Skillful Effort: Maintaining Wholesome States of Presence

This talk explores the practice of Bare Attention and how suffering ceases in the experience of gratitude. You’ll learn about the distinction of the linear mind and the intuitive mind, the practice Bare Attention and a technique for opening to gratitude as a way of shifting the mind to a more fluid and intuitive state.

This talk explores how to deconstruct beliefs. You’ll learn about the origin of thoughts and beliefs, the art of interrupting the stream of thinking, the art of deconstructing beliefs and the importance, when you do this work, to err on the side of safety and self-care.

This talk explores the power of noting or labeling your inner experience. You’ll learn how you can cut through discursive thinking by training your attention to the sense fields, but also what it means to ‘take the seat of the witness’ and note or label what is happening inside.

This talk explores how to cut through the trance of thinking. You’ll learn how turning toward awareness itself reveals how much you rely on thinking and some practical strategies using embodied awareness for ‘remembering’ who and what you truly are. 

A few years back, Tracy retired and thought to himself, “What would happen if I practiced at home with the same intensity as I would on retreat?”   He was inspired to practice the “Elephant Path,” a very disciplined approach that cultivated deepening concentration.   His journey was powerful, traumatic and brought him to his knees, but opened up vistas he could only imagine.    Here he shares his story, what he learned and what we might offer by way of encouragement and caution for those looking to intensive practice.

This conversation is with Jeff Fajans—a creative momentum coach, seasoned musician, and PhD‑backed creative performance researcher—who helps creative people bring their biggest ideas to life.    Whether you’re drafting a feature film script, launching a new business, or building a product from scratch, Jeff blends flow science, mindfulness, and creative productivity and leadership principles to move you past procrastination and into real, lasting creative momentum.   Here are some links: More info about Jeff’s coaching: https://jefffajans.com/creative-performance-coaching-creative-coach-jeff-fajans/   To book a free 45-minute coaching session: https://calendly.com/jeff-fajans/45-min-intro-coaching   30 Day Creative Momentum Challenge: https://jefffajans.com/30-day-creative-momentum-challenge/

As your practice deepens, you may begin to notice you are less identified with your thoughts.  'Observing without judgement' can open all kinds of new possibilities.     This talk explores some strategies for shifting your relationship to thinking.

Mindfulness practice can get dry and rote.  When you remember why you are practicing you'll reconnect with your passion and deepest intention.  When you can sustain your practice, you may notice a number of benefits.   Beyond the physiological and emotional boosts you'll feel, ultimately you'll notice the arising of two distinct faculties.  Wisdom is your capacity to recognize what is true.  Compassion is your capacity to allow and open to truth.

This talk explores how to manage your energy as you pursue your aspirations.   You’ll learn about four guidelines:  How to prevent unwholesome states before they arise, how to let go of unwholesome states when they have arisen, how to cultivate wholesome states that have not yet arisen and how to maintain wholesome states that are already here.

This interview with Ray and Tara explores how to work with the deepest challenges of sickness, old age and death.   You’ll learn how Ray and Tara are working with Ray’s diagnosis of glioblastoma a year ago.  They speak beautifully of how the practice deepens, how to find steadiness and how to open again and again to love.