Psychotherapy, Self-Awareness, Mindfulness, Meditation, Fulfillment and Inner Peace
The articles, practices and resources here are about Mental Health, Wellness, Fulfillment, Self-Awareness Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, Meditation, Inner Peace and Living a Successful, Fulfilling life. Here are writings and self-care tools for dealing with depression, stress and other emotional and mental health issues. Also here is information on how to work with me as a therapist.
I have been a seeker, explorer and student and then a psychotherapist, teacher, advisor, coach, entrepreneur, researcher and author for over four decades. My drive in life has always been to support and help others. I have been through and overcome many of the difficulties and struggles that life can present including depression, loss, illness, confusion and anxiety. My insatiable curiosity has led me to explore and study a myriad of psychotherapeutic modalities, tools and philosophies as well as non-traditional areas like altered states of consciousness, mind/body relationships and spirituality. If you are looking for more information on these topics please look through the articles and posts here. You may find some of the answers you have been seeking. If there is something you wish to know that is not discussed here please feel free to contact me.
There is a great deal of information here about depression, low self-esteem, stress related disorders and anxiety and how to overcome them using a therapeutic approach I call Self-Awareness Therapy. All of this information comes from my own and my clients’ experiences. All of the suggestions, practices and tasks have been tested hundreds of times and been proven to work. I am more than happy to answer your questions and to discuss depression with you in more depth.
If you are interested in Self-Awareness Therapy and how I work I have posted this explanatory article on how I work and what to expect in therapy with me.
Self-Awareness Therapy is especially effective for;
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress and stress related disorders
- PTSD
- Trauma
- Phobias
- Self-esteem issues
- Addictions
- Fear
- Anger
- Relationship and family issues
- Experiencing inner peace and fulfillment
- Emotions around health issues
- Weight and eating issues
- Developing self-awareness
- Innovative thinking
- Improving management skills
- Creative problem solving
- Human resources counseling
- Increasing empathy and interaction skills
- Spiritual seeking
If you have an issue that you need help with and if you feel the desire or need to speak with me I am available for private sessions via Skype.
I am available for workshops and lectures about Rising above Chaos, Experiencing Enlightenment, Meditation, Mindfulness, Inner Peace, Innovation, Empathy, Dealing with Emotions and Self Awareness as well as applications for this in business and personal life. I am even able to participate in these events online. Feel free to contact me if you would like to have me involved in such an event.
I also work with various organizations, businesses, government agencies and individuals on human resource issues, innovation, marketing psychology and geopolitical issues. My skill set allows me to have a 30,000 foot overview of the emotions and mindset of individuals and groups of people. It usually does not provide for granular details or absolutes since there are so many probabilities but it does often give me accurate insights on trends and future events with a high probability of occurring. I believe it is just a confluence of my deep empathy, intelligence, critical thinking skills and philosophy. Contact me if you would like to discuss enlisting my skills in these areas.
It is truly my joy to answer questions and to write articles to help as many people as possible. While I will continue doing this and provide all of this material for free it would be really great, if you need any, to download meditations, music, nature recordings or books from my website to support my efforts.
If you have any questions you are most welcome to send them to me. I will do my best to answer them as soon as possible. Now and then I even answer questions in a video. You can ask a question by posting it as a comment or you can send it through the contact form or by email. Remember, if you post your questions as a comment on the site your questions will be public for all to see and to learn from so it you are asking something very personal you might want to contact me directly. Also, please do not insert any URL’s into your posts. They will be deleted.
I have created 2 YouTube Channels for you. I will be creating and publishing new videos as often as possible so please subscribe if you would like to know when new videos are posted.
A channel for spiritual teachings called Practical Spirituality at: www.practical-spirituality-videos.com
A channel for Meditation and Mindfulness videos: www.meditation-mindfulness-videos.com
Follow me on Instagram: @enlight10ment. I look forward to seeing you there.
I am listening.
If you are interested in re-posting or re-printing any of the articles at this blog please feel free to contact me 
If you feel inspired, you are welcome to donate to support work on this site and to helping those in emotional, psychological and spiritual need.
How can one love yourself when you are disappointed with so many past regrets?
Hello Frank,
Regrets from the past are insidious and most people carry them around like old suitcases full of rocks. They can be debilitating and cause you to make poor decisions in the present and future.
To get rid of past regrets it is essential to first examine each one of them in detail but to do so objectively. This takes practice. It is easy to feel emotional when examining regrets. It can be helpful to put each regret up on a stage like a character in a play. You sit in the audience and observe the regret as objectively as possible. See what it says, how it affects the play on the stage. See where it comes from. Over time you will come to recognize how the regret can be resolved or dissolved. But, one way or another, it is essential to get rid of each and every regret.
Some regrets offer us a life lesson to learn and as long as we learn that lesson and live that new perspective the regret will lose its potency. Some regrets are about events in the past that we can do nothing about. Those need to be dissolved using one of the dissolving exercises I have posted here at the site. Some regrets are based on misinterpreted memories or false memories. Those also need to be examined carefully and dissolved. Some regrets are based upon situations that we might be able to resolve in the present. If that is possible, figure out how you can do that and then take the necessary steps to resolve the situation so that there are no regrets. Some regrets are based only on inner beliefs. These can only be resolved by dealing appropriately with the beliefs and then the regrets will dissolve on their own.
Making certain that you have no regrets is one of the best practices you can do in life. Committing yourself to living without regrets is an excellent way of living authentically and being yourSelf in day to day life.
A good exercise is to start each day with the commitment to living your life with no regrets. Being your authentic Self. Then, at the end of the day, examine your day to be sure you have no regrets. If you do, commit yourself to living with no regrets tomorrow and then do so.
I realize that this answer is very high level and superficial but without knowing your specific situation it is impossible to give a detailed answer. You are welcome to contact me directly if you would like help with this at the About Sessions page.
I have changed a job now and regret it after 2 months to a level that I have landed in a depression, no will to eat, poor sleep and lost weight. Psychology sessions going on (no medication still) but I have succeeded only to get a little better after weeks.
The regret is not leaving me and I don’t know what helps to forget it and start a new life: crying, meditation, etc…. Would be great to get your view on this.
Dear Farhad,
Regret is a poison. You cannot go back in time and change what is but you can pay close attention to the here and now and focus on being authentic and learn to live each day without judgement. Practicing mindfulness all day every day will be helpful with this. Be mindful in the morning. Be mindful at work. Be mindful at meals and be mindful all evening. You will find that you do your new job better and without regrets. And if you are to move on to a new job it will happen.
There are some articles and mindfulness meditations practices here at the site. I suggest you read them and work with the exercises. I also just posted a mindful walking exercise as well today. Meditation is only a part of the process for overcoming depression but doing this will help. There are also articles about depression here at the site that you can read as well. Just do not let this go on for much longer. The longer you stay in this state the harder it can be to get out of.
If you wish to work with me as a therapist we can discuss this. It is best to email me at reachout@lifesanswers.org. You can read about sessions here at the website as well if you like.
Take care,
Jon
Where do we contact you?
Hello Oscar, You can contact me through the contact page here at the site, https://www.lifesanswers.org/contact/
Hi i am having a very hard time with my past . I just cant seem to move forward.I have been diagnosed with bipolar and major depression.I am 51 years old and just got a 4 th dui, the other 3 have been 25 years ago . So I have always had bipolar but just never knew it ,this flare up started after i got Covid.Anyway so im in trouble with the law and I believe I ruined my life .i am seeing 3 doctors and went on medication but still suicidal.
Dear Andy,
This is really not a question I can answer on a public forum. If you wish you can contact me at https://www.lifesanswers.org/about_sessions/ at this website.
Take care,
Jon
Hi Jon,
I found your website through a quora post you made about your experience with depression. I am here looking for answers with hopes of getting out of the pit I’ve fallen into…
I’ve always dealt with depression on and off in my life. I’d describe it as a lack of feeling, motivation, sort of like anhedonia but I was still able to feel feelings of inadequacy (not feeling great about myself in the scope of how others saw me). Well, recently things took a turn for the worst.
I was in the midst of a semesters break while getting my Masters, I was burnt out from the previous semester and I was starting to get up from bed later and later. I felt empty. Yet in the midst of my emptiness, I still felt inadequate. This is where things got even worse. I was already in a low state but then quickly fell into existential depression. I started to obsess constantly on the concept of infinity and this threw me into a deep rabbit whole of despair. My emotions have checked out. I can’t feel much of anything. I went from being a bright, motivated scholarly person to someone who can now barely focus in school. Sometimes I have felt waves of heavy sadness, other times it’s a very dark, cloud of meaningless that makes even taking a single step forward feel like walking against a wall of sand.
As you can imagine, I’ve had many thoughts of suicide up until this point. What I will mention is that I had already been meditating and perhaps it was just a random coincidence but that’s when the existential dread got worse.
I had been taking sertraline which only caused me to have racing thoughts. Now they want to put me on Trazadone.
I hope that I can overcome this. I used to be an empath and be able to feel other people’s emotions but now I feel I’ve lost all connection to that as I can’t feel anything. I really hope I can make it out of this rut.
Hello Paul,
If you need support with this please contact me directly. It would be better to discuss that way than on a public forum. There is contact information at this page, https://www.lifesanswers.org/about_sessions/ as well as information about private sessions.
You are not alone.
Take care
Jon
What does healed feel like? Spending so many years broken and working towards feeling enough I realize that I’ve never felt this way about, well me, before. The examples of healed in my life are the authors of books. I recognize missing parts of myself that I didn’t have to try to use in the past. I never fully recovered after two traumatic panic attacks some years back. I feel glitched in my head. I am happy with what I am now but will I forever have these anxiety issues? They are not anything like what happened but it’s alway there. I haven’t been able to “positive” it away.
For most people ‘healed’ feels like waking up from a long nightmare and feeling free, light and filled with hope for the future.
Since we have not spoken and I know very little of your situation it is impossible for me to say more about the anxiety and struggles you are going through. You are right though, trying to replace ‘negative’ thoughts with ‘positive’ thoughts seldom works. I have outlined some lifestyle changes, practices and meditations you can work with if you like here at this site. You can also contact me directly if you wish.
Just know that you are not alone.
Take care,
Jon
Just read an article regarding key foods to avoid to prevent diabetes. I need to reduce my blood sugar,etc. You said you were on a 20 grams of carbs a day. Can you please send me what you ate etc.as that is what I need before it is to late. Thanks and God Bless
Hi Bruce,
I got an app for my phone that had lots of different foods and the amount of carbs in them. I built my diet around the foods with 0 or really low carbs. I did the 20 grams or under for about 8 weeks until my blood glucose level was normal and stable and then increased it to 50 grams. I no longer measure carbs but I have maintained a moderate low carb diet since.
When I first did the 20< I ate an omelette every morning with cheese, spinach, mushrooms and with my own fresh made Mexican salsa. I have posted some of my recipes at my Facebook page for Mindful Dieting, https://www.facebook.com/groups/532902033710051/. I did not eat any rice, pasta or bread during that time. No major sources of carbs. No chips, no fruit, no juices, no sodas, no sweets. I would make things like pasta sauce with meat and mushrooms and eat that like a stew without pasta. I would make Chinese food but eat without rice. I would have a hamburger but no bun. I was extremely diligent with this. If I needed a snack I would eat some nuts. I ate a large breakfast, medium sized lunch and small dinner if any dinner at all. Never any eating after 7pm and no food again until 7am the next day. Only water to drink.
It is now over 3 years. I eat what I feel like but I my diet has changed from before I started doing this. I still eat 2 eggs for breakfast almost every morning. Usually an omelette with the same ingredients as before. Currently I am smothering my eggs with home made New Mexican Green Chili sauce that I make here. There are no carbs in it. For lunch I will eat some carbs like pasta or rice but always whole wheat or brown rice. Never a huge lunch, only what I need to fill me up. For dinner never any carbs and always a small dinner and never after 7pm. Sometimes some stew, sometimes a salad, sometimes just some cheese or a burger. I probably have a sugary sweet once every few months if I feel like it but I seldom feel like it. If I want a sweet after a meal I will have a sugar free sweet with Stevia. I have not had a fruit juice since March of 2017. I do not miss it. I eat at least 1 apple a day and sometimes some blueberries or strawberries. If I am hiking or getting plenty of exercise I might have some cherries. If I know I will be hiking and feel like having an ice cream I will. But I will never have a big sweet like that unless I am going to burn it off within a few hours.
I pay close attention to how much exercise I will be getting during the day. I never eat more than I will burn. This is just my lifestyle now. It is all just automatic.
Good luck Bruce. Feel free to check out the Dieting Mindfully Website as well. There are some resources there that might be helpful.
wow Thanks for your Quick response God Bless
Hi Jon Sorry to bother you. Can get on your facebook pages for the recipes. Can you email them to me? I appreciate it. Thanks Bruce God Bless
Hi Bruce,
Sorry but I do not have my recipes written out except at the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/532902033710051/. Maybe you can copy and paste the link in your browser.
Take care
Jon
Hi
You told me that a spiritually awakened person doesn’t think about how to act or think about what to do next..Can you tell me why this change is happening? Is planning and this type of thinking the ego is responsible for it?
Hello,
Hummmm, where did I tell you that?
After awakening we do not need to ‘figure out’ how to act in an ‘awakened or spiritual manner’. We are that awakened or spiritual manner naturally and normally.
When you awaken you ‘remember’ that you are already Infinite, Immortal, Pristine Consciousness and you have always been this. Consciousness is not yours though. You are the Consciousness of the Creator. The Creator makes all choices and takes all actions once we surrender. That is why that ‘change’ happens.
The ego believes that it is in control and that all decisions are made by it. As long as one identifies with and as the ego then suffering is inevitable. The ego creates plans based upon beliefs, previous experiences, interpretations and reactions. Its ability to see the entire picture is limited. When we surrender and dissolve into the Infinite Mind of the Creator choices and actions are made from that perspective.
Remember, the ego is not who you are. It never has been and never will be no matter how much it claims that it is. No matter how real it feels, it is just a shadow of who and what you are. It is like the steering wheel of a car. The steering wheel is not really capable of directing the car by itself.
I hope this answers your questions.
Take care
Jon
Hello sir, I have noticed that this article has been posted a while ago so I’m wondering if you’re still answering to comments but here goes nothing, this is going to be a mouthful
I am a Moroccan citizen, 18 years of age, who suffers from what i’m almost positive is depression. The reason I am skeptical is that I never had any proper diagnosis, given the state that the world is at right now and that m family’s income isn’t high enough to provide me with proper psychotherapy.
Anyway, my ‘story’ started late 2018, where I chose to spend the night with some friends and then have passed by a suspicious-looking girl who for some reason fainted right in front of me on a dark alley (I know, it’s all superstitious and now I think of it as nothing but ridiculous), and later that night, at about 4 am I woke up trembling and started throwing up. This of course has led to my head being all over the place and I lost my cool, at least in the present I’m sure it was just a reaction to how scared I was of the situation. All in all this weird turn of event made me enter what I believe to be depression. It had absolutely nothing to do with the incident but it was there anyway, it’s like the suffering following this very incident opened my eyes into how dark the world is for some reason. By the suffering I mean throwing up once a weak for no reason, loss of appetite, loss of interest in activities I used to like, constant obsessing over what exactly happened, having to do plenty on counseling meetings, but the ones i wanna keep an emphasis on are lack of appetite and constant vomiting, because these two are going to become way more relevant later.
Luckily enough, after 4 months of so, my depression just… disappeared! I still had some symptoms of it but it was very minor and I went back to being able to live my life normally, I believe It was mostly due to me being so invested in my final exams in high school that it just faded away and became nothing but a bad memory, nevertheless, i was always terrified of entering the same sequence of events again. Inevitably, mid-January 2020, at 5 am right after watching a movie that somewhat shook my emotions I went to the kitchen, and right as I wanted to eat the food right in front of me it ALL came spiraling back, I threw the food away and the first thought I had was going to my computer looking for solutions. Nothing helped and everything made it gradually worse, especially considering that my mother with whom I used to share everything was mildly sick back then. I felt my body trembling (Again in the 1st time in a year) and I felt so cold (it WAS winter back then but I felt extra cold than normal) so I tried opening some comedy videos and maybe they can make me calm, but I just couldn’t help it, and before I know it I wanted to vomit, and so I did.
Depression then came sprinting back, I then decided to take a 2 week break from college so I can sort things out, and in the meantime was taking antidepressants of SSRI type under the name of fluoxet (for 2 months) and another antidepressant called sulride (for a month) in addition of an anti-anxiety/calmer medicine called anxiole to help with the consumption of the SSRI . And from that day onward a cycle kept repeating itself. I’m constantly sad and hopeless but still able to eat and sleep up until I hit rock bottom and I choose to express my feelings to my mother (My only available support ad the only one that can listen to me) and shortly after i’d vomit and i’d refuse to eat for one or 2 days. And after enduring for a duration of about 4 days it goes back to ‘normal’ state, meaning I can stay in my comfort zone and being able to eat despite my lack of appetite but still incredibly depressed, and so the cycle keeps repeating itself once every 2 months or so.
There are things in my case that I think make my depression stands out
-The toughest moments of my depression are always marked by vomiting
-I was always a person that lacked physical activity, I rarely ever did any exercise
-My sleep schedule is always so bad, even before any of this happened, some days for me sleeping at noon and waking when the sun’s down became the norm.
-I always obsess about suicide but not in the way you might think, I never considered suicide, matter of fact I’ve always been scared of sudden death. More so I was scared that it would come to that point of there being no other solution other than suicide, up until this day in which I did consider it for a split-second which made me very scared and what actually pushed me into making this post
-It was neither incredibly random nor was it caused by a loss of a dear someone, it was just the aftermath of a weird turn of events
-Depression does exist but from what I’ve researched it might also be accompanied with anxiety and panic disorder, as I do show many common symptoms of the former.
Right now I am truly lost on my journey to combating depression, so any insights you might give at all is highly appreciated. Again I had nothing but the internet and some counseling to make me understand my case more so any help is highly appreciated because as of the making of this post I am suffering so deeply.
Dear Badr,
I am sorry you are going through this. I wish I could give you a definitive answer but it sounds as if you really need to discuss this in depth with a therapist and to devote some time and energy to dealing with this depression and its symptoms. Your situation is very personal and private and should be discussed in a one on one setting.
Of course you are welcome to contact me at this page, https://www.lifesanswers.org/about_sessions/ if you would like to discuss your situation in more depth.
Take care,
Jon
Hi Jon,
Very happy to see your website, I admire your perspective. I want to ask you about my own issue. I had always problematic love relationships so far, it was a vicious circle. I was used to abandoned a lot, or felt unworthy bla bla… When I was first fed up with this situation, it was 6 years ago. I started yoga & meditation, they helped me a lot about my emotions. But didn’t satisfy at all. I have tried regression therapy this year, like 3 sessions. I can see that, it also helped, but again things didn’t go well with my relationships at all. And I started seeing a life couch in my country, we are practicing to look at my childhood decisions & ego decisions. I had beautiful awareness, like my little self decided that “I am not loved by mom, and so nobody will love me, and I also don’t love myself…” I am practicing self love for just a few days. But I just don’t know how to do that. Am I in a healthy way? How can I support myself about self love? Affirmations, ego talking meditations or what… Could you advice me some practices? Lots of loves.
Hello,
It is great that you have had some awareness on this issue. Now it is time to do something about the character that tells you that you are not lovable or worthy. I have addressed this in my book, Freedom From Suffering, which you can read right here at this website. There you might find some insights into exactly how to deal with this ‘negative’ inner voice and feeling. It will take some work and practice on your part but you will be able to resolve this.
Please contact me directly using email for this if you would like more support.
Take care,
Jon
Hi Jon,
You quoted Einstein on this page:
“Concerning matter, we have been all wrong. What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses. There is no matter.” – Albert Einstein
It is your favorite quote, and is likely to become mine as well.
Where can I find the original?
With thanks,
Wayne
I found this at a number of websites including Goodreads. I am glad you like it. I thought it was inspirational.
Hello. Take heart friends and know that you absolutely can recover from depression in a safe way. Listen to wise spiritual teachers like Jon. We live in a time when all these wonderful teachings and support to help us change our inner person into a calm contented soul are being made available to us all. Take heart and listen! Bless you, there is a way out of the depressive swamp and into the light of beautiful reality where you can make friends with life again.
Continued awareness of the present moment and not believing what the negativity bias of the human mind can fool you with. Start a gratitude book and write down all the wonderful things that can lift you, even the simplest of things like walking to the shops and buying a pint of milk, making a cup of tea and stroking the cat. Breathing air and listening to sound. Finding deep tolerance, kindness and compassion for yourself. Be kind to yourself, push yourself to be kind to and nurture yourself. Listen to free loving kindness meditation practices and mindfulness guides. Don’t give up!!! Listen to wonderful Jon and souls like him who offer free advice to help you along the way. You are not alone.
I went from a place of mental confusion, emotional distress, turmoil and official secure mental treatment including medication to a renewed lifelong existence of calm contentment, joy and laughter. Look to spiritual practices like Bhuddism that have immensely helpful teachings on how to calm the soul – and you don’t have to wear orange robes and shave your head to benefit from the teachings!! They are freely available to everyone.
We are all Buddhists already. You are perfect. Love! Smile at yourself in the mirror and see the beautiful soul smiling back. If you cannot see, say out loud “I love you”. If you cannot speak, put your hand on your heart and feel the amazing life within you. Love!
Hi John! Is there soul in body, if yes then what is that soul and how it take rebirth.
Hello Manas,
The Soul is being the body like light is being the images you see on the movie screen. Soul is not inside a body or mind. It is being the body and mind. It just feels as if it is inside you.
The Soul is Infinite, Immortal Consciousness. Consciousness is God’s Awareness of Itself. You and I are God’s experiencing of Itself.
The Soul is experiencing all lifetimes simultaneously in all times and all worlds. Rebirth requires the illusion of time. In fact, you exist beyond time and space and are being billions of creatures in billions of universes right now at this moment. Contemplate this and when it becomes overwhelming to the mind, surrender to it. It is extremely difficult for the intellect to understand simultaneous lifetimes but you can experience this during meditation or during dreams and lucid dreaming.
I hope this is understandable. It is difficult to describe.
Take care
Jon
Hi Jon thank you for that amazing and beautiful answer to Manas’ question. I have suffered from depression for many years, off and on for most of my life. That answer you gave, have hope and lifted me.
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Hi Jon, I liked a lot of what I read on your site and your approach to ending depression. This same realization of Enlightenment helped me work through my anxiety because the experience “conceptually” changed my mental paradigm. However I was still left with depression as a residue. I’ve been trying CBT, surrendering the heart, and affirmations. As much truth as some of those practices contain, the problem is becoming increasingly difficult as its becoming very hard to feel or remember what pleasure or joy or energy feels like when trying to put myself in that state during meditation. My brain swims, I can’t concentrate, and I loose my train of thought or focus, and I end up feeling like falling asleep during meditations as a result. Is this normal? I think it might be a result of anhedonia but I don’t know. Its really sapping my motivation and energy keeping me in the vicious cycle leaving me feeling with no hope of escape. I don’t want to see it this way but the experiential evidence of my condition is proving otherwise despite my proactive efforts to integrally heal this depression. I just find it hard to stay with a method when I can’t “hold on” to some bit of hope from a pleasurable feeling contained somewhere in my efforts because the feeling quickly fades away and seems as though my breakthrough was a lie. I can’t stand the emotional rollercoaster of “yes! A breakthrough!” To “oh no, my state is still the same. That breakthrough was a hoax.” What should I do. I really don’t want to see a therapist because I can’t afford it but I do have severe depression. I’d rather find a way to heal myself and your approach to use Enlightenment really inspired me. Can you help me? Thank you and God bless you.
Dear Brian,
Oh, I know your situation so very well. I know exactly what you are feeling. I have been there.
Seeing and working with a good therapist who really understands depression could be very helpful. I know that there are some who will work on a sliding scale depending upon your financial situation. You might check around.
In the meantime, I am glad to help as I can.
Are you meditating? Have you tried some of the meditations I have provided and recommended? This is the first step.
Let’s take this one step at a time.
The depression is going to tell you that you cannot escape. You can have a few moments of pleasure and then the pain must return.
In truth, the depression is lying to you. It always lies to you. Anything you hear or feel from depression is a lie.
Consider this.
Please let me know what is going on.
Take care,
Jon
Do you believe that a cause of depression could be possession by a demon, or a curse?
Dear Paul,
I am not one to disavow or to dismiss any possibility usually. From my experience this is possible. Tibetans call most demons Hungry Ghosts. They have particular methods for dealing with them. Some of these are beings who have died but still want to be involved in human earthly life. They may have had various psychological problems as human beings and these have increased after death. They often feed on the negative emotions of human beings and also do what they can to instill these emotions in people as well. Some are those who died in depression or in some traumatic way. Then there are beings who are so twisted by darkness that they become ‘demons’. They too feed on the pain and suffering of people.
As far as curses are concerned. I am not an expert on this. I believe it is possible at a certain level and can certainly have an effect if allowed to.
For all of this I have found that following the practices in my Freedom From Suffering book are the best way to deal with all of this.
Ultimately, the only real and lasting solution is to be the Self, the Infinite Awareness that you really are. To live that on a daily basis as best we can. This places us above all of the shadows and dissolves them.
Read the book I posted here and try the practices and meditations. Work with this every day and see how it works for you.
Whether you consider the demons, shadows, Hungry Ghosts or curses real or not does not matter at the end of the day. The solution is always the same. Rise above them and they will dissolve into the nothingness that they really are.
Feel free to contact me further about this. I am glad to help if possible.
Take care
Jon
Hi Jon, my girlfriend and mother of my children come across you on the internet, I’m a weed smoker, started smokin in 1988, aged 9, I’m now 33 and experiencing big problems now I’m trying to stop, sleep, anger quiet bad, not in a good place at the moment and need some real help, iv seen my gp and seems to b a dead end, if u can help I would really like to take it, thanks david,
Hi David,
Contact me via my website at http://www.lightunlimitedpublishing.com/session_lectures.html. Or send me an email from there. I am happy to help.
Take care
Jon
Many thanks for this but how long should the above last? Normally my meditations about 15mins. Should your meditation last just as long?
Thanks.
15 minutes is just fine. Most important is to really feel the peace or comfort. Sometimes I just commit myself to feeling my Self and I meditate until that happens and then continue the meditation until it feels like time to move on with the day or go to sleep no matter how long it takes. I do my best to continue that mindfulness throughout the day or night then.
Try it.
Hi Jon
Wonder if you could help? I’ve been doing Mindfulness (6 week CD by Mark Williams) for more than a year. I stopped for a few weeks around the 7th month as I was not able to sleep and began to experience a high pitched noise in my hearing. I started up again telling myself that on the nights I could not sleep, to take sleeping tablets (Valerian) and as for the high pitched noises, just to accept, which I have. But now, the problem is that although while meditating I experience a peacefulness, to the point of not ‘feeling’ my hands or feet, I am left irritable and at times angry when I come out of it. I affirm to myself while meditating that I am a peaceful soul and towards the end, I visualize myself wrapped in a white cloth or cloud and imagine the crucifix being placed on my forehead. But I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong or perhaps to stop meditating for a while. What do you think?
Many blessings to you.
You do not need to stop meditating. It may be that you need to change your meditation. I would suggest trying the one here, http://1ness4u.wordpress.com/meditation/relaxation-stillness-and-awareness-the-beginning/. Then do the next one and the one after that. Work with each meditation for about a week before moving on to the next.
By doing this you will learn to watch your emotions and physical sensations without them affecting you.
It may also be that you need to change the imagery that you use during your meditations. It may be that these images are conflicting with other beliefs you may have.
Let me know if you need any further suggestions. I am glad to help.
Take care.
Hey Jon
i Have had depression for almost two or three years. I have started taking anti-depressant medication before six months , and i really feel better. however my doctor have told me latly to start reducing them, but another doctor told me its still early since i had depression for along time. whats you advice for me?
Dear Elina,
I am not a physician and am not aware of the details of your case. But if you are open to a spiritual approach to getting rid of the depression then I would suggest you begin doing the program outlined in the Freedom From Suffering Book. Begin today. Then, as you feel better you can discuss with your doctor lowering your medications and eventually going off medication.
For your existing situation, I would suggest you have both doctors speak with each other and then make a recommendation to you. The more information they have the better their advice should be. It is very important that you do not just stop taking anti-depressants.
When you do come off the anti-depressants it is very important that you have a good way of dealing with the depression and are able to get rid of it. Anti-depressants do not cure depression. Sometimes they help you feel better though and that can be helpful for a while. Use this time to become really good at dissolving shadows and feeling better about yourself. Then, when you come off the medications, you will still feel fine and be free of depression.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have further questions or need support.
Take care
Jon
Hey Jon,
I had depression before one year. I couldn’t sleep anymore and my whole thoughts during night were suicidal. I went to a therapist and I had to take antidepressivia.Things went good after that until I started to reduce the medikaments until I stopped them , then I started to go back in the same cycle low self esteem, bad memories, low self confidence and now I cannt sleep again. I don’t have sucidal thought like before , but I feel like my head is going to explode with thoughts I get breaked down easily, I remember every bad thing that has been done or told to me. I cannt concentrate. I feel like my head is full .I look always tired especially after I wake upi just want to know is it normal to feel such things after stopping the antidepressant ?? Or shoul I go back taking them
Dear Nashwan,
I usually do not recommend anti-depressant medication to my clients. My 40 years of experience has taught me that anti-depressants only cover up the depression. It still takes dealing properly with the depression through therapy to get rid of it. I certainly cannot diagnose or recommend medications to you one way or another since I have not seen you as a client. But if you are willing to try a psychological/spiritual approach to dealing with depression then the tools are here at this website to begin that process. I would suggest starting with some of the articles on depression and then reading the Freedom From Suffering book at this site. You could also work every day with the guided meditation, Leaving Behind the Darkness at http://www.lightunlimitedpublishing.com.
From what you have said in your post I strongly recommend you, at least, read the book online here and see if those insights are not helpful for you. Try it. It cannot hurt and you may find answers to your questions and those overwhelming thoughts in your mind.
Take care
Jon
Hi Jon, thank for sharing your previous suggestions for others and now Im thinking of doing meditation! There’s some other problem that I hope you can help me solve. It’s about self-blame maybe that linked with my depression several years ago. I cured my depression myself from pills and try to build positive thinking habbits, I thought I cured that several years ago but maybe not so completely. Now I find it became my habbit that I always blame myself about the past experience, no matter it’s really necessary to blame or not, I just can’t control it. And I find myself unconciously repeat that: I don’t know either. I always repeat it, sometimes several times a day.
I just wonder if you can give me some suggestions how to cure that?
Best regards!
Hello,
It is really great that you are aware of that statement repeating itself in your mind. This is a good step forward.
Please tell me exactly what you are being told in your mind.
Examine the statements carefully. Who or what is making those statements in your mind?
Give it a form. What does it look like? What does it want from you?
These are the questions to ask and the answers to seek.
Tell me what answers you can now.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Take care
Jon
hi I suffer from depression.I take my meds like im suppost too. Im working with a countsler.Im at wites end .I have a job, car,home two boys I love more that life itself really more than LIFE. Im tired like i’ve never been before I like to think im the freind i would like to have.I have skills far and above some.I’ve been a mental ward Im nonvilent i feel like im just breathing and eating working to keep from from being homeless.I so wanted god to be the answer but to no prevale the pastor seems to think people should dust youself off and get back at it.I dont know how to meditate.If anyone can help I would be so greatful.
Dear Bill,
I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering with this depression. I know it very well and I am sure you can get out of it.
It is good that you are working with a counselor.
Please read the book I have posted here at this website. http://1ness4u.wordpress.com/books/freedom-from-suffering-a-spiritual-approach/.
Read it carefully and practice every exercise, meditation and life style change.
You can get rid of the depression but it will take a lot of work on your part.
I know you feel tired and without resources. The depression tells you that you are worthless and that you do not have the energy to get beyond it. But these are lies. It tells you many things that are not true. You have everything you need to get beyond the depression. Maybe it will be worthwhile to show your therapist this website and ask him/her to help you use these methods.
You can learn to meditate easily. It is not complicated. You can try some of the meditations here at this site or you can work with some guided meditation trainings. Begin with Meditation 1 and Meditation 2. Then work with these mp3s for dealing with depression.
You can do this Bill. One day you will look back on this time in your life and laugh. But you will be much more sensitive and understanding when others come to you and tell you that they are depressed. You will know what to say to them and how to help them get out of it.
Take care
Jon
thank you jon for ur reply, i will keep focused 😀
i really need your help, i have been doing meditation daily before i sleep for almost 2 months. i can feel tingling sensation on my nose bridge between my eyebrows, i can control that feeling by focusing on it. after 2 months of meditating this feeling became normal and easy for me to control, i sometimes feel this sensation while driving in the morning to collage. but i don’t know why am feeling it while not meditating.
but my question here is “why i didn’t progress at all in meditating, and why my third eye isn’t opening after all that effort i did in 2 months ?”
i also focus on a candle’s flame for 2 min and then i see a small red circle in my mind but it fades too fast.
i really appreciate your answers for my questions
because i feel like im lost and i dont know anyone to guide me 🙁
thank you alot
Hello,
You seem to be focused on some small distractions. It is fine to experience these sensations and visions and fine to explore them. But it is best not to be distracted by them.
Watch these events. Watch the tingling sensation. Watch the red circle come and then fade. Watch the hands become heavy.
Then step back from all of this. Ask yourself, “Who is watching?” Do not judge anything. Nothing is good or bad. Right or wrong. These are just experiences, nothing more or less. “Who is watching?”
Little by little feel who is watching? The more you relax in your meditations the easier it will be to feel and to step back from what you are observing.
At first you will experience yourself as an objective observer. This may last for a while. Eventually you will experience yourself as the observing itself. This will last for a while as well. Finally you will experience something much greater and more wonderful. You will know it when you experience it.
Be patient with yourself. This process can take days or years. Try some of the meditations I have posted here. They will help you a great deal.
I hope this is helpful.
Take care
Jon
Oh, Jon Shore, I finally found you again!!!! My spirit has been calling your name. How happy I am to know that you are back at your true work…the blessings you left with me continue. I look forward with joy to a deepened spiritual connection.