We all exist because of events that take place in this eternal stream of presence. The future is tied to the past, it is not separate. But it all happens in the present moment. The future will happen because of what we do now, and what we do now is because of what came before. So you could say we are also only here because of what will happen in…
Q: Dear Todd, Perhaps you have some advice for people who are different—whether it's ADHD, autism, or high sensitivity—on how to find their place in society. We often live on the fringes, but not at the center of society.TODD ANSWERS: As a person who considers myself in this category with my history of ADHD and high sensitivity, I struggled with this for a long time. Ultimately the place we can…
Q: Dear Todd, I live in a developing country that is corrupt, where money and connections really matter. The people here seem irrational. I chose the wrong path back then, but I was sensible enough to recognize that it was a defining moment in my life. I made up my mind with courage, but now I’ve lost everything, including my relationships with important people. What should I do? Should I…
Q: Dear Todd, what do you do with memories, good and bad? TODD ANSWERS: When we are fully present, with no mental distractions, life becomes peaceful and blissful. Sometimes something in the present moment will remind me of either painful or enjoyable, and I try to just witness it and honor it, make a mental note of what I'm carrying with me and what triggers it, and then I just…
Q: Dear Todd, I don't know how it is possible to not judge something as "negative" when I have found a wish in my heart and then things happen that seem to be the opposite to what my heart sees. TODD ANSWERS: I know exactly what you mean but it really is true that nothing is positive or negative. They really are two sides of the same coin. There is…
Q: So does that mean, even though they (the suffering?) exist in the mind, we have a choice in that moment how we let these moments affect us? TODD ANSWERS: We definitely do have a choice, but there may also be unhealed trauma as well. For many, our trauma may be the cause of our awakening out of suffering. For others, awakening may be the cause for our trauma to…
Q: Dear Todd, I feel extremely unsettled when I sense that I am being deliberately excluded. How do I find the source of why this unsettles me so much? TODD ANSWERS: The source is not in the situation but in the mind. It is caused solely by mental activity. Like an improv troupe, our mind throws out a suggestion and then we create a whole show around it. Instead of…
Q: Dear Todd, why does our mind want to harm our mental peace? TODD ANSWERS: I think we're just not designed for modern life away from nature, and so our protective brains have gone into overdrive. But, what makes humans unique is our neuroplasticity and adaptability, so we can unlearn this deeply ingrained subtle state of constant stress and alertness that no longer serves us. Path to Peace with Todd…
Q: Dear Todd, could you please give me guidance right now? I just got scammed and lost my hard-earned money when planning my family trip. I've been maintaining a high frequency the past few days but my fury doesn't seem to be contained to the point where I dreamed of finding the suspects and harming them and cursing them in all universes and existence. I know Karma will deal with…
Q: Dear Todd, my narcissistic mother only preyed on me during my most vulnerable times. I'm beyond disappointed, and there's a lot of anger in my heart when I think of her. How can I heal? TODD ANSWERS: This is a very tough experience to go through. It is not fair that the person who should be our greatest source of love and support should act in this way. Children…
“I thought my biggest fear was growing old and dying in prison. In truth, my biggest fear was growing old and not knowing myself.”
- Rick Smith, Albama inmate
Path to Peace - A newsletter not just for your mental health but also for your spiritual health.
