“Style exists not just in the realm of fashion but in every aspect of life. We have styles of speech, behavior, work, sex, and even religion. Wherever there is style, there is also division. It’s a basic human trait to align with those who share our style and oppose, even if subtly, those who don’t. This keeps us from the radical openness and acceptance that full presence requires. Surrendering even one aspect of our style is a powerful inducement to break free from this limitation.

Think a bit about your style. What kind of clothes, music, film, culture, and subculture do you and your friends prefer? Next make a list of what you consider to be a stylistic faux pas, such as big hair, violent action flicks, junk food or tie-dye. Then choose something from that list and indulge in it. Tease your hair, for example, or sit through the last movie you’ d ever want to watch. Go totally against your grain. In the process, see if you can find something in common with those who prefer this style. Don’t conclude the practice until you can enjoy, even a little, your temporary transgression.”

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~ Excerpt from Raphael Cushnir’s How Now, 100 Ways to Celebrate the Present Moment (Chronicle Books 2005), p.88.