relaxation. If you struggle with chronic anxiety, you know how challenging it can be to think straight, show up how you want to show up, and take your time. Especially when your fears dominate your mind space and your body is tight with tension. Using meditative practices to slow down and generate feelings of spaciousness and ease can allow you to shift your energy into a more easeful state and access the root of your fears for exploration.
Clarity & Intentionality
Meditative practices are a key component in Buddhist Psychology. Allowing yourself to come to a quiet space inside can slow things down. All of the frenetic energy, the mental checklists, the fast-paced movement, and the glorified busyness of these modern times can take over our lives. Sometimes we can even forget our “why,” or the reasons that we are even working so hard in the first place! Inquiring deeply within can put us back in touch with what we want and need, as well as truest intentions.
Self-Compassion
Of all the people in the world, I’ve found that we are hardest on ourselves. We can hold ourselves to unrelenting standards, measure ourselves against impossible metrics, and be perfectionists to no end. But where does that get us? Not terribly far, when it comes to how we feel about ourselves. Research shows that self-compassion is a key to well-being, and Buddhist Psychology and meditation practices are fantastic tools for cultivating it.
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