The Blog
Essays on Patterns, Leadership & Growth
Short, practical reflections on why painful patterns repeat, why change is hard, and how people can become more SkillfullyAware in life, relationships, and leadership.
Explore essays on habit change, emotional patterns, mindfulness, leadership, development, and the practical work of changing what keeps repeating.
For So Many Reasons, We Need to Upgrade Ourselves
My printed books just arrived, and holding one got me thinking about why we need to grow.
Patterns Under Stress and a Book on the Way
There’s nothing wrong with us. There are reasons our patterns repeat.
Why Do Painful Patterns Repeat?
My book launches October 22, and I’m building the launch team.
Why Change Is So Hard, and What Actually Helps
Why do we keep repeating patterns we know aren’t helping us? Knowing better doesn’t always mean doing better. Our reactions are shaped by our body, nervous system, emotions, memories, attention, and stories learned over time. Understanding how those patterns were built can help us change them.
Saying Goodbye to My Little Man
Mark shares the emotional experience of saying goodbye to his beloved cat Ramses—exploring love, loss, and the preciousness of moments shared with those we care for.
What is love? What I learned on retreat
A powerful teaching from a Tibetan Buddhist monastery: "Love is wanting someone to be happy." Mark explores how true happiness comes through attunement.
Name It to Tame It: Using Third‑Person Self‑Talk to Build Self‑Compassion
Talking to yourself in the third person creates instant distance from swirling emotions. Mark shares how "Name It to Tame It" carried him through a rough divorce.
Events That Change Us
After the collapse of his business and a divorce, Dr. Mark Pirtle found healing through extended retreats—first at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, then through plant medicine.
Big Problems, Small Changes
Seth Godin says "big problems only require small changes." Mark's story of healing from rock bottom through simple monastery practices proves it.
The Detour That Made the Book Better
Sometimes the long way around is the way that gets you there. After a challenging detour with my original publisher, I found the right team at Manuscripts.com—and now The Healing Mindset is officially back on track for Summer 2026.
No Grind, No Goodness
Committing to your calling—despite resistance—can be transformative. An artist friend's 60-day drawing practice eliminated his depression. What's calling you?
The Rescuer's Reckoning
A coaching client who's spent her life giving to others has never learned how to prioritize herself. Shadow work is helping her uncover why saying no feels like abandonment.
The Year That Challenge Built
Becoming a full-time single dad clarified everything. Mark shares news about his book, a rebuilt online course, and the SA360 assessment tool.
Integrating Internal Family Systems Therapy and Shadow Work
A recap of the "Trauma School" retreat—the second in the year-long Change Your Story, Change Your Life series—focused on resolving trauma in the present moment.
Happy Holidays 2024
As 2024 ends, Mark expresses gratitude for this community's shared journey of mindfulness and growth, and sets intentions for the New Year.
Family, Politics, and the Holidays
Holiday gatherings can be emotionally charged when differing political perspectives clash. Shadow work helps us recognize the unconscious fears driving our reactions.
Embracing Shadow: Push, Pull, Stop, Neutral
Shadow work shines a light on unconscious patterns. Explore your own shadow using a simple mindfulness practice to notice your habitual energies.
The Key to Happiness
Mark explores the universal resistance to hard tasks and shares the secret to overcoming it: embracing challenges willingly and saying "yes" to responsibilities.
My Path Back to Wellness
Mark shares his personal journey from material-driven success and devastating collapse to inner healing through shadow work and mindfulness at a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery.
Scientific Evidence for Psychedelics and Health Behavior Change
Exploring emerging scientific evidence supporting the role of psychedelics in promoting health behavior change and transformative plant medicine journeys.
Empowering Your Child: The Role of Parental Guidance and Shadow Work
Discover how shadow work and parental guidance can help your child navigate challenges, cultivate independence, and build resilience.
Understanding the Drama Triangle in Personality Disorders
Dr. Keith Witt's drama triangle sheds light on personality disorders and distinguishes between everyday neuroses and more severe, destructive behaviors.
The Role of Growth Mindset in Raising Anti-Fragile Kids
Cultivating a growth mindset in children not only enhances resilience but also prepares them for life's challenges through a focus on effort over results.
Skillful Awareness in Times of Loss
Loss has a way of resurfacing old wounds. Polyvagal Theory explains how our nervous system processes grief, and Shadow Work reveals the deeper layers beneath our emotions.
Skillful Awareness for Anger (and other emotions)
Mark shares his personal challenges with anger stemming from childhood trauma and outlines how he transformed his approach to emotional regulation through Skillful Awareness.
Thanksgiving, Family, and Shadow Work
Thanksgiving can bring up old stories and emotional triggers, but it's also a chance to practice mindfulness and patience through attunement.
Bibliotherapy as a Tool for Deepening Shadow Work
Explore how bibliotherapy can enhance shadow work by providing deep insights into personal challenges and facilitating emotional healing through the power of reading.
Transforming Lives Through Shadow Work and Recovery
A client battled addiction, found success in journalism, and later faced shame and isolation. A shadow work retreat helped him begin to heal and lead more authentically.
Embracing Emotional Healing Through Shadow Work
Shadow work deepens emotional healing by allowing us to face and integrate suppressed emotions, leading to a more fulfilling and emotionally aware life.
The Power of Cognitive Reappraisal in Shadow Work
Discover the transformative power of combining cognitive reappraisal and shadow work to enhance emotional self-regulation and foster genuine personal growth.
Bibliotherapy: Reading Your Way Back to Wellness
Explore how bibliotherapy—therapeutic reading—can improve mental health, enhance self-awareness, and promote personal growth.
Healing Stress Illness with Shadow Work
Shadow work provides profound insights into stress-related illnesses, offering pathways to healing and resilience by addressing the psychological shadows that influence our health.
Becoming 'The One': How Shadow Work Fosters Deep Responsibility
Explore the transformative power of shadow work, embrace your inner warrior, take responsibility for everything in your life, and set yourself free.
The Role of Shadow Work in Self-Regulation
Discover strategies for emotional mastery through shadow work, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
Illuminating the Shadow Self and Breaking Free from Stuck Patterns with Plant Medicine
Experience the liberating effects of shadow work and personal growth through the use of psychedelic plant medicines.
Shining Light on Shadows: Embracing Defenses for Personal Growth
Learn how shadow work can reveal subconscious patterns and lead to profound personal transformation.
Exploring Friendships Through the Lens of Shadow Work
Discover how shadow work can revolutionize your approach to friendships, leading to deeper connections and greater fulfillment.
Building Emotional Resilience: The Role of Shadow Work in Enhancing Distress Tolerance
Discover effective strategies for managing challenging situations by embracing shadow work techniques.
Self-Awareness, Mindfulness, and the Role of Shadow Work
Uncover the transformative power of integrating self-awareness, mindfulness, and shadow work to master emotional regulation and inner growth.
Integrating Shadow Work in Internal Family Systems Therapy
Learn how Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy incorporates shadow work to promote inner harmony and holistic healing.
Embracing Challenges: The Interplay of Shadow Work and Distress Tolerance
Boost your emotional resilience as you delve into shadow work and distress tolerance techniques.
Enhancing Connection Through Shadow Work: The Power of Attunement
Explore the transformative power of shadow work to enrich emotional connections and foster genuine relationships through the practice of attunement.
Shadow Work and Implicit Memories: Healing from Childhood Trauma
Discover the power of shadow work in healing childhood trauma and integrating implicit memories that shape our unconscious reactions.
Being Your Own Best Friend Through Shadow Work
Explore the transformative impact of shadow work on your journey to becoming your own best friend—embracing your true self with kindness and understanding.
Challenging Confirmation Bias: Embracing Shadow Work for Open-mindedness
Discover how shadow work can help you overcome confirmation bias, open your mind to new perspectives, and catalyze your personal growth.
Healing the Wounds of Attachment: Integrating Shadow Work for Deeper Connections
Discover the transformative role of shadow work in healing attachment wounds and leading to healthier, more secure relationships.
Attachment Styles: Understanding Early Bonds and Their Shadow Effects
Explore the foundational concepts of Attachment Theory and how early interactions with caregivers shape our future relationships and shadow patterns.
Calming the Waters: Enhancing Relationships Through Emotional Regulation and Shadow Work
Use the power of shadow work and emotional regulation to improve your relationships and navigate conflict with greater presence.
Integrating Polyvagal Theory with Shadow Work for Deeper Trauma Healing
Discover the symbiotic relationship between Polyvagal Theory and shadow work, offering a roadmap for navigating trauma with compassion and understanding.
Working Skillfully with Pain: How Shadow Work Facilitates Deep Healing
Shadow work can transform your understanding and experience of pain, turning it into a powerful catalyst for emotional and physical healing.
Reflecting Truth: How Shadow Work Fosters Awareness and Authenticity
Shadow work and truth interact to deepen self-awareness and foster a more authentic understanding of ourselves, guiding personal and ethical development.
Cultivating Authentic Connections: The Role of Truth and Shadow Work in Relationships
Truth and shadow work are pivotal in building stronger, more authentic relationships—deepening trust and emotional intimacy.
Navigating Change: Integrating Shadow Work for Deeper Transformation
Discover how mindfulness and meditation can foster Skillful Awareness—a deeper form of mindfulness that promotes significant personal change and growth.
Harnessing Neuroscience and Shadow Work for Change
Explore how neuroscience and shadow work interplay in setting realistic goals and recognizing small victories, crucial for enduring personal change.
Cultivating Change: Shadow Work and the Impact of Environment and Social Support
Explore how environmental settings and social support, combined with shadow work, can facilitate profound personal changes.
Overcoming Dependency: The Role of Shadow Work in Escaping the Quick Fix Trap
Shadow work can help us overcome dependency on quick fixes, enabling us to develop resilience and emotional intelligence for lasting personal growth.
Breaking the Cycle: From Habituation to Healing Through Shadow Work and Mindfulness
Escape the downward spiral of habituation by embracing a SkillfullyAware mindset, cultivating healthier habits, and choosing genuine self-improvement.
Beyond Quick Fixes: Embracing Shadow Work for Lasting Change
Move beyond the temporary allure of quick fixes by integrating shadow work into your approach to life's challenges, fostering deeper self-awareness and lasting solutions.
Using Shadow Work to Mature Our Defenses
Discover the evolving nature of defense mechanisms and how transitioning to healthier defenses fosters emotional maturity and fulfilling relationships.
Personality Disorders: Living with Drama, A Four-Part Series
Uncover the intricate differences between normal personality traits and personality disorders and explore how shadow work can offer profound insights into managing these complex conditions.
Revealing Our Shields: The Role of Defense Mechanisms and Shadow Work in Emotional Health
Shadow work can illuminate and transform defense mechanisms, enhancing emotional resilience and promoting personal growth.
The Role of Shadow Work in Managing Defense Mechanisms
Explore the significant impact of stress on defense mechanisms and discover how integrating shadow work can help manage these responses more healthily.
The Positive Role of Mature Defense Mechanisms in Personal Growth
Explore how mature defense mechanisms like humor, sublimation, and altruism can be harnessed to enhance personal growth and improve relationships.
Spotlight on Personality Disorders: What to Look For
Explore how therapy and personal dedication can facilitate transformative changes in individuals with personality disorders.
Transforming Personality Disorders: The Role of Therapy and Personal Effort
Unlock change in individuals with personality disorders through therapy. Explore cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy and how to foster healthier relationships.
Mastering the Dance: Integrating Shadow Work in Relationships with Personality Disorders
Learn how to navigate complex interactions with personality disorders by integrating shadow work, setting boundaries, and seeking professional guidance.
Empowering Resilience: Raising Anti-Fragile Kids through Parental Shadow Work
Learn how embracing shadow work as parents can foster resilience and anti-fragility in children, equipping them to thrive amidst life's challenges.
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Painful Patterns
Why patterns repeat
Essays on why people repeat painful patterns they often understand but still struggle to change.
Habit Change
Practice changing what repeats
Essays on habits, reactions, practice, self-sabotage, emotional regulation, and behavior change.
Leadership & Forums
For founders, forums, and teams
Essays for leaders, founders, EO/YPO members, forum members, and leadership groups.
Mindfulness & Awareness
Attention, practice, and SkillfullyAware®
Essays on awareness, attention, meditation, nervous system patterns, and SkillfullyAware® practice.
SAAQ & Development
Growth, blind spots, and next steps
Essays on developmental growth, self-awareness, blind spots, stress patterns, leadership development, and the SkillfullyAware Awareness Quotient.
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