Dear friends,
As we move into 2026, I want to pause and speak plainly.
After more than sixty years of listening to people, one truth has never changed:
Human beings are, at heart, friendly, collaborative, tribal creatures. We are meant to eat together, work together, raise children together, and care for one another.
So how did we arrive at a world that feels so isolated and divided?
Throughout history, a very small group has learned how to accumulate power, while most people simply want to live decent lives and feel safe in their communities. That imbalance did not begin with modern politics. It is ancient.
What concerns me most is not power itself.
It is isolation.
The pandemic accelerated a separation that was already underway. We were told to retreat, to stay apart, to stop gathering. For a tribal species, prolonged disconnection comes at a heavy psychological cost.
So what can we do?
We may not be able to change global systems on our own. But we can reconnect.
We can reach out to a friend we’ve lost touch with.
We can soften a family divide.
We can choose conversation over contempt.
We can remember that most people around us are not our enemies.
Connection is not naïve. It is an act of resistance.
At nearly 87 years old, I still believe in the basic goodness of the human species. I believe the future depends on whether ordinary people remember who they are — and choose one another again.
That is the heart of this week’s episode of Mind Body Health & Politics.
Golden light,
Dr. Richard L. Miller
1-minute mind control (my latest book)
Traditional mindfulness and meditation techniques often require a huge investment of your most precious resource (time) without guarantees of results.
My own version of mindfulness—what I sometimes refer to as “mind control”—can be mastered in much less time if you commit to regular 60-90 second practice throughout the day.
Breathing. Witnessing. Changing the channel on negative thoughts.
I’ve honed these techniques over a lifetime of personal and professional practice, and now I’m sharing them with the world.
Get my new book Master Your Mind, and as a thank you for your support, I’ll give you a free 30-day subscription to our premium newsletter and exclusive content. Just reply to this email after you buy it to confirm your purchase.
Work with Me
After six decades as a practicing psychotherapist, I'm offering limited opportunities to work directly with me. I bring extensive experience addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, and psychedelic integration.
One-to-one sessions - Individual therapy tailored to your specific needs and goals. To request an appointment, book a session here.
Group Therapy (waitlist) - Join a small, curated group dedicated to personal growth. You’ll tap into community support, learn from others’ experiences, and develop practical tools for lasting transformation. Reserve your spot.
Support my work with a founding subscription ($295) and get a complimentary 30-minute consultation, in addition to a hardback copy of Master Your Mind and full access to my premium content. Sign-up here:
My Other Books:
Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear (release date: November 5)
Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out
Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances
Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca
Integral Psychedelic Therapy (co-edited with Jason A. Butler & Genesee Herzberg)
