In uncertain times, how we cope becomes very important. The choices we make can literally make or break us. Beneath those choices lies a mindset. How we think creates a great deal of our reality. Not all to be sure, but how we think is the factor that decides whether we choose yoga and breathing to manage our stress, or alcohol & other drugs. Our mindset makes all of the difference between seeing defeat and opportunity.

I recently listened to a dharma talk given on tricycle.com by one Jon Aaron. The talk is divided into four videos, about one hour total, and discusses dealing with uncertainty from a Buddhist perspective. My purpose in this article is to summarize some of the points he made, as I believe these points to be useful in a daily application for many perspectives. I do not say that Buddhism is superior to any other philosophy. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if other philosophies contain similar concepts.

How well do you know yourself?

Mr. Aaron opens his talk by discussing meditation, a very Buddhist but not exclusive to that philosophy thing. While I don't formally meditate, I do many things that are meditative, such as gardening, yoga, tai chi, and qigong. These practices help us not only clear the mind, but study the mind. How our minds move and respond to stress, for example.