What I love about this reflection is how clearly it names the quiet tension many people feel: we’re exhausted from endlessly “working on ourselves,” yet still sense that something deeper is untouched. Cognitive Transformational Mindfulness--CTM (a framework for meditation similar to mindfulness as described in Buddhism) sits right in this space the Buddha pointed to—not as a rejection of self-help, but as its maturation—where we stop trying to perfect the self and instead learn how to relate to experience without being trapped inside a rigid identity. Rather than building a stronger story of “me,” CTM trains the capacity to witness thoughts, emotions, and roles as dynamic processes, which is exactly how the second arrow loses its power. In that sense, CTM isn’t about escaping life or abandoning agency; it’s about discovering a steadiness that no longer depends on constantly fixing who you think you are.
Excellent! Thank you for your work!
Another great article, thank you.
For those interested, I'd also recommend Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a modality that overlaps heavily with Buddhism.
What I love about this reflection is how clearly it names the quiet tension many people feel: we’re exhausted from endlessly “working on ourselves,” yet still sense that something deeper is untouched. Cognitive Transformational Mindfulness--CTM (a framework for meditation similar to mindfulness as described in Buddhism) sits right in this space the Buddha pointed to—not as a rejection of self-help, but as its maturation—where we stop trying to perfect the self and instead learn how to relate to experience without being trapped inside a rigid identity. Rather than building a stronger story of “me,” CTM trains the capacity to witness thoughts, emotions, and roles as dynamic processes, which is exactly how the second arrow loses its power. In that sense, CTM isn’t about escaping life or abandoning agency; it’s about discovering a steadiness that no longer depends on constantly fixing who you think you are.
Thank you. This makes so much sense. I will keep the article to support me, and remind me.