How Buddhist Psychology Lit My Path: Lessons from the Mind 3/12

Hey there, If you've been following my journey, you're aware that I've been delving into the ways I overcome challenging circumstances to complete a book project I never anticipated completing. This week, I want to share a turning point that reshaped how I saw myself and the world: discovering Buddhist psychology. It wasn’t just a set of ideas—it was a gentle, profound way of understanding my mind that wove together the best of classical psychology and holistic approaches. Let me take you back to how it started, share a key lesson that changed me, and give you a simple practice to try for yourself.

The Day Buddhist Psychology Found Me

A years ago now, I was drowning in questions about why my life felt like a rollercoaster. Every two or three years, everything seemed to implode—bad jobs, worse bosses, toxic colleagues, even strained family ties. I couldn’t focus, couldn’t finish anything I started. I was angry, frustrated, and always on edge. Any slight challenge or question from anyone would trigger a defensive outburst, as if my emotions were akin to a flaming match ready to ignite. I was exhausted, my mood flat, and my energy gone. My mind was a tangled mess filled with questions like, "Why am I so stuck?" What’s wrong with me?  I was fleeing from my own self, and no alteration in my surroundings, be it a new city or a new country, could unravel that complex situation.

One restless evening, I was scrolling through endless self-help pages online, desperate for answers. I stumbled into a section labelled “mindfulness.” The image of a monk sitting cross-legged, radiating a calm I couldn't fathom, completely stopped me. The text wasn’t preachy—it was practical, talking about suffering as universal and our thoughts as the fuel that worsens it. The text introduced mindfulness, a technique for observing your thoughts without losing them. It felt like someone had handed me a tool I could use right then, no guru required.

Hungry for more, I found a tattered copy of The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh in one of Cardiff libraries' bookshelves. As I read, I realized Buddhist psychology wasn’t just spiritual—it was a framework that echoed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) from classical psychology and the whole-person focus of holistic approaches. One revelation hit me hard: the Buddhist concept of karma isn’t some mystical punishment—it’s a scientific term in Buddhism, describing how our actions, thoughts, and intentions shape our life’s evolution. My rollercoaster life wasn’t random; it was a pattern tied to how I reacted to challenges, clung to anger, and let negative thoughts spiral.

Another teaching that floored me was the Four Noble Truths—the idea that suffering exists, it has a cause (often our attachment to how things “should” be), there’s a way out, and that path involves mindful awareness. Suddenly, my inability to focus or finish projects wasn’t just “failure”—it was attachment to perfection, fear of criticism, and a mind racing too fast to see clearly. This wasn’t just theory; it was a map to my chaos. Buddhist psychology showed me my suffering wasn’t only in my head but in how I related to my thoughts, body, and actions. It was like a light flicked on in a room I’d been stumbling through, and it resonated deeply with the transformation I later poured into The Morph.

The Lesson: Understanding Your Mind Empowers Change

Understand this: from the moment you're born until the moment you wake up to your own agency, your mind is being shaped—layered with beliefs, assumptions, and emotional patterns inherited from your environment. You don't choose the script, but you act it out, unconsciously.

The greatest gift of Buddhist psychology—and where it aligns with both classical and holistic psychology—is this: you can train the mind to witness itself. Through meditation and awareness, you learn that suffering isn’t just what happens to you; it’s how you relate to what happens. You can change that.

For me, the anchor was mindfulness-based cognitive reframing—a practice that blends Buddhist presence with CBT’s restructuring of thought and holistic psychology’s attention to the body. It begins with witnessing: noticing your thoughts without judgment, checking in with your emotional and physical state, and then consciously choosing a more liberating perspective.

Take this example. I used to carry a thought like a stone in my chest: I’m a failure because I can’t finish anything.  That belief fueled frustration, shame, and paralysis. Buddhist psychology invited me to observe it like a passing cloud—not truth, just weather. CBT taught me to interrogate it gently: Is it always true? Have I ever finished anything? Am I even trying right now?  Holistic psychology drew my awareness to my body—Am I tired, clenched, or hungry?—and reminded me to shift my environment, even if it meant just stepping outside for a breath.

Eventually, the thought softened. I’m a failure because I’m navigating challenges, and every effort matters.  That shift was a quiet revolution. It turned despair into momentum. It carried me through the writing of The Morph, where doubt whispered constantly. This reframing didn’t silence the doubt, but it gave me something stronger: compassion, clarity, and small, steady progress.

Try This: Practice Mindful Reframing Daily

Want to try this yourself? Here’s a simple practice blending Buddhist mindfulness, classical CBT, and holistic check-ins. It’s not about fixing everything—just starting where you are.

1. Pause and Observe: When a negative thought hits (like I’m always messing up), pause. Take a slow breath. See the thought as a cloud passing by, without judging it.

   
   

2. Check In Holistically: Ask, How’s my body? Are you feeling tense, tired, or hungry? Then, What’s my environment like?  Maybe stretch, sip water, or move to a quieter space.

   
   

3. Question and Reframe: Ask, Is this thought true?  Seek evidence against it. Reframe the statement positively: "I’m always messing up" can be transformed into "I’m learning through my challenges."

   
   

4. Practice Daily: Try this once a day, especially during stressful times. Over time, you’ll catch thoughts faster and respond with more ease.

   
   

This practice kept me going when I doubted I’d ever finish The Morph. The release of it now makes it evident that I did. It’s a small step, but it can make your mind feel lighter, wherever you are.

A Glimpse Into My Book

The lessons from Buddhist psychology, like karma and the Four Noble Truths, shaped The Morph: Alchemy of the Animal. My book isn’t just my story—it’s a guide to transforming pain into power, using tools like mindful reframing drawn from Buddhist, classical, and holistic psychology. In the appendix of the book, you’ll find a framework to navigate your own struggles and chase your dreams, whether that’s writing, creating, or finding peace. I can’t wait for you to dive in when it launches in a few months!

Keep Growing, One Breath at a Time

Discovering Buddhist psychology was like finding a compass in a storm.  It showed me my mind wasn’t a prison—it was a landscape. One I could walk through, get lost in, and eventually learn to navigate. Blending it with classical and holistic psychology gave me tools to turn chaos into clarity. I used these tools to write The Morph, one breath and one reframed thought at a time.

If you’re feeling stuck, try mindful reframing. You don’t have to leap. You just have to notice. You only need to take one breath. All it takes is a single thought. That's where the shift begins.

And remember what Alan Watts said: There is nowhere to go, nothing to find. The present is it. You are it.  You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You're the unfolding of the Universe.

Next week, I’ll share a thought on how discipline and consistency in routines create power—stay tuned.

Until then, have you ever experienced a moment when a teaching opened your eyes and transformed your self-perception, even for a brief moment?

You are welcome to share it in the comments or on X.

I’d love to hear.

Keep breathing. Keep growing. Continue writing your story.

This post is part of a 12-week series chronicling my journey from darkness to completing my book. Follow along every Monday for new stories, insights, and tips to inspire your own path. Want to stay updated on the book launch? Join my newsletter at themorph88.com or follow me on X @TheMorph88