Whatever Works Podcast

Kōans and Mu

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there, does it make a sound? Does a dog have Buddha-nature? Show me your original face before you were born. Such propositions defy our usual way of thinking, and any attempt to arrive at a definitive answer can be daunting or impossible. Nonetheless, there is value in asking them repeatedly and observing what the mind conjures in response.

If You Diet, Do It Sustainably

Diet culture is everywhere, but many diets are aimed at short-term results rather than long-term health. Many people lose a little weight and then find that they can’t sustain their dieting habits due to insatiable hunger or emotional factors. If you do decide to choose a diet, picking a way of eating that you’re able to continue for years rather than weeks or months gives you a much better chance of losing weight at a healthy pace—and keeping it off.

Breathe Before Eating

Finding ways to limit mindless eating can be very beneficial, and taking a few deep breaths before making the decision to put something in your mouth is a valuable first step.

Hack Your Workout Routine

It’s easy to get stuck in a workout rut. You do the same exercises every day or run the same distance, and before long, your performance starts to plateau. Even within tight time or energy constraints, however, there are various ways you can add physical movements to your day, thus improving your strength and stamina, clearing your mind, and boosting your vitality.

Find Physical Activities You Enjoy

Some people find that going to a gym or working with a trainer is boring, and they suffer through it for the sake of their health goals. For those people, finding an alternative physical activity that they enjoy can transform their exercise experience and significantly boost their motivation to work out.

Conversations with God

Connecting with your representation of God verbally can be a powerful way to access meaning and wisdom when encountering personal obstacles or tackling big questions, such as “Why am I here?” or “What is this life about?”

Asking Why

We all interpret the meaning of events, but unless we sincerely ask “why,” we’re bound to be blind to the circumstances leading to our present situation.

Own Your Echo Chamber

It’s easy to get trapped in your own echo chamber and only surround yourself with people who think like you and consume similar media. If you succumb to this temptation, however, you will limit your ability to investigate your own bias. This will leave you at the mercy of the content you consume and the people who shape your opinions. Instead, recognize your default influences and make an effort to get out of the bubble they create.

Prefer Requests Over Demands

When we ask other people to do something, we often come with a demanding energy, which sends a message that the other person must do as we ask—or else. This can happen even when the language we use seemingly contains only a request. For a request to be pure, we must be willing to accept a refusal. 

Make and Formalize Agreements

In daily life, we frequently make ambiguous or unspoken agreements, which we then interpret based on our individual memory and understanding. This understanding may or may not match the perception of other parties. Without a formal record, this may lead to frustration and conflict as two (or more) people have a different understanding of what has been discussed. One solution is to record your agreements, preventing future grievances and arguments.