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 Blending the wisdom of Eastern Psychology
with the
demands of contemporary western lifestyles
A Natural Approach to Mental Wellness taught by Gregg Krech Resources and Discussion forum for those who have attended the ToDo Institute Summer Residential Program A self directed online course to provide CEU's to social workers
A distance learning course on the theme Renewing Your Relationship A course to help you find your purpose and live more purposely each day of your life. Naikan: The Japanese Art of Self-Reflection. A one month practice course on gratitude and grace for the Thanksgiving season.
Taking Action: A distance learning support program to help you move forward on an unfinished project Working with Your Attention Thirty Thousand Days: A Journal for Purposeful Living
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It may not come as a surprise to hear that New Year’s resolutions don’t work – at least for more than 90% of those who make them. You’ll hear a lot of discussion about how to make better resolutions: write them down, be specific, make them realistic. But this doesn’t really address the more fundamental issue – we need to have the self-discipline to make changes in the way we are living. And most of us are living a feeling-centered life, rather than a purpose-centered life. No matter how skillful we are at making resolutions, this fundamental issue still has to be addressed. As long as our lives are tossed to and fro by the tides of our feeling states, we remain relatively incapable of doing what we say we will do.
So to make important changes, we need to shift to a more purpose-centered life. Living with more purpose isn’t just about keeping a few New Year’s resolutions -- it’s about putting our energy towards what truly matters and making wise and conscious choices about how we use our time. And it’s about taking action.
At the beginning of each year I teach a month-long course called Living on Purpose. It’s designed to help you clarify your purposes and to stay on track. It addresses issues like procrastination and self-discipline and incorporates ideas from people like Viktor Frankl, Stephen Covey, Albert Schweitzer and Richard Leider. This is a course about direction – about finding direction, setting direction, and staying on course. There are readings, daily exercises, audio, video and a course discussion forum.
If the idea of a more purpose-centered life appeals to you, I invite you to join me in this course which begins Monday, January 9, 2012. As a New Year’s gift, the ToDo Institute is offering a $7 discount for those who register no later than midnight on January 2nd.
ToDo Institute Members - $65 (with discount), Non-members $80 (with discount)
Register Online
or email todo@todoinstitute.com
The Living on Purpose course is a great way to get off to a good start the New Year. The course also offers 16 credits towards the ToDo Institute's Certification program.
Best wishes to you for a wonderful year filled with good health and new adventures.
- Gregg Krech
Note: When you register online, include the promotional code “new year” in the comment box when you checkout.
The discount will not show up online, but will be deducted by us before we charge your credit card. |
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Expressing gratitude is transformative, just as transformative as expressing complaint. Imagine an experiment involving two people. One is asked to spend ten minutes each morning and evening expressing gratitude (there is always something to be grateful for), while the other is asked to spend the same amount of time practicing complaining (there is, after all, always something to complain about). . . Guaranteed, at the end of that year the person practicing complaining will have deeply reaffirmed all his negative stuff rather than having let it go, while the one practicing gratitude will be a very grateful person. What you practice is what you are; practice and the goal of practice are identical, cause and effect are one reality. Expressing gratitude can, indeed, change our way of seeing ourselves and the world.
- John Daido Loori Roshi
On Thursday, November 10, we will begin the 16th annual Month of Self-Reflection distance learning program.
The program is conducted by Gregg Krech, a leading expert in Japanese Psychology and author of the award-winning book, Naikan: Gratitude, Grace and the Japanese Art of Self-reflection. Gregg will lead participants through a month of daily practice that will help us reflect on our lives and cultivate an authentic Thanksgiving spirit as we approach the holidays.
Research has shown that our brains have a "negative bias." This means they react more to problems, difficulties and traumas than to positive experiences. If we go to a gathering where nearly everyone is friendly and kind to us, but one person is difficult, we may focus on that one encounter and allow it to cast a shadow over everything else. 
We can counter this negative bias in two ways: skillful attention and self-reflection. These two elements are the foundation of our Month of Self-Reflection.
This program requires an average commitment of about 30 minutes per day, yet even such a limited amount of time can have a profound impact on our attitude, relationships and understanding of our life. You'll receive a journal, with a month of daily exercises, a copy of Gregg's Naikan book (or an alternate selection), and access to a global community of participants with whom you can share your experiences, ideas and comments. Resource materials, including audio and video, are available through our course website.
Self-reflection and skillful attention are profound skills . They can change the nature of our most important relationships and change our overall experience of life. This course offers powerful opportunities for personal growth, psychological health and spiritual awareness. It’s a wonderful way to cultivate an authentic sense of gratitude as we move into the holiday season. We invite you to accompany us on this month-long journey.
You can register by phone (802) 453-4440 or online through the ToDo Institute bookstore: Register online. Space is limited.
Thank you. |
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Starts Monday, June 6th
Taking Action:
Finishing the unfinished (or unstarted)
A Distance Learning Program
June 6 - July 6, 2011
Register Online
Do you have something important that remains unfinished? Here’s a chance to turn your plan into reality. Using methods from Morita Therapy (The Psychology of Action) you’ll have the support, encouragement, and guidance you need to overcome practical and psychological obstacles and accomplish something that becomes part of your life and legacy. Whether you're still in the idea stage, or stuck somewhere along the way, this program can help you to take action and move forward in the real world. This is a chance to grab the reins, and dedicate yourself to something that is important to you and that will add satisfaction, pride, joy and meaning to your life.
What will you accomplish?
Taking Action will give you an opportunity to make progress toward a goal or project that is important to you. It is easy for even our most important dreams to get lost in the shuffle of a busy life. Often they get placed on the back burner because they have no deadline. This program gives you a chance to move the important to the front of the line. By the end of the month you will either have completed or made significant progress on something that is worth doing.
What will you learn?
In addition to this real-life progress, you will have an opportunity to study some very pragmatic and powerful tools related to getting things done. Examples of projects from past courses include, completing licensure requirements, establishing a new business, creating a website, writing a book, finishing delinquent taxes, getting a job, house renovations and diet and exercise. We will study principles and practices from Morita Therapy as well as Kaizen. We’ll draw on methods that will help you overcome procrastination. You’ll learn practical ways to prioritize so you’ll spend more time doing what’s important, not just what’s easy or enjoyable. By the end of the course, you will have exposure to, and experience with, strategies and tools that you can use long after this course is completed.
How does the program work?
You’ll have access to the ToDo Institute’s distance learning course website which is the hub of this program. Through the website, you’ll identify what you want to accomplish and what you need to do. You’ll keep a journal of your daily progress, which can involve small or large steps, depending on your time. You’ll have a peer-support group that will be aware of your goal and your progress. You’ll have an advisor to make suggestions and nudge you along. You’ll receive ideas and suggestions and daily quotes of inspiration and wisdom. You’ll be moving forward as part of a larger community, all of whom are trying to do something important during this time period. You'll learn about valuable resources that can inspire and inform as you go along. And you'll have a chance to overcome your own obstacles as they come up and identify any patterns that will be helpful to you in the future.
Your success in the program ultimately depends on your own willingness to make the time and take action. There is no shortcut to action. And there is no time like the present for finish or start what's important to you.
Tuition - $72 (ToDo members)
$87 (non-members)
Alumni who wish to retake this course can register with a 50% discount. |
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“Expressing gratitude is transformative, just as transformative as expressing complaint. Imagine an experiment involving two people. One is asked to spend ten minutes each morning and evening expressing gratitude (there is always something to be grateful for), while the other is asked to spend the same amount of time practicing complaining (there is, after all, always something to complain about). . . Guaranteed, at the end of that year the person practicing complaining will have deeply reaffirmed all his negative stuff rather than having let it go, while the one practicing gratitude will be a very grateful person. What you practice is what you are; practice and the goal of practice are identical, cause and effect are one reality. Expressing gratitude can, indeed, change our way of seeing ourselves and the world.”
- John Daido Loori Roshi
On Wednesday, November 10, we will begin the 15th annual Month of Self-Reflection distance learning program. This year's program is conducted by Gregg Krech, a leading expert in Japanese Psychology and author of the award-winning book, Naikan: Gratitude, Grace and the Japanese Art of Self-reflection. Gregg will lead participants through a month of daily practice that will help us reflect on our lives and cultivate an authentic Thanksgiving spirit as we approach the holidays.
Research has shown that our brains have a "negative bias." This means they  react more to problems, difficulties and traumas than to positive experiences. We can go to a party where nearly everyone is friendly and kind to us, but we have a difficult encounter with a single person who offends or hurts us. That single encounter will often define the experience because of this negative bias.
We can counter this negative bias in two ways: skillful attention and self-reflection. These two elements are the foundation of our Month of Self-reflection.
This program requires an average commitment of about 30 minutes per day, yet even such a limited amount of time can have a profound impact on our attitude, relationships and understanding of our life. You'll receive a journal, with a month of daily exercises, a copy of Gregg's Naikan book (or an alternate selection), as well as access to a course advisor who you can contact during the month for feedback, consultation or questions. You'll be part of a global community of more than 75 people with whom you can share your experiences, ideas and comments related to the theme of self-reflection. A course website is set up which allows particpants access to an incredible collection of resource materials, including audio and video.
Self-reflection and skillful attention are profound skills . They can change the nature of our most important relationships and change our overall experience of life. This course offers powerful opportunities for personal growth, psychological health and spiritual awareness.
You can register by phone (802) 453-4440 or online through the ToDo Institute bookstore.
Register online
(a limited amount of space is available as of 11/5)
Have a thankful Thanksgiving! |
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“Give up on yourself.
Begin taking action now, while being neurotic or imperfect, or a procrastinator or unhealthy or lazy or any other label by which you inaccurately describe yourself. Go ahead and be the best imperfect person you can be and get started on those things you want to accomplish before you die.”
- Shoma Morita, M.D. |
