Rethinking the Traumatizing Workplace A number of letters to the New York Times Work Friend Advice Column understandably focus on how difficult the workplace can be for many people. Over the past year, however, people began reporting that their workplace is traumatizing.  Recently, one person reported being meaningfully bothered by her new boss’ desire that have some social get togethers after work.  Another person complained about not wanting to look at pictures of a colleague’s new baby because she thought...

The first time I did the Loving Kindness Meditation, I thought it was hokey. A bit like sending hopes and prayers out into the universe. The Metta meditation asks that we begin to share benevolent thoughts for others and ourselves. Taking a few minutes to quiet ourselves with some breathing and mindfulness, we consider some simple phrases: May you be safe…May you be healthy…May you be happy…May you live with ease and grace. We begin the practice by bringing up...

Bardo is the Tibetan term for the time between the critical stages of life, from birth through death and beyond to rebirth. In traditional meaning, there are six bardos, three occurring during life and three arising before and after life. On a secular level, we can see that we are in these transitional times all during our day and through our lives. Those times between meetings (if you can catch your breath), when you arrive home from a trip and...

Last week, I attended a conference in New York where I knew not a soul. As we all entered the main hall for the opening session, I saw two men greet each other with a full-body hug. As their embrace ended, I walked by and commented, “I love seeing the love!” One of the gentlemen looked at me and said, “he is my cousin.” As we chatted, he shared that he considers everyone in the room to be his cousin...

I was listening to a lecture from my meditation teacher, Tara Brach, and she mentioned Mark Nepo’s book on The Exquisite Risk. I came across this quote from his work: “Whether through the patterns left in snow, geese honking in the dark or through the brilliant wet leaf that hits your face the moment you are questioning your worth, the quiet teachers are everywhere, pointing us to the unlived portion of our lives. When we think we are in charge,...