Author Archives: Michael Maciel

by Michael Maciel If we blanketly assume that our favorite beliefs are true, then we’re no better than the average fundamentalist. And being convinced that we have the corner on the market in the reality department renders us completely incapable … Continue reading →

  As a gift to our planet, do the following visualization: 1. Close your eyes. Sit quietly in a chair with your hands in your lap. Take three deep breaths through your nose and relax. Quiet your mind. Allow your … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Our bodies are hundreds of millions of years old. We’re like walking repositories of the history of the evolution of life on this planet. Wouldn’t it make sense that many, if not all, of our deepest most … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel The problem of polarization is probably THE problem of our age, so it’s really important to understand the underlying causes of why we’re at each other’s throats. And in typical fashion, we all tend to exteriorize our … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Two weeks ago, I had a tooth pulled. As the dentist attempted to extract it, the crown broke off. It took her an entire hour to dig out the root. All the while, I’m contemplating what it … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel We have two models by which we can form our society, both of which are based on love — love as expressed within families and love as expressed between families. And since we’re talking about love, both … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel If sin is “missing the mark,” then we have to ask, what are we aiming at? You may have heard the adage, “I reached the top of the ladder of success only to discover that it was … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel I’m thinking that the opposite of being naive isn’t being smart, as though naivete is ignorance by definition, but rather, the opposite of being naive is to be cynical. However, both words have negative connotations, so we … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel It seems to me that there are two things that drive meaning in our lives: love and purpose. In the presence of love, even loving one’s cat, pushes the need for meaning to the side, if only … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel   How much of our world is held together by our beliefs? I mean, held together in such a way that if our beliefs were disrupted, our whole world, including our sense of self, would fall apart. … Continue reading →