feeling adventurous?
These are some links to other people, places, and things that will help you in your journey through life. The Wise Turtle recommends these places for exploring more perspectives on philosophy, activism, life questions, psychology, human development, morality, intellectual games, the human brain, relationships, personal development, spirituality, social networking with a higher purpose, and of course, plenty of fun! Some of these resources are free, some are not. All will be interesting!
fun
• Wiser Earth - is full of amazing people and excellent resources for exploring the positive side of living.
• Authentic Happiness - the leading researcher in the new field of Positive Psychology's website. Filled with lots of quizes!
• Play for Change - a quirky (and only half finished) site for activist types and folks who want to change the world, but aren't sure how to go about it or are burnt out from "fighting the good fight" for so long. Play the 7 myths game!
• Philosopher's Net - Philosophy games to test your ideas.
One of the most useful tools I've encountered is an intriguing educational computer game. The program uses medical biofeedback from your heart and skin to teach you to calm your breathing and heartrate. The game also teaches traditional wisdom that will help you be a calmer, more centered, and more compassionate being. Plus, it's a whole lot of fun. The equipment is very simple to use and set up. I highly recommend this program for anyone who is interested in learning how their mind and body work together, or for those who are simply looking for a beautiful, non-violent video game.
There is also a new biofeedback program from the Wild Divine folks that isn't a game, but a dense educational kit that includes all kinds of fun, healthy exercises for your mind and body. It's called Healing Rythms and it costs quite a bit more than the games, but seems to be well worth it if you want a straightforward approach to mind/body health using biofeedback.
books
• The Creative License Giving Yourself the Permission to be the Artist You Are - by Danny Gregory. A delightful book that encourages you to let your spirit and mind wander on paper.
• Destructive Emotions coverage of a several day meeting between the Dalai Lama and a group of Western scientists focusing on the brain and mind and how Eastern and Western ideas can combine to help us all understand ourselves better.
• Old Turtle and the Broken Truth - children's book by Douglas Wood with Illustrations by Jon J. Muth. A fantastic philosophical book for young and old about the wisdom of another wise turtle and a little girl who wants to help the world be more beautiful.
• The Three Questions - children's book by Jon J. Muth. Another fantastic philosophical book for the whole family about three of life's biggest questions, based on Tolstoy's ideas. And yes, there is another wise turtle in this one!
• You Have the Power Choosing Courage in a Culture of Fear - by Francis Moore Lappé and Jeffrey Perkins.
philosophical health
• Food for Thought - You can't think well if you don't eat well! If you want to keep your brain in peak philosophical condition, you might want to browse this collection of thought provoking articles about health and nutrition and consider how well your current diet is working for you.
• Flax for your Brain - a brief article about the importance of including Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet so that your brain functions optimally. Flax oil is an excellent lubricant for your brain! The Wise Turtle adds a couple of teaspoons of ground flax seeds to some juice for a healthy brain boost every day.
• Steve Pavlina - A fun, but serious article on how to balance selfishness with selflessness for a more rewarding life.
philosophical investigations
• www.thework.com - Byron Katie's inquiry process is a beautiful and simple way to feel better about the world. Listen to some samples from her audiobook Loving What Is.
• Integral Development - a complicated and colorful explanation of an intriguing theory about human individual and social developent, brought to you by Ken Wilber and the other folks at the Integral Institute.
• The Neurophilosopher's Weblog - a fantastic blog that covers human brain development and how it relates to wisdom, knowledge, and philosophy.
• Frances Moore Lappé's theory of community-based government - An unusual article promoting the idea that society functions best when government encourages people to focus on common goals, and contribute their talents to the community's success, rather than treating people like helpless children. She also believes that we would should get rid of the Republican vs. Democrat system that we currently have, and instead have a system of diverse Independents who care more about effective government than partisan politics or unsustainable profits.
