Welcome to Resisting the Drift
This space is for those who take mindfulness seriously—not as a trend, but as a way of seeing and engaging with the world.
I write about Buddhism, human psychology, and media, drawing from the Pali Canon and a commitment to personal responsibility. My focus is on clarity, not comfort; depth, not convenience.
Content is free (mostly). Field notes, guided practices, and direct discussions are for paid subscribers. If this speaks to you, I invite you to subscribe.
This is my house.
I built this space to speak freely, think critically, and practice truth without compromise. If you’re here, you’re welcome—so long as you bring respect. I don’t tolerate passive aggression, cruelty, or performative outrage. Dialogue is encouraged, but disruption isn’t. This isn’t social media. This is a home for hard-won insight, not empty noise.
About Me
Welcome to Resisting the Drift—a thoughtful exploration at the crossroads of Buddhism, human psychology, education, and mindful engagement with emerging media and technology. I'm Sarah Barker, a dedicated lay practitioner on the Buddhist path, media psychology doctoral candidate, certified embodiment coach, and educator passionate about fostering genuine self-awareness and compassionate accountability.
With over two decades of experience in adult education, multimedia storytelling, immersive instructional design, and guided meditation, my work delves into why we behave the way we do—and how mindfulness, when authentically practiced, can transform our relationship with ourselves and the digital world. My practice is deeply grounded in the original teachings of Buddhism, informed by rigorous psychological research, and driven by a commitment to truth, integrity, and radical compassion for all sentient beings.
Join me here for insightful discussions, scholarly reflections, and practical tools that cut through illusions, challenge complacency, and invite genuine self-awareness. Together, let's journey along this path toward clarity, ethical living, and meaningful connection, beyond the noise of modern distractions. I am not a Buddhist scholar; I’m an earnest Western practitioner.
How I Use AI
I use AI to help me write everything. That’s not a trick or a shortcut—it’s a tool. And from a Buddhist perspective, that’s not a problem. The Buddha didn’t teach us to reject tools; he taught us to examine our intention, our speech, and the effects of our actions. If this tool helps cut through delusion, it’s useful. If it feeds ego or laziness, it’s not. I’m telling you the truth because integrity matters. If that unsettles you, look at what you're clinging to. The Buddha wouldn’t ask whether the words came from a machine or a monk—he’d ask whether they reduce suffering, challenge delusion, and point to the end of grasping.
And I don’t use it to avoid the work. I use it to expose my own. My attachment to being an ‘artist’. Every time I collaborate with this system, I see more clearly where I still grasp at authorship, originality, identity. It’s all fuel for practice. That’s the point.
— Sarah A. Barker, Ph.D. Candidate, Media Psychology, Certified Embodiment Coach
Hi I’m Sarah
AI Process
I use Google’s ImageFX test kitchen to generate images for my blog posts. Be sure to look at image captions to see my prompts, verbatim. I also use ChatGPT4.5 to help me with locating studies and to assist with polishing my text.
Ways to Support
This work is independent and reader-supported. If you find value here, there are a few ways to support:
Subscribe – Free subscribers receive regular reflections. Paid subscribers gain access to in-depth research, guided practices, and direct discussion.
Share – If something here resonates, pass it along. The right people will find it.
Engage – Thoughtful discussion is always welcome. Your reflections help deepen the conversation.
Support in whatever way feels right. No expectations—just an open space for inquiry and practice.
