In exploring how to be happy, we can experience more happiness by cultivating positive mental and emotional states through mindfulness and meditation practice. It really is true that whatever we rest our attention on grows. If we wake up and focus our attention on the difficulty in our lives, we will cultivate a state of […]
Making intentional choices can nourish the wellbeing and happiness of ourselves and others. It is possible to delight in a bird’s flight even in the midst of picking up litter from the beach. It is possible to cultivate a state of equanimity even in the midst of uncertainty. It is possible to cultivate a state […]
When dealing with the unexpected, we can experience greater ease by bringing mindfulness to the situation. Each moment brings uncertainty, and sometimes, unexpected events arise. When dealing with the unexpected, if we judge the events as positive, we say we’re lucky. When we judge the unexpected events as unpleasant, we say we’ve encountered unfortunate circumstances. […]
Dealing with difficult thoughts by approaching our inner experience with mindfulness, with kindness and curiosity, can support our wellbeing. Difficult thoughts can lead to difficult mental states — anger, hatred, resentment –and take us out of the present moment. How many moments have we all struggled with difficult thoughts that lead us to get entangled […]
Intention is fueled by awareness, and action is fueled by intention. Last week one of my students arrived at the realization that joy wasn’t just going to fall into her lap. We laughed together in a shared recognition of the human habit of assuming that whatever we want will arrive in our laps simply by […]
Mindfulness in nature can help us to feel more peace and a greater sense of connection with ourselves and the planet. We can practice mindfulness in nature by being fully present in the moment when we are in nature. Try choosing a place outdoors that you can be still for a few moments. You might […]
Embracing change with mindfulness and meditation supports us in cultivating more acceptance and less resistance. We cling to the transitions that we love, and we resist or fight against the changes that we dislike, and this creates suffering. Mindfulness encourages us to turn toward whatever is here in the present moment with an attitude of […]
Shadow work involves embracing the aspects of ourselves that remain in shadow, unexpressed, or hidden. Our shadow includes aspects of our personality that are unconscious and can include both positive aspects as well as the darker aspects. When our shadow remains unconscious, we may be ruled by it, and this can keep us from living […]
Cultivating self-compassion can nurture a greater sense of inner peace, happiness, and resilience. In cultivating self-compassion, we practice noticing the moments in which we are treating ourselves with harshness and criticism. We pause, bring our kind awareness to this habit, and choose something different. We can focus on our sense of shared humanity, acknowledging our […]
Mindful creative expression can support your wellbeing and facilitate creative flow. Creative energy is available to us in infinite supply, but in order to access it, we must invite it in, welcome it, and nurture it. We must create space and time in our day to honor it. If we ignore our creative muse, she […]