
What do you do when you do therapy?
“They’re all the same. It’s like getting a haircut.” Continue reading What do you do when you do therapy?
“They’re all the same. It’s like getting a haircut.” Continue reading What do you do when you do therapy?
As far as I know I’ve just coined this term “fear-meme”, and so it warrants clarification. A fear-meme is simply a free-floating (non physical) entity that persists within an individuals abstract consciousness – persecuting and horrifying them at seemingly random intervals. Continue reading How language causes fear, anxiety and depression.
A terse argument for “language” as the root of conflict. Continue reading Language as the Essence of Conflict
Mercury and the Sun formed an archetypal co-dependent relationship years ago. Continue reading Soiled Sky Ornament (Scorched and Frozen – an immortal fixture)
Your life is fine devoid of meaning. Continue reading Surrender the obsession for meaning.
Until I Disappear (On Reincarnation) Continue reading Until I Disappear
A short insight into a future publication … The following represents a 1st or 2nd draft with elements removed of a paper that will be presented for publication in due time. It’s of particular interest to those of you interested … Continue reading A Sample of my Narrative Interview with Heather M.; Abridged
Both my mom and dad love self help books. As I grew up, they both had libraries inundated with them – for different sorts of reasons, though. My mom was a psychology student; her SH (self-help) books were strewn sparingly … Continue reading “Self Help Gibberish” and “It’s natural to be insane.”
Match your core values with those of a historical thinker. Continue reading The “Why do we exist?” Personality test. Who do you match up with?
Take this personality test (written by a qualified psychotherapist) to come to grips with your outlook. Continue reading Philosophical Variant’s Personality Test (Written by M. Todd ~ 2009); Take it for Free.
The second portion of the Diamond Sutra – Abridged and Reworded by M Todd Preface: Innumerable readings of this precious gift yield new insights – it is a book to be read for the duration of one’s life; a spiritual … Continue reading The Diamond Sutra; Volumes 16 – 32 (By Michael Todd)
The Diamond Sutra could stand alone as an entry into the most profound spiritual practice; those who read it – even disregarding other Sutra’s, are destined for enlightenment according to the Buddha. Buddhism and the spiritual descendants of it (most … Continue reading The “Diamond Sutra” – further abridged, for people with limited time. (Chapters 1-14)
Discard it. Continue reading Discard Them
Love is a modular word – God is a concept based on that word. Continue reading God is love? How we construct God visually and verbally.
People seem to be quite open when you ask them to identify themselves, or their religion, by a name or an affiliation (Christian, Jewish, Protestant, Snake Handler, etc …) … Some people are self avowed “spiritual” people. My analysis of … Continue reading Don’t Assume “God is Love” – the limitations of constructing God.
A Single, Powerful Meditation Tip … Continue reading A Single, Powerful Meditation Tip …
I recently read an article in a Buddhist Periodical describing the stages of death. We die (if we die in a natural, systematic way, rather than instantly) in a systematic way – it’s not difficult to record it and research … Continue reading How we Die – How we can use Personality Theory to Understand it.
The simple, 3 step process by which we willingly abandon bliss. Our first impulse, in dealings with others, is to think “they.” Initially, I was alone. My beliefs guided my actions – my construct of beliefs guided my overall view … Continue reading Part 1: The simple, 3 step process by which we willingly abandon bliss.
5 well known quotes and why they exemplify Zen philosophy Zen isn’t a religion; by it’s nature it’s empty. The goal is emptiness; emptiness of mind, emptiness of burden, emptiness of the elements of attachment and suffering. For this reason, I’m often flabbergasted at how long winded writers who portend to be writing “about Zen” are, on a subject that was always meant to be “transmitted”. That is, handed over through non-explicit means, non-verbal means. This makes Zen essentially untouchable in the traditional sense; you don’t “talk about Zen”. You don’t “discuss Zen philosophy” or “discuss what Meditation is.” … Continue reading 5 well known quotes and why they exemplify Zen philosophy
Diagnosing Personality Disorders (Psychopathy), Depression and Anxiety in Youth As a psychotherapist and a crisis counsellor, it seems that there’s a constant, unceasing background argument that mental health disorders (particularly autistic and conduct disorders) is on the rise. Evidence that … Continue reading Diagnosing Personality Disorders (Psychopathy), Depression and Anxiety in Youth (Some Discussion of Suicide).
If the ultimate (and initial) goal, in therapy, is to initiate a discussion with the client that enables them to better understand and empower themselves … how to accomplish said goal with a young person with “nothing” to say? Psychotherapist’s … Continue reading Working with young people in Therapy … or “playing the game”. (Sometime’s Poker, Sometime’s Chess).
This was just a fun little sonnet I wrote using classical rules (a true Italian Sonnet); it’s a response to a nice little love poem written by a blogger I follow. You can find her love poem here: Souldier Girl … … Continue reading Venus delights, then forgets; Charon awaits – the river Acheron flows forever … (amor para las amores)
5 things that keep us from appreciating life, and blunt it’s value. – Michael Todd The chances of being born into a human body are like the chances of a sea turtle in the pacific ocean … wandering. The chances … Continue reading Turtle in the Ocean
The “Which Philosopher are You?” Test – Written by Michael Todd (circa 2008) Preface: This is the second of the several personality tests I’ve written. The concept behind it was to choose several of the most prominent philosophers of all time, then, to “tag” them with words and labels that best identified their core beliefs about reality, the universe … and everything. The way I operationalized this was to use actual quotes from them… every question in this test is an actual quote from one of the greatest minds earth has ever known. Having said that, funny anecdote: After I … Continue reading The “Which Philosopher are You” Personality Test – (Written by M. Todd, Clinical Psychotherapist)
Before I offer you the link to my (first) personality test, you must gave upon my interpretation of … my (tied for #1) favorite philosopher; Ludwig Wittgenstein: Thanks to the software over at okquizzie.com, I’ve been able to begin to … Continue reading Take my tri-variable personality test … find out of you’re a: Scientist, Philosopher … or an Artist.
1. Offer the offended party space. For many people, and particularly if the offended party is a loved one, the natural inclination will be to pull in closer … to become even more intimate in an attempt to ameliorate the … Continue reading 5 Ways to control damage after a conflict in a marriage or other relationship.
I’m a psychotherapist – that’s my central vocation. I see everything that way; it’s what comes easiest to me (maybe even easier than chess does). Art allows me a way of sublimating the thoughts, feelings and reactions I have to … Continue reading An introduction to my brand of artwork … work-artwork.
The best and most devoted teacher I had in high school was a wheelchair bound woman named Mrs. Roden – her real name was Michelle. I can’t remember the exact diagnosis anymore, and I don’t know if she ever really … Continue reading It’s “practical to be prejudiced”.
Chappie’s moral lesson to us all: It’s not ok to die. Find a titanium suitcase and upload your consciousness – and do it without really explaining how you did it. Continue reading Chappie/Blomkamp pander to quantum nerds who seek immortality … summon Robocop, AI, Kubrick and other sci-fi canon.
Even when we do find the solution in one situation, others will arise forever … in waves. They will challenge our will to be rational, and they will antagonize us into using a shortcut solution. Continue reading Using the middle ground, chess, and rational problem solving to resolve disputes, and be happy together.
If only I had eternal validation and unceasing, unblemished love from THAT person, I would be alright. Examining this, and other bizarre thought we all have (or have had), and the process of self inquiry. Continue reading “So and So” should love me (the process of inquiring into and discarding useless beliefs).
Thoughts, themselves, are very difficult for people to “pass up”. In the CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) sense, long term beliefs. Thoughts that we have that pertain to these beliefs, even for a person who is “enlightened” in many ways, it’s … Continue reading Making gradual progress in discarding beliefs that control us. The fish and the hook.
It’s possible for a man to have a deep, abiding love for a female that he’s never going to marry or fornicate with, even in site of the woman he has done both of those things with. And, it’s possible … Continue reading How to apologize to an intelligent woman (not including your wife, version).
Even if you don’t technically own or run a small business, if you’re like a lot of us today, you’ve sort of cobbled together a career. You might work 3 different jobs; 2 of the 3 might be jobs you … Continue reading Fragmented Career, Mental Health Decline.