Ami Chen Coaching and Education

05/28/2025

"Deep Resilience” is about finding our grounding, core peace, courage and wisdom during these challenging times. Can we be open to what is happening in the world and respond with compassion and right action? … Join me for a by-donation, public webinar this Saturday from 10 am to 12:30 pm Pacific Time (May 31st). Details in my recent newsletter, linked below in comments. See free resources there too. ... Plus coming events in England.

05/14/2025

In my latest newsletter: How BIG can our spirituality be? Coming live events (global webinar in May and Suffolk in July). Special, newly released audio files Mr. Sydney Banks made for my father, Roger Mills.

See link below.

04/07/2025

I had the opportunity to interview Dr. George Pransky about his new book, “The Secret to Mental Health,” as well as his thoughts on staying resilient in challenging times. The result was a dialogue between Dr. Pransky and I that was sweet and funny and at times, I think, profound. You can tune in at www.ksqd.org for the live stream. 6 pm Pacific Time, today, Monday.

In this special, more personal program, Ami Chen Mills interviews her colleague, author and psychologist Dr. George Pranksy--who, with her late father, Dr. Roger Mills--helped to bring an "innate mental health" psychology, based on the spiritual insights of a ninth-grade educated welder living in British Columbia, Canada to the field and to the world. Monday at 6 pm on KSQD.

Dr. Pransky is a founding professional of the psycho-spiritual paradigm called the Three Principles of Mind, Thought, and Consciousness. He is the author of several books including The Relationship Handbook, The Secret to Mental Health, and Unbreak Your Heart. His unique perspective on human interaction has earned him national recognition as a speaker and thought leader. He is co-founder, along with his wife Linda, of Pransky & Associates and a member of the Executive Committee of the Three Principles Global Community.

03/26/2025

Is it OK to be angry at this time? And if so, how angry? And what KIND of angry? Someone asked me a question about activism, anger and burnout and this essay is my response. See link in comments.

10/23/2024

Is there something wrong with you?

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME

It’s been a few months since I was at the 3 Principles Conference, and one particular talk has really stuck with me.

In fact, it’s stuck with me so much, that I’ve been sharing its simple message with clients and groups, ever since!

It was a comment from Shane Kennedy – the chap who captured so many of Syd Banks’ conversations on video tape, releasing them over the years, through his company, Lone Pine Publishing.

He was talking about how he wasn’t really a teacher of the 3 Principles, nor did he consider himself particularly knowledgeable. But he explained that years ago he had one simple, common-sense insight that he’s held on to, and worked from, and let grow over time, and it’s changed his life completely (into what he calls a beautiful life, full of adventure and tragedy).

***

So often, we get a brief glimpse behind the curtain, having a moment of insight about ourselves, or the nature of things — “Oh yeah… of course!” — and it feels great. There’s a feeling of okayness, of coming home, of being at one with the world.

A couple of days or weeks later though, we’re back to taking it all for granted — a new normal has been established — the mind has become restless again and is off on another of its seeking adventures: What’s the next insight I’m going to have?

The mind loves having experiences, especially ones where we get to feel great, and it’s attached “having an insight” to “feeling great” so that’s what it does. Creates another of its stories; this time: “I’ll be happy when… I have an insight.”

It leads to a life of perpetual seeking - the nagging feeling that “there must be more…”

It’s such a little monkey! 🐒

***

Not long after the conference, I was invited to speak in a private group, and was asked what was one of the main insights I’d had about myself, since coming across the 3 Principles.

I’d considered this before, and while there are a few stories I have told about insights I’ve had, I think the main one was realising, beyond a shadow of doubt, that there was absolutely nothing wrong with me (a belief I’d been innocently operating from for 40+ years, prior to that moment).

And because that realisation happened quite a few years ago, and I’ve just taken it on as a fact of the human make-up in general (it’s the “Innate Health” in us all that I’m always banging on about), I think I’d maybe started taking it for granted.

The host of the group reflected it back to me, saying something like, “Blimey! That sounds like a pretty life-changing realisation to have!” … and I suddenly re-remembered what a MASSIVE deal that was!!

I mean, just look at the difference in how we’d show up in life, with (or without) that realisation:

➤ There’s something wrong with me ➡️ Constant seeking of fixes, coping mechanisms and exhausting attempts to “better” ourselves; approval-seeking and endless striving for more… all of it guaranteed to never reach any kind of resolution

➤ There’s nothing wrong with me ➡️ None of that nonsense makes sense any more.

And it’s important to know this, because the way life is set up, it will certainly look like there’s something wrong with us, on an almost daily basis!

➤ My business isn’t going how I expected it to: there’s something wrong with me
➤ I have a habit I don’t like: there’s something wrong with me
➤ There’s tension in a relationship: there’s something wrong with me
➤ Parenting feels like a struggle: there’s something wrong with me
➤ I don’t like the way I behave in that particular situation: there’s something wrong with me

… and on and on it goes.

***

I think this is what Shane was talking about when he said to be grateful for the one simple insight you have had, and work your way outwards from there.

Because every time I fall back into the simple truth that there’s nothing wrong with me — or with you, or with anyone! — life flows effortlessly. (And I too, get to live a beautiful life, full of adventure and tragedy.)

So what’s your one simple insight you’re innocently taking for granted?

Let me know, I’d love to hear!

And how about relaxing back into that insight, and living life from that place, just for today?

💟

Giles

p.s. Like these reflections? Join the Daily Reminders newsletter! (Link in Bio)

10/22/2024

My latest newsletter, with a voter guide. Sending love and peace and hopes for a much brighter day for us all. https://conta.cc/3AaW4aY

10/15/2024

My teen daughter and I have gotten good feedback on this podcast we created together, especially from folks who are brand new to a 3 P psychology. This is our episode introducing the Principles. Find pod link in comments.

10/09/2024

I have been working with a wonderful, kind, end-of-life vet for our little dog, Coco. When she found out I was planning to go to Nevada to canvass for Harris and other Democrats, she waived the fee for her consult.

"Thank you," she said.

"My adrenals have been over-functioning," she told me. "I think a lot of us have post-trauma from 2016."

Yes. Don't know if this is "post-trauma or "pre-trauma." I have this background "high keyness" that spikes with any personal issue or problem that comes my way. It's been a couple weeks.

I found solace yesterday in the vigil for all who have lost their lives in Gaza, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. This was a gathering of caring, loving people allowing all the feels. We sang and prayed and spoke to one another, holding candles in the darkening night.

I find solace and comfort in the kindness of people like my vet.

If you are feeling tense or anxious, I just want you to know I feel you. When this is over, we will find a new world (one or another) and we will make our way with all our courage, wisdom and community.

09/22/2024

In our society, we like to talk about mindfulness and breathing and self-care and taking breaks, but as long as our economy and systems are set up toward maximum profits and endless growth and constantly accelerating "innovation" ... as long as our psychology is directed toward extreme wealth and outer displays of "success" and "happiness" ... as long our social safety net is as frayed and fragile as it is, so that people feel afraid of becoming ill, losing a job, aging, retirement or eviction, because there is no net to catch them ... we are, overall, trapped in systems which do not allow for true self care and slowing down.

Having said that: I do believe that self-care and thriving are possible in any society. That is the gift of insight, spiritual connection and true self-empowerment. We can each find our way with wisdom. But the time for just individual self-care is past.

If the system remains in place as it is, it not only generally wears down the society, but, as we see with climate and ecology, will self-destruct, leaving millions if not billions in dire straights (it already has in many regions of the world)

Systems respond to the thinking and values of humans who create them. We CAN create systems that are slowed down, that incorporate wisdom and self-care and compassion (four-day work week, health care for all, housing as a human right, no billionaires, an indigenous/elder/femme led council to direct economic growth or non-growth within the limits of Earth's carrying capacity.)

Now is the time to dream.