Ira Israel
Licensed Counselor and Psychotherapist
wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Co-authored Articles (18)
How to
Become a Buddhist Monk
Buddhism is a religion over 2,000 years old. It offers a method of overcoming the suffering that is inherent in being. Buddhist monks are those who take it upon themselves to live a life entirely devoted to this goal. I...
5 Pranayama Breathing Techniques for Beginners
Learn how to do pranayama with this step-by-step guidePranayam (also known as pranayama) is the ancient practice of controlling your breath to control the movement of life force (“prana”) through your body. Practicin...
How to Free Your Ego (According to Eckhart Tolle)
A soul-enriching guide on transcending the mindEgo is the ''false self'' or current state of consciousness of humanity that doesn't let the ''presence'' (universal intelligence) shine through. In other words, it’s an e...
How to
Say a Buddhist Prayer
Buddhism is not marked by multiple "essential" prayers, like some other religions, but prayer is a spiritual dialogue that help you center yourself mentally and emotionally. As you begin to pray, visualize the beings you...
How to
Become Enlightened
An in-depth guide to help you reach spiritual enlightenmentBecoming enlightened can mean different things to different people. In general, most people think of enlightenment as a greater awareness of the world or a highe...
How to
Develop SelfâEsteem
Our self-esteem is instilled in us during our youth. Being constantly criticized by family, friends, and society in general tends to slowly strip us of our feelings of self-worth. Our low self-esteem strips us of the sel...
How to
Be Authentic
When a person is authentic, it means that they act in ways that genuinely show how they feel. They do this rather than putting on different faces around different people, or tailoring their personality based on context. ...
How to Embrace Your Flaws
Far too often, we look at ourselves in the mirror and tell ourselves we aren’t good enough. Embracing your flaws and accepting yourself for who you are is a great way to change your life and learn to love yourself. In ...
How to
Practice Mindfulness (Buddhism)
Practicing mindfulness is about controlling the way you think about the world. You must learn to live in the present moment and how to focus your attention on only the matters you choose to focus on. Mindfulness involves...
How to
Overcome Depression
Suffering from depression means more than just dealing with a bad week or even a bad month. Depression is a weakening condition that can make it impossible for you to enjoy your daily existence. If you are plagued with f...
How to
Find Meaning in Life
Why am I here? What’s my purpose? What’s the point? Everyone asks these questions at some point, so don’t feel alone if you’re struggling with life's meaning. Meaning in life consists of 3 separate, but related, ...
How to
Go for Your Dreams
Making your dream come true is possible. Start by reflecting and defining your dream by brainstorming your goals, your past successes and failures, and what makes you happy. Then move on to committing to your goal by tak...
How to
Add Meaning to Your Life
When something has meaning, it has a purpose; it is significant. Likewise, a life that has meaning feels purposeful and significant. Feeling as though your life is meaningless can lead to depression and hopelessness. Add...
How to Accept Life the Way It Is
Understand and stop resisting your life and its mysteries We've all said something like, "Life is not fair" at some point. This world can be unpredictable and confusing, but that doesn't mean we can't find peace and happ...
What to Do When You Feel Like You Can’t Do Anything Right
Causes of these negative thoughts and how to turn them aroundWhen you feel like you just can’t do anything right, it can be really hard to find the motivation to try new things and take risks. Lots of people may feel t...
How to
Become a Buddha
Not to be confused with ''the'' Buddha, who was born Siddhartha Gautama, ''a'' Buddha is the top rank a Buddhist can reach. They are someone who has achieved the highest level of spiritual awakening, which is nirvana. Be...
How to
Have a Perfect Life As a Teenager
Perfection is something everyone strives for but no one really reaches. With the right mindset, however, you'll realize that this is a good thing. Being a teenager is difficult, as many people expect you to be perfect in...
Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Relationship? The Telling Signs
Helping you reverse self-destructive behaviorsYou’re in a relationship, but things are starting to go south. You confess what’s going on to a close friend, and they give you the side eye and say, “You’re self-sab...