Tag: meditation

Paulo Coelho, The Hero’s Journey, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Calm, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 13, 2024

Sunday Supplement #179 (October 13th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“When you say ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.”

– Paulo Coelho

Book of the Week:

The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was a writer and professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College. His work in mythology and religion is famous.

You may have heard of the phrase “the hero’s journey” before. Campbell believed it to be a monomyth of the archetypal hero shared through various mythologies.

I featured Campbell’s books about the field in previous Sunday Supplements. This book is an autobiography/biography of Campbell’s own life fit into the frame of the hero’s journey.

The book dives into Campbell’s life, his discoveries, conversations with poets, anthropologists, and philosophers, and the role of myth in our lives.

Movie of the Week:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Jason Segel wrote and starred in the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Segel plays Peter, who, after getting dumped, takes a Hawaiian vacation getaway only to find that his ex Sarah is at the same resort with her new boyfriend.

The film is brilliantly written with a great supporting cast, including Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Bill Hader, Russell Brand, and Paul Rudd.

I was surprised at how much depth the film has for such a raunchy comedy. It earns its R rating but packs more heart and intelligence than cheap laughs.

You should check out the reasons for the rating before watching it, but it is one of my top-shelf recommended Comedies.

Brainfood of the Week:

Daily Calm Live Stream: Disconnect to Connect | Calm

Over the years, I have fallen into and out of a meditation routine. Whenever I’m not practicing meditation regularly, I look back and wish I’d make time for it.

Calm is the number one app for meditation and sleep. The app has many facets, but this post focuses on its daily ten-minute guided meditation.

Their app has some free features, and their YouTube channel posts regular meditation-videos, tips, and other guides to leading a calm life.

I featured a Calm guided meditation in Sunday Supplement #31. I highly recommend looking into a mediation practice and finding one that works for you.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“With thorough discipline, they learn to withdraw the mind from selfish cravings and rivet it on the unsurpassable good of the self. Such persons are said to be in Yog and are free from all yearning of the senses.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:18

I’ve featured Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita in a few previous Sunday Supplements. The chapter speaks on conquering the mind through meditation.

This verse focuses on the absence of selfish cravings and the yearning of the senses, leading to the unsurpassable good of the self.

I’ve found mediation to be a powerful tool and experience. I think we have so many demands on our senses and our minds each day that it is vital to find a healthy method of disconnecting.

Make self-care a part of your routine, and have a blessed week ahead!

Robert Urich, Breath, Win Win, Little List Project, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 17, 2023

Sunday Supplement #123 (September 17th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“A healthy outside starts from the inside.”

– Robert Urich

Book of the Week:

Breath – James Nestor

Science journalist James Nestor’s Breath is a historical, scientific, and personal examination of breathing, particularly the differences between nasal and mouth breathing.

Nestor investigated how humans shifted from nasal breathing to mouth breathing and how that shift impacted human health.

One of the explanations argues that the shift to mouth breathing was due to the increased consumption of processed foods, which had led to a rise in snoring, sleep apnea, and allergies.

Nestor wrote Breath after ten years of intense research. The book became an international bestseller, selling over two million copies worldwide.

Breath has surprisingly been one of the most helpful books I’ve read in regard to improving my health. I highly recommend it.

Movie of the Week:

Win Win

Tom McCarthy’s Win Win is about a financially struggling small-town lawyer’s chicanery that comes back to haunt him.

Paul Giamatti plays the struggling lawyer, and his haunting comes in the form of a double-crossed client’s grandson.

The film is surprisingly lighthearted in tone, but it is able to craft a narrative that takes a deeper look into facing the question of what’s important in your life.

For those who don’t know Tom McCarthy by name, he is the writer/director of Spotlight, The Station Agent, The Visitor, and Up.

Win Win is probably a movie that most people haven’t heard about, but it has a special slice-of-life feel that is worth the watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Healthy Habits: 10 Daily Habits That Changed My Life | Little List Project

The Little List Project YouTube channel is dedicated to providing simple and practical tips for a daily lifestyle.

In this video are ten tips for leading a healthier lifestyle. Ria, whose background is in nutrition and food engineering, explains how these tips help physical, emotional, and mental health.

Ria explains how she implemented these habits gradually over the years. There’s no pressure to do them all every day, and she highlights doing what you can when you’re stressed.

The video goes over habits like meditation, exercise, and healthy eating, but each tip is explained thoroughly, with research offered as supporting evidence.

Many of these types of videos can be over-simplified or obvious, but I thoroughly enjoyed the breakdown from Ria and highly recommend checking the full video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“For him who is moderate in food and diversion, whose actions are disciplined, who is moderate in sleep and waking, Yoga destroys all sorrow.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:17

Yoga is often assumed in the West only to be the practice of physical exercise through various poses. While this is an aspect of Yoga, it isn’t the complete picture.

This Bhagavad Gita passage speaks to the larger mental, spiritual, and physical practices or disciplines to control and still the mind.

The breakdown of different practices in this passage is an excellent guide to living a healthy life, both physically and mentally (and spiritually for those interested).

Maintaining a healthy balance in our lives is essential to being able to combat the sorrows we encounter.

Take productive steps in your mental and physical health, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Alan Cohen, Waking Up, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Improvement Pill, and The Bhagavad Gita

Alan Cohen, Waking Up, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Improvement Pill, and The Bhagavad Gita

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 5, 2022

Sunday Supplement #56 (June 5th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“There is virtue in work, and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”

– Alan Cohen

Book of the Week:

Waking Up – Sam Harris

Multiple New York Times bestselling author Sam Harris explores how to live a spiritual life without religion in his book Waking Up.

In the book, Harris outlines his journey of spirituality, what he’s learned, and the science that backs up the practice.

A few chapters delve into different religions and modern practices. Harris outlines the useful common ground while highlighting the pitfalls.

Many spirituality books and practices believe their way is the only way or the best way to see the light. Waking Up provides a good litmus test to weed out the charlatans.

Harris outlines the essentials for living a spiritual life that isn’t reliant on religion and shows how mediation is a rational practice.

Waking Up is worth reading and keeping in mind when delving into other spirituality books and practices.

Movie of the Week:

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

John Hughes wrote and directed many classic 80s films. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is arguably one of his best.

The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller as he fakes sick a month before graduation. He’s skipped too many times before, and if he gets caught, he won’t graduate.

Ferris’s day off includes rousing his best friend from staying home actually sick, getting his girlfriend out of school, and going on numerous adventures in the city.

While Ferris and his friends go on their adventures, the school principal attempts to catch Ferris in his lie. Ferris’s sister also attempts to track him down after seeing the support from the school about his illness.

The movie was made for $5 million and grossed over $70 million at the box office.

At the beginning and the end of the movie, Ferris Bueller states, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.”

The film stands the test of time and is worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun watch with interesting and upbeat themes.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Meditate For Beginners – Improvement Pill

This Improvement Pill video discusses precisely how to meditate— where to meditate, what to do with your body, what to do with your mind, and how long you should do it.

The video uses information from the highly recommended book Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana.

Improvement Pill’s video does a brilliant job of highlighting the optimal ways of meditation and also gives practical advice on making it easy to get started.

Mindfulness Breathing Mediation is the type of meditation the video uses as a guide and starting point.

The cumulative benefits show themselves at different times for different people. However, a meditation practice could be an invaluable addition to your personal care routine.

I’ve featured Improvement Pill recently in Sunday Supplement #54, but I’ve watched their videos for years. Their channel is an excellent source of knowledge on self-help subjects.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.”

– The Bhagavad Gita

This passage from the Bhagavad Gita reminds me of the importance of steady meditation practice.

Having one or two times in the day where you sit or lay in silence is a beautiful way to recuperate and give your body and mind a break.

The Bhagavad Gita passage reminds me of the effects of meditation when practiced over time.

While I haven’t mastered meditation, some of the most productive and calm times in my life have been after adopting a morning and evening mediation routine.

The Brainfood of the Week is an excellent video to help start a meditation practice. I also provide video prompts in Sunday Supplements #31 and #41 worth checking out.

Make time for yourself to rest your mind and body, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Elantris, Stardust, Calm, and the Atharva Veda

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Elantris, Stardust, Calm, and the Atharva Veda

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 12, 2021

Sunday Supplement #31 (December 12th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Book of the Week:

Elantris – Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is a Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author. Sanderson also teaches one writing class a year as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University and hosts the podcast Writing Excuses with authors Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, and web cartoonist Howard Tayler.

While Sanderson went to undergraduate and graduate school, he was employed at a hotel as a night auditor and wrote many novels while he worked. His sixth novel, Elantris, was picked up by Tor Books and started his career as a Fantasy and Science Fiction author.

Elantris tells the story of the falling of magic in Arelon. Elantris was the capital of Arelon and was the home of magical beings who used their abilities to benefit the kingdom. The residents of Elantris were once ordinary people from Arelon until they became transformed overnight through the power of Shoad.

Without warning, the magic failed, and the Shaod became a leper-like curse. The demigods of Elantris became wizened creatures, and the city of Elantris was walled off for the transformed to be exiled.

Prince Roaden and Princess Sarene’s marriage was the last hope for an Arelon under threat from the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. However, before Sarene could marry Raoden, the prince was struck by the Shaod, and his father snuck him into Elantris.

Elantris goes on to follow the stories of Raoden, Sarene, and a priest of Fjordell and the future of Elantris and how each deals with their own position and the situation they are forced to manage.

The novel is one of my favorite fantasy books and has brilliant lessons on making the best of where you’re at and how to never give up. If you’re a fan of fantasy, this should be on your list.

Let me know what you think!

Movie of the Week:

Stardust

Stardust is a 2007 film adapted from Neil Gaiman’s Locus Award-nominated novel. I don’t think many movies better their source, but Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman make a case for their script.

The movie follows Tristan Thorn, a shop boy, who makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the fabled magical kingdom beyond the borders of their town.

This fantasy film stars Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn and Claire Danes as Yvaine the fallen star. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Lamia, the witch after Yvaine’s heart and eternal life, and Robert De Niro plays Captain Shakespeare, a colorful pirate who aides Tristan and Yvaine.

Stardust is a fun watch that shows the power of saying yes to adventure and learning about yourself along the way. There are great performances sprinkled throughout, and the fun script makes an entertaining viewing.

The movie isn’t an Oscar-nominated masterpiece, but it is something lighthearted that would be a fun watch on a cold or snowy day.

Brainfood of the Week:

10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation | Calm

Calm is the number one app for meditation and sleep. There are many facets of the app, but the focus of this post is on their daily ten-minute guided meditation.

There are many benefits to meditation, such as decreasing stress and anxiety. The practice of meditation can also enhance awareness and patience.

I like to keep a playlist on my phone of downloaded meditations I’ve come across on YouTube. I tend to switch between guided meditations, soft background mediations, and if I’m in nature ambient meditation.

I’m not always in a steady practice of meditation, but I notice how my days feel rushed when I fall out of practice. Ideally, I liked to meditate once in the morning and once in the afternoon or before bed.

Breathing exercises are another great way to ground and be present. Part of these practices helps me be calm when I go through each day. I always finish each session with a little prayer or intention for the rest of the day or for a specific event I’m going to encounter.

These are all practices I’ve worked on incorporating into my life. The Calm video is a great guided meditation to check out. Their app is also worth looking at with a free and subscription option available.

Go at your own pace and find the practice and time that works best for you. Let me know what you think and if you’d like any other recommendations in this field.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“May thou bless me with radiance, courage, energy, and strength.”

– Atharva Veda

In Sunday Supplement #29, I discussed the benefits of cultivating a positive mindset. I delved into the power of gratitude and practicing control over your thoughts.

For this section of the Sunday Supplement, I wanted to list a prayer/mantra. I think it is crucial to work on ourselves, learn, and grow. However, I believe asking for help is something that can often be ignored or frowned upon.

For me, prayer and mantras are the other side of the coin for positivity and gratitude. While we cultivate our lives and perspectives, asking for a bit of help and having faith in something can be a tremendous support.

I believe in a higher power. I don’t care what people call it, but I feel it when I’m with other people, in nature, and when I experience moments of silent bliss within. I believe meditation, prayers, mantras, walks in nature, and connection with others tap into that universal power.

The Atharva Veda has been called the Veda of magical formulas, and it contains over 5,000 mantras in its pages.

The above passage is just one version of a mantra that you can use, but I encourage you to find one that feels right and try repeating it after meditation or prayer. See what happens after you incorporate it into your routine.

Have a magical month of December, and have a blessed week ahead!

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