Stephen Joseph Scott

Three reasons why vulnerability is a superpower and 1 way to get started

Vulnerability is a superpower that creates healing and connection. How many of you grew up in a culture that insisted that you suffer in silence? Too many of us have internalized messages that tell us, "Man up!" "Suck it up!" "Don't be a

Guard Your Senses

In Buddhist philosophy, there are six "sense doors" or perceptual gateways. Each door makes up the totality of our consciousness.

creativity

The Inner Journey of Being a Creator

Sharing your work in public is not for the faint of heart. There's a steep emotional learning curve to releasing a part of yourself into the wild.

From Writer's Block to Writer's Flow

Some people talk about writer's block. You can fight it. We live in a time of abundance. There are so many people, systems, and tools that can help you move from writer's block into writer's flow.

How To Stay Present in A Conversation

If you want to form deep and meaningful relationships, learn presence. A better word for mindfulness is loving presence. The Buddha, a masterful teacher, sometimes used the image of water to teach the five hindrances to meditation.

Unmute: Proclaim Your Story

The words of Amanda Gorman proclaiming her poetry at Joe Biden's inauguration still ring in my ears. I was surprised to learn that she grew up with speech struggles.

Tool

How to Recover from a Breakdown

You have a flat tire. What is a better approach? Option A: Say to yourself: "What a stupid car! I can't believe you got a flat tire. What's wrong with you? You could have done better!" or Option B: Get out of the car,

A Puddle of Piss & 5 Lessons for Adults

Have you ever carried shame in silence? Here are 5 Lessons for Adults.

meditation

If Meditation is a Struggle, Strengthen Your Anchor

We can get lost in thought.If you are trying to sleep or trying to meditate, the churning of the mind can be exhausting. It can make you feel anxious. Through practice, you can choose your mental activities.

Finding Healing in Quirks and Codes

Each member of the community comes to understand their own brokenness and their need for community. L'Arche describes itself as ". . . people with and without intellectual disabilities living, working, praying, and playing together in community." The people I met were beautiful.

You Are Good Enough

It's important to cultivate compassionate inner voices. There is ample research that shows the positive effect of self-compassion. However, we can tell from our own experience that life is more pleasant for us and for others when we listen to positive inner voices.

The Death of an Infant in El Salvador

In the United States, we work hard to hide death. In this village, death was on full display. Too often, we want to tuck our pain away from others. This experience in Las Vueltas reminds me of the power of a community that holds one another in silent reverie.

creativity

The Facade of Faux Work

Does it ever seem like you are working hard, but not making progress? Sometimes we fill our lives up with work that seems important, but it's not. I call this Faux Work.

When Bruce Lee Died, I Didn't Know What to Say

When someone is in pain, people want to reach out and say something comforting. Unfortunately, most people fumble for the right words, or ignore the situation. Some people dispense cliches like, "it was meant to be” or “everything happens for a reason”.

Leave Your Jail Cell

Do you feel stuck or trapped? Reach out to a friend or mentor. Leave your jail cell.

My First Day of Teaching

As I was trying to lift up the desk, I thought, "Oh my God. How am I going to survive this?" I made it through my first day and lived to teach another day, and another.

Hindrances to Work

If you are having trouble focusing and getting your work done, are you being blocked by one of the Five Hindrances?

🔥Burn Your Writing

Don't unmute when you are unhinged. This creates more suffering in you and others. Pause. Reclaim your equanimity. Align your voice with your values. Then, unmute and speak your truth with purpose, clarity, and power.

wellness

The Wellness Wheel

Is your life in balance? Here is a tool to help you visualize the different areas of your life.

Featured

Mute the World

We are built for connection, but we also need solitude. Most of us are starving for stillness, but are too busy to notice.

If You Want Balance, Get in Motion

If you try to stand on a surfboard in still water, you’ll sink. The board will rock back and forth trying to surface. To stabilize, you must flail your arms wildly and gyrate your body. Balance is a struggle. When you are surfing, you put yourself in position, pick

creativity Featured

The G.I.V.E. Framework

If you want to move from silence to expression, you need to have a system that supports your creative work

Are you Passive or Active on Twitter?

With a shifted mindset, Twitter can become a powerful platform to teach, learn, and build connections with others. I am now using Twitter in a way that is effective for me.

Kareem, Can I Buy You Dinner?

I stood in a moonlight parking lot and shouted something that I've regretted for 38 years. I missed an opportunity to bring value to an NBA legend.

How to Stay Stuck and Muted

I've had years of practice of being stuck and muted. I have developed some useful scripts that might help you bolster your armory of excuses.