Death makes people uncomfortable. People will do anything to keep their equilibrium, their own personal illusion that they are not going to die, and no one wants to be the one to upset the person who is starting to get their life back together. So what can people do? From my position on the frontline I would say — acknowledge it. Acknowledge it, please.

In the previous post, I had a bit of a vent against both “positive thinking” and “negative thinking”. Is the answer not to think at all? Not according to the most helpful way of living with the power of thinking that I have ever come across.

The “Motiwake Personal Development Alarm Clock” awakens you with positive affirmations to programme you for the day. Many people use their own “Demotiwake Personal Alarm Clocks” instead. Isn’t it a better idea just to drop the programmes and relax?

Provocative Therapy turns all accepted wisdom about therapy on its head. Here is a therapy in which the therapist makes fun of the client’s problems, blows them up out of all proportion and suggests crazy and surreal solutions seemingly off the top of their heads. So why does it seem to be effective?

Compassion meditation produces physical effects in the brain, “proving” in terms of Western science that an Eastern spiritual practice “works”. Are compassion and empathy skills which can be developed through meditation, or is this missing the point of a spiritual experience?

What does it mean to be in control of our lives? Is it at all possible, or desirable? Is it a better idea to try and let go of our need to control, or to find a way to exert influence at least over the meaning of our lives when bad times hit?

Men can also be victims of sexual abuse and rape. Maybe they silence themselves and their experiences even more. What can be done with the trauma and shame which so many people carry around in secret?