Inspired by 20th-century French writer Marcel Proust, we here at Esalen have created our own version of his favorite parlor game to dig just a little deeper — and differently — into our incredible faculty and staff.
The author of the New York Times bestseller Thought Revolution spent a decade researching and developing a brain-enhancing methodology that tapped into his right brain, which he now refers to as his “better half.” This revolutionized his life, and he’s traveled the world sharing this creativity block hack for nearly thirty years. Bill welcomes the occasional “butterflies'' but has moved past his fears. He credits Leonardo da Vinci as a left/right brain inspiration: “[He] could write with one hand while painting with another simultaneously!”
What is Esalen to you?
Esalen is both the physical space where the spectacular majesty of the sacred land and mountains meet the ocean and the liminal space where reflections on possibilities and potential occur.
What do you do/are you doing at Esalen?
I’m honored to lead my workshop, Meet Your Better Half: Unlock Your Right Brain, which explores how to tap into our higher consciousness to access the wisdom needed to live into our potential. I also serve on the Board of Trustees.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A day free to explore a new place or visit a familiar one with those I love, without expectations or constraints.
What is your greatest fear in your work?
I’ve moved past fears about my work (took awhile). I've learned the best offset to fear is planning time to continually assess what's possible with my next steps, using both sides of my brain. The right side of my brain, or "My Better Half," as I've come to think of it, has turned into my superpower. It's been a game-changer over the past 26 years. This doesn't mean I don't get the occasional "butterflies," but it's not fear.
Which living or dead person do you most admire in your field?
Leonardo da Vinci, who created his entire life and could write with one hand while painting with another simultaneously.
What is your greatest extravagance related to your practice?
Allowing myself to be vulnerable by moving into new areas of study and application.
What is your current state of mind?
Midway up the roller coaster ride: open-minded and excited.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Modesty — we need to claim and embrace our superpower(s).
What is the quality you most like in a human?
Kindness.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Blessed to have a loving family, partner, friends and passion for my work.
What about your work brings you the most happiness?
It’s a privilege to teach a process that helps people learn to be more intentional, authentic, and happy in their lives.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Would love to be able to sing well, or even on key.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would have learned the process that proved to be transformative in my life earlier than age 38, and saved myself a lot of emotional pain.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The deep dive into an uncharted world that resulted in a meaningful path and process that has proven helpful for me and others.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
The next incarnation in my soul’s journey.
What would living at Esalen for a month be like for you?
An opportunity for deeper reflection as well as an expanded awareness of the beauty in nature.
What is your most treasured possession?
My journals. They capture my insights, dreams, aspirations, and sorrows through this journey.
How do you maintain your practice(s) during challenging times?
Maintain a healthy mind, body, spirit balance. Long-term practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices, and I’ve learned to listen to my intuition, higher consciousness even more carefully through these recent times.
What is your favorite component of your work?
Meeting those whose journeys I have the privilege of intersecting with along the way.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Persistence.
What do you value most in your work/practice?
Witnessing change/transformation happen.
Who are your inspirations?
The Innovators: Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Werner Heisenberg, Marie Curie, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates.
Who is your hero of fiction?
George Bailey [from the 1946 holiday classic, It's a Wonderful Life].
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
General Casimir Pulaski, the Revolutionary war hero who left Poland to help us in our battle for freedom, father of the cavalry.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Those who help people.
What is your greatest regret?
Don’t have any great regrets.
How would you like to die?
When I’m ready to do so.
What is your motto?
‘To thine own self be true”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Join Donius for his May 5-7 workshop, Meet Your Better Half: Unlock Your Right Brain.
Inspired by 20th-century French writer Marcel Proust, we here at Esalen have created our own version of his favorite parlor game to dig just a little deeper — and differently — into our incredible faculty and staff.
The author of the New York Times bestseller Thought Revolution spent a decade researching and developing a brain-enhancing methodology that tapped into his right brain, which he now refers to as his “better half.” This revolutionized his life, and he’s traveled the world sharing this creativity block hack for nearly thirty years. Bill welcomes the occasional “butterflies'' but has moved past his fears. He credits Leonardo da Vinci as a left/right brain inspiration: “[He] could write with one hand while painting with another simultaneously!”
What is Esalen to you?
Esalen is both the physical space where the spectacular majesty of the sacred land and mountains meet the ocean and the liminal space where reflections on possibilities and potential occur.
What do you do/are you doing at Esalen?
I’m honored to lead my workshop, Meet Your Better Half: Unlock Your Right Brain, which explores how to tap into our higher consciousness to access the wisdom needed to live into our potential. I also serve on the Board of Trustees.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A day free to explore a new place or visit a familiar one with those I love, without expectations or constraints.
What is your greatest fear in your work?
I’ve moved past fears about my work (took awhile). I've learned the best offset to fear is planning time to continually assess what's possible with my next steps, using both sides of my brain. The right side of my brain, or "My Better Half," as I've come to think of it, has turned into my superpower. It's been a game-changer over the past 26 years. This doesn't mean I don't get the occasional "butterflies," but it's not fear.
Which living or dead person do you most admire in your field?
Leonardo da Vinci, who created his entire life and could write with one hand while painting with another simultaneously.
What is your greatest extravagance related to your practice?
Allowing myself to be vulnerable by moving into new areas of study and application.
What is your current state of mind?
Midway up the roller coaster ride: open-minded and excited.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Modesty — we need to claim and embrace our superpower(s).
What is the quality you most like in a human?
Kindness.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Blessed to have a loving family, partner, friends and passion for my work.
What about your work brings you the most happiness?
It’s a privilege to teach a process that helps people learn to be more intentional, authentic, and happy in their lives.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Would love to be able to sing well, or even on key.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would have learned the process that proved to be transformative in my life earlier than age 38, and saved myself a lot of emotional pain.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The deep dive into an uncharted world that resulted in a meaningful path and process that has proven helpful for me and others.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
The next incarnation in my soul’s journey.
What would living at Esalen for a month be like for you?
An opportunity for deeper reflection as well as an expanded awareness of the beauty in nature.
What is your most treasured possession?
My journals. They capture my insights, dreams, aspirations, and sorrows through this journey.
How do you maintain your practice(s) during challenging times?
Maintain a healthy mind, body, spirit balance. Long-term practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices, and I’ve learned to listen to my intuition, higher consciousness even more carefully through these recent times.
What is your favorite component of your work?
Meeting those whose journeys I have the privilege of intersecting with along the way.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Persistence.
What do you value most in your work/practice?
Witnessing change/transformation happen.
Who are your inspirations?
The Innovators: Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Werner Heisenberg, Marie Curie, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates.
Who is your hero of fiction?
George Bailey [from the 1946 holiday classic, It's a Wonderful Life].
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
General Casimir Pulaski, the Revolutionary war hero who left Poland to help us in our battle for freedom, father of the cavalry.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Those who help people.
What is your greatest regret?
Don’t have any great regrets.
How would you like to die?
When I’m ready to do so.
What is your motto?
‘To thine own self be true”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Join Donius for his May 5-7 workshop, Meet Your Better Half: Unlock Your Right Brain.
Inspired by 20th-century French writer Marcel Proust, we here at Esalen have created our own version of his favorite parlor game to dig just a little deeper — and differently — into our incredible faculty and staff.
The author of the New York Times bestseller Thought Revolution spent a decade researching and developing a brain-enhancing methodology that tapped into his right brain, which he now refers to as his “better half.” This revolutionized his life, and he’s traveled the world sharing this creativity block hack for nearly thirty years. Bill welcomes the occasional “butterflies'' but has moved past his fears. He credits Leonardo da Vinci as a left/right brain inspiration: “[He] could write with one hand while painting with another simultaneously!”
What is Esalen to you?
Esalen is both the physical space where the spectacular majesty of the sacred land and mountains meet the ocean and the liminal space where reflections on possibilities and potential occur.
What do you do/are you doing at Esalen?
I’m honored to lead my workshop, Meet Your Better Half: Unlock Your Right Brain, which explores how to tap into our higher consciousness to access the wisdom needed to live into our potential. I also serve on the Board of Trustees.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A day free to explore a new place or visit a familiar one with those I love, without expectations or constraints.
What is your greatest fear in your work?
I’ve moved past fears about my work (took awhile). I've learned the best offset to fear is planning time to continually assess what's possible with my next steps, using both sides of my brain. The right side of my brain, or "My Better Half," as I've come to think of it, has turned into my superpower. It's been a game-changer over the past 26 years. This doesn't mean I don't get the occasional "butterflies," but it's not fear.
Which living or dead person do you most admire in your field?
Leonardo da Vinci, who created his entire life and could write with one hand while painting with another simultaneously.
What is your greatest extravagance related to your practice?
Allowing myself to be vulnerable by moving into new areas of study and application.
What is your current state of mind?
Midway up the roller coaster ride: open-minded and excited.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Modesty — we need to claim and embrace our superpower(s).
What is the quality you most like in a human?
Kindness.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Blessed to have a loving family, partner, friends and passion for my work.
What about your work brings you the most happiness?
It’s a privilege to teach a process that helps people learn to be more intentional, authentic, and happy in their lives.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Would love to be able to sing well, or even on key.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would have learned the process that proved to be transformative in my life earlier than age 38, and saved myself a lot of emotional pain.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The deep dive into an uncharted world that resulted in a meaningful path and process that has proven helpful for me and others.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
The next incarnation in my soul’s journey.
What would living at Esalen for a month be like for you?
An opportunity for deeper reflection as well as an expanded awareness of the beauty in nature.
What is your most treasured possession?
My journals. They capture my insights, dreams, aspirations, and sorrows through this journey.
How do you maintain your practice(s) during challenging times?
Maintain a healthy mind, body, spirit balance. Long-term practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices, and I’ve learned to listen to my intuition, higher consciousness even more carefully through these recent times.
What is your favorite component of your work?
Meeting those whose journeys I have the privilege of intersecting with along the way.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Persistence.
What do you value most in your work/practice?
Witnessing change/transformation happen.
Who are your inspirations?
The Innovators: Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Werner Heisenberg, Marie Curie, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates.
Who is your hero of fiction?
George Bailey [from the 1946 holiday classic, It's a Wonderful Life].
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
General Casimir Pulaski, the Revolutionary war hero who left Poland to help us in our battle for freedom, father of the cavalry.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Those who help people.
What is your greatest regret?
Don’t have any great regrets.
How would you like to die?
When I’m ready to do so.
What is your motto?
‘To thine own self be true”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Join Donius for his May 5-7 workshop, Meet Your Better Half: Unlock Your Right Brain.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
