Ira Israel
Licensed Counselor and Psychotherapist
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Co-authored Articles (35)
How to
Convert to Hinduism
Your guide to converting and practicing Hinduism in daily lifeHinduism is a religion followed by people predominantly from the Indian Subcontinent, now found majorly in countries such as India and Nepal, with its teachin...
How to
Lead a Heterosexual Lifestyle if You Are Gay
In an ideal world, everyone would be free to be themselves at all times. However, because society frequently unfairly judges LGBTQ folks, you may feel compelled to pretend to be straight in order to be safe or accepted i...
How to Join the Roman Catholic Church
Learn the beliefs, sacraments, and initiation rites of the Catholic ChurchThere are few decisions in this life that are larger than the decision to get baptized into the Catholic Church. That said, it’s a profound, joy...
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...
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
Create an Alter Ego
Some of history's most important and distinctive figures have created alter egos for a vast array of purposes. A good alter ego can keep your true identity secret or help you mentally compartmentalize particularly diffic...
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 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...
How to
Be a Shaolin Monk
Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the most respected and revered martial arts traditions in the world. The practitioners of Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Monks, are esteemed as some of the most committed warriors, too. However, Shaol...
How to
Join the Amish
It is very uncommon for people who were not brought up in an Amish community to become Amish. Yet despite popular belief, the Amish do not have any rules or bylaws that prohibit membership by "Englishers", and people ha...
A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Buddhist or Christian Monk
Learn how to commit your life to the monasteryA monk is a person who withdraws from society to concentrate on religious service. Several major religions have monastic traditions, the most notable being Christian and Budd...
How to
Convert to Christianity
So you've been thinking, beginning to believe in Jesus Christ as your savior, and you want to convert to Christianity. These are a few steps to help you learn how to convert to the religion.
How to
Convert from Hinduism to Christianity
Converting from Hinduism to Christianity can be a complex, but also potentially rewarding, choice. To start the conversion process, spend time reading the Bible and other Christian religious texts. Make contact with a lo...
How to
Join a Monastery
A monastery is a building where dedicated religious members study, work, and live together. There are 3 major religions that have a monastic tradition: Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Each of these religions have t...
How to
Perform Muraqabah
Muraqabah is an Arabic word for "meditation", usually a variety performed in Sufi Islam. Muraqabah is slightly different from meditation, since it is a religious practice, while meditation is for the peace of mind. Proph...
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
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
Go to Church
Walking through the doors of a church can be a big step. Whether you haven't been to church in a while and are interested in attending again, or you've never been to church before, learning a little about how to approach...
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
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...
