Welcome to thoughts to consider. This is my message board where I share my ideas and reflections.
19 thoughts on “Thoughts for the week”
Comments are closed.
Welcome to thoughts to consider. This is my message board where I share my ideas and reflections.
Comments are closed.
Thoughts for the week
August 17, 2025 to August 23, 2025
Find the flow; go with the flow.
According to recent neuropsychological research findings, it’s all in your head, really!
Use your senses!
I’d rather act in a way that makes me like being me than act in a way that doesn’t.
If it gives you pleasure and if it does not (eventually) cause you pain….
In solitude, you have yourself; when you are lonely you don’t.
In the world of the Tao there is no “bad” or “good”, just forces pressing in one direction or the other.
How beautiful, when love becomes a song!
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
August 17, 2025 to August 23, 2025
Why should I be afraid of what lies in the future, when I can only live in the present to begin with?
The best way to get there is to be even more here.
Human suffering is a tough nut to crack.
Try this: only waste time after you’ve done everything you’re supposed to do on any given day.
Enough is graceful.
Definitions may be in books, but meanings live in people.
The average of all “nows”, past, present and future, is now!
It is important to know “no”—but, sometimes you have to say “no” to no.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
August 10, 2025 to August 16, 2025
Musings on Zen and Driving:
Even though I may not be in a hurry, still I want to get to my destination..
Who I see someone driving fast or carelessly, I remind myself that I am probably not going where that guy is going.
I am not in a race with anybody today. There’s peace is simply living, and in this case, driving, in the moment.
Leaving early, I arrive at my destination, with time to spare.
When at a stop, I can briefly look around me and see what else is happening in the world.
Full gas tank, no worries about that!
While each of us may drive at our own speed, it’s good to remember that there still is a speed limit!
Remembering to breathe—sometimes long and deep—my drive is even more enjoyable.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Afterthought for this week
July 31, 2025
Since I’m still at the low end of the streaming learning curve, for now I’ll use this format to let you know that—as my online moniker is acmusic1620—I am happy to announce that I have re-released some songs from my vault.
The album is titled, War and Peace; Sin and Salvation, consisting of three songs. Here are links that you can copy and paste, as I still need to figure out how to add hyperlinks
National Anthem (YouTube). – Most people don’t know that the Anthem is only the first verse of Key’s poem, The Defense of Ft. McHenry. Here is the first recording ever including additional verses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-sbo2cRGKc&list=OLAK5uy_mi6sLTdFv9vatjC6fQCfVnLNzA9Kadaog
Amazing Grace (You Tube) – What if Grace was a woman, a soldier, in the Iraq War.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuxXurIYrDE&list=OLAK5uy_mi6sLTdFv9vatjC6fQCfVnLNzA9Kadaog&index=2
Marshall Law (You Tube) – A play on words, here the Marshall is a Marshall or maybe it’s about both at the same time – this is a rocking tune!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MMDjzURRjg&list=OLAK5uy_mi6sLTdFv9vatjC6fQCfVnLNzA9Kadaog&index=3
Here’s the link to my Spotify page:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xz4SYe4G6C6dVIRdbxWLt?si=a7LuIwqvTyaWLUAQ7_MUig
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
July 20 to 26, 2025
Imagine all the things that you could see if you just looked differently.
Life is too short to worry about everything (or anything, most of the time).
Even if the world is your oyster, still you need to remember to bring a shucking knife.
Dwelling on the past is a useful tool for historians, and archeologists, but almost no one else.
Become the editor of your own mind.
Stop living in the “past imperfect.” (This is a grammar joke)
Sometimes it’s okay to be a fool, but try not to be an ass.
The goal is to go from ego to we-go.
Perfection, like infinity is a concept that refers to “something” that doesn’t actually exist.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
July 13 to 19 , 2025
When you give up the weights and burdens of your life, what you are left with is…your life.
Try: Doing some different things. Doing some things differently. Then,
paying attention to the results
My work is just one important part of my life…
Maybe I should pay more attention to “the man behind the curtain.”
When we care, we act out of concern; when we worry, we just fret.
Consider, negativity sustains itself, but you have to sustain the positivity yourself.
Before you act, think, “wounds may heal, but scars don’t go away.”
You’ve got to learn to be at home within yourself…and then invite people in.
Remember, apathy lives right next to atrophy.
The future is that part of your life that doesn’t involve actually dying.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
July 13 to 19 , 2025
There is no path to happiness without trying to be good at something—competence—but there is also no path to happiness trying to be good at everything.
Instinct and desire are not the same thing—one points towards the object of interest, the other compels us to move towards that object.
Hate is inevitably a two-way street.
It’s not about all or nothing, rather it’s about good enough or not good enough.
Flex it and it will grow.
There may be something wrong with part of me, but there’s nothing wrong with all of me.
There’s a right thing to say and a wrong thing to say; a right person to say it and a wrong person to say it; and a right time and place and a wrong time and place to say it.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
June 15 to 21, 2025
Life is too short to worry about everything (or anything, most of the time).
Even if the world is your oyster, still you need to remember to bring a shucking knife.
Don’t scratch thin skin. It will bleed.
Become the editor of your own mind.
Stop living in the “past imperfect.” (This is a grammar joke)
Sometimes it’s okay to be a fool, but try not to be an ass.
Imagine all the things that you could see if you just looked differently.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
August 17, 2025 to August 23, 2025
Find the flow; go with the flow.
According to recent neuropsychological research findings, it’s all in your head, really!
Use your senses!
I’d rather act in a way that makes me like being me than act in a way that doesn’t.
If it gives you pleasure and if it does not (eventually) cause you pain….
In solitude, you have yourself; when you are lonely you don’t.
In the world of the Tao there is no “bad” or “good”, just forces pressing in one direction or the other.
How beautiful, when love becomes a song!
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
August 10, 2025 to August 16, 2025
Why should I be afraid of what lies in the future, when I can only live in the present to begin with?
The best way to get there is to be even more here.
Human suffering is a tough nut to crack.
Try this: only waste time after you’ve done everything you’re supposed to do on any given day.
Enough is graceful.
Definitions may be in books, but meanings live in people.
The average of all “nows”, past, present and future, is now!
It is important to know “no”-but, sometimes you have to say “no” to
no.
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week August 3, 2025 to August 9, 2025
Musings on Zen and Driving:
Even though I may not be in a hurry, still I want to get to my destination..
Who I see someone driving fast or carelessly, I remind myself that I am probably not going where that guy is going.
I am not in a race with anybody today. There’s peace is simply living, and in this case, driving, in the moment.
Leaving early, I arrive at my destination, with time to spare.
When at a stop, I can briefly look around me and see what else is happening in the world.
Full gas tank, no worries about that!
While each of us may drive at our own speed, it’s good to remember that there still is a speed limit!
Remembering to breathe-sometimes long and deep-my drive is even more enjoyable.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Afterthought for July 31, 2025
Since I’m still at the low end of the streaming learning curve, for now I’ll use this format to let you know that-as my online moniker is acmusic1620-I am happy to announce that I have re-released some songs from my vault.
War and Peace; Sin and Salvation, consistis of three songs. Here are links that you can copy and paste, or, if the hyperlinks work, just click on and listen.
National Anthem (YouTube). – Most people don’t know that the Anthem is only the first verse of Key’s poem, The Defense of Ft. McHenry. This is the first recording ever to include additional verses from the poem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-
sbo2cRGKc&list=OLAK5uy_mi6sLTdFv9vatjC6fQCfVnLNzA9Kadaog
Amazing Grace (You Tube) – What if Grace was a woman, a soldier, in the Iraq War.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=YuxXurlYrDE&list=OLAK5uy_mi6sLTdFv9vatjC6fQCfVnLNZA9Kadaog&index=2
Marshall Law (You Tube) – A play on words-it’s my take on social responsibility. This is a rocking tune!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=OMMDjzURRjg&list=OLAK5uy_mi6sLTdFv9vatjC6fQCfVnLNzA9Kadaog&index=3
Here’s the link to my Spotify page, where you can find all of my available music:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xz4SYe4G6C6dVIRdbxWLt?
si=a7LulwqvTyaWLUAQ7_MUig
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
July 27 to August 2, 2025
Why should I be afraid of what lies in the future, when I can only live in the present to begin with?
The best way to get there is to be even more here.
Human suffering is a tough nut to crack.
Try this: only waste time after you’ve done everything you’re supposed to do on any given day.
Enough is graceful.
Definitions may be in books, but meanings live in people.
The average of all “nows”, past, present and future, is now!
It is important to know “no”-but, sometimes you have to say “no” to no.
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week July 20 to 26, 2025
Imagine all the things that you could see if you just looked differently.
Life is too short to worry about everything (or anything, most of the time).
Even if the world is your oyster, still you need to remember to bring a shucking knife.
Dwelling on the past is a useful tool for historians, and archeologists, but almost no one else.
Become the editor of your own mind.
Stop living in the “past imperfect.” (This is a grammar joke)
Sometimes it’s okay to be a fool, but try not to be an ass.
The goal is to go from ego to we-go.
Perfection, like infinity is a concept that refers to “something” that doesn’t actually exist.
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
July 13 to 19, 2025
When you give up the weights and burdens of your life, what you are left with is…your life.
Try: Doing some different things. Doing some things differently. Then, paying attention to the results
My work is just one important part of my life…
Maybe I should pay more attention to “the man behind the curtain.”
When we care, we act out of concern; when we worry, we just fret.
Consider, negativity sustains itself, but you have to sustain the positivity yourself.
Before you act, think, “wounds may heal, but scars don’t go away.”
You’ve got to learn to be at home within yourself…and then invite people in.
Remember, apathy lives right next to atrophy.
The future is that part of your life that doesn’t involve actually dying.
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
July 6 to 12, 2025
There is no path to happiness without trying to be good at something-competence-but there is also no path to happiness trying to be good at everything.
Instinct and desire are not the same thing-one points towards the object of interest, the other compels us to move towards that object.
Hate is inevitably a two-way street.
It’s not about all or nothing, rather it’s about good enough or not good enough.
Flex it and it will grow.
There may be something wrong with part of me, but there’s nothing wrong with all of me.
There’s a right thing to say and a wrong thing to say; a right
person to say it and a wrong person to say it; and a right time and place and a wrong time and place to say it.
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week June 29 to July 5, 2025
Life is a confidence game.
Prophecy vs. pattern recognition: sometimes we can “see” the future because sometimes we can identify the patterns that are evolving around us and extrapolate from them where they are probably heading.
It is unwise to make an offer unless one first perceives a need or desire.
“Why doesn’t somebody do something?” Keep in mind- everybody’s somebody.
A case of mistaken identity: when we identify only with the negatives, while failing also to identify with the positives that are true about ourselves and the people and things of our worlds.
If you can make a difference, then you can probably also make a profit-if that’s what you want.
Really listening makes your brain act differently!
2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Thoughts for the week
June 17 to 25, 2025
Life is too short to worry about everything (or anything, most of
the time).
Even if the world is your oyster, still you need to remember to
bring a shucking knife.
Don’t scratch thin skin. It will bleed.
Become the editor of your own mind.
Stop living in the “past imperfect.” (This is a grammar joke)
Sometimes it’s okay to be a fool, but try not to be an ass.
Imagine all the things that you could see if you just looked
differently.
© 2025 Allan J Comeau, Ph.D.
Introducing: Thoughts for the Week
In the early 1980’s I was working with a woman in therapy who had a great deal of anxiety and one day it occurred to write down a statement I had just shared with her to give her something (else) to think about. I had forgotten about it as our therapy work moved on in the next several weeks.
One day she said to me, that note that you gave me— I put it on my mirror—I look at it ever day—it gives me hope.” And then she thanked me.
I’ve never forgotten that interaction and the effectiveness of a simple gift of direction and hope, but, until recently, it hadn1 quite occurred to me to make that a regular thing.
So, in the tall of 2016, I started writing down the shon, ‘helpful thoughts” that came to me while sitting with my therapy patients. After a while I collected come and printed a collection each week—just in case there might be some additional educational value in sharing them.
To my pleasant surprise it seemed that my short print runs were ‘1Iying off the shelves” and the folks visiting my shared office would thank me and point out the ones they particularly liked.
All that came to a screaming end in early March of 2020, as the Covid-19 Pandemic took hold of our lives and my in-office therapy world became a virtual one. Flash forward to the precem.
For the last couple of months, lie been thinking that there may still be some value in sharing what one UCLA professor kindly referred to as my“aphorisms”with my friends in the virtual / streaming world as well. And so, here we are.
My plan is to share a thought for each day—Seven “helpful thoughts” each week. These are not a substitution for therapy or other forms of self-help. They’re just ideas that I have tested and found helpful in my fifty years as a psychologist and therapist.
I’ll start with my first posting today.
Wishing you all love and peace, lightness and joy—especially during these, for many, troubling times.
Allan J. Comeau, Ph.D.
Los Angeles, CA
June 15, 2025