Formative Influences

Small lists of things that have had big influences on me.

Approaches

• Sharon Bowman’s books, especially Training from the back of the Room.
• The Heath Brothers’s books, especially Switch.
• Austin Kleon’s books, especially Show Your Work.

Philosophies

• Stoicism, especially Seneca.
  • Also Cynicism, especially Diogenes.
• The School of Life, especially the articles.
• Buddhism, especially Zen and Dzogchen.
  • Also Daoism, especially the Tao Te Ching.

People

• Sam Harris, especially the Waking Up app.
• Tara Brach, especially RAIN.
• Ian McGilchrist, especially The Matter With Things.

Practices

• Daily reflections, especially recommitting to valued action.
• Meditation, especially nondual awareness.
• Paying more attention:
  • to the world around me (especially nature) and taking joy in it;
  • to what I’m thinking and feeling;
  • to what and how other people are communicating.
• Using a commonplace book, especially one I always have with me.

Added 2023-09-01.