Percy Ray Ballard, MD

I've come to believe that most of what gets in the way of our lives isn't circumstances. It's emotions. People don't avoid difficult conversations because conversations are hard. They avoid them because they don't want to feel rejection. People don't avoid starting businesses because they don't know how. They avoid them because they don't want to feel uncertainty, embarrassment, disappointment, or failure. People don't avoid approaching someone they're attracted to because ta

After my recent reflections on feeding my own sheep, a few people have asked a practical question: How do I actually do that? How do I actually feed the sheep within? One of the most helpful practices I've found comes from my friend and expert coach Peter Will Benjamin. Peter created a relational practice called Relational Interplay. It can be done with another person, and it can also be done internally with our own emotions and parts. When practiced internally, I sometimes t

I heard from a couple of wise and awake women in response to my recent post about Jesus' words: "If you love me, feed my sheep." What I feel most grateful for is their reminder that before we feed the sheep on the outside, we must feed the sheep on the inside. Thank you, Dr. Laura and Kimberly. As I reflected on their words, I realized that this has quietly become one of the most important practices in my own life. In fact, it is often the very first thing I do each morning.

This weekend, my friend Sid and I visited a congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, inspired by a friend from our meditation community who had once been part of that church. One of the things Sid and I often do on Sundays is visit different churches and spiritual communities. As someone deeply influenced by contemplative Christianity, non-dual spirituality, and mystical traditions, I find it meaningful to experience the many ways people relate to God,

The podcast Live IFS recorded a first-time, remote IFS session with Dr. Ballard in July 2022. Click above to listen in. You can find...

Subpersonalities or "Parts" commonly involved in Productivity and how to relate to them effectively.