Acceptance is acknowledging how things are in the present moment with kindness and non-judgment. Acceptance does not mean that we forevermore allow ourselves to remain stuck in unproductive patterns. Mindfulness and acceptance involve a willingness to turn toward what is unfolding in the present moment without clinging to it, trying to push it away or […]
When we look at the world from our usual perspective, everything looks the same. If we search for answers, we may feel there are none, we may not trust our feelings or we may feel overwhelmed by the internal swirl of confusing thoughts. If you look the right way, you can see that the whole […]
Just dance in mediation and life, I tell my students. Each week at least one of my students or clients makes a remark about wanting to do meditation “right.” The untrained mind continually attempts to place our efforts into dichotomous categories of pleasant/unpleasant, good/bad and right/wrong. In the beginning, they look at me with disbelief […]
What matters to you in meditation and life? Yesterday morning I made my way down to the Cape Fear River while the golden light of the morning was just falling on the marsh grasses across the river. What had started out as an ordinary day suddenly came alive. I decided that it was not […]
How to say no and mean it begins with inner clarity and conviction about our own needs, limits, and boundaries and then taking the needs of others into consideration. How many times have we all said “Yes” when what we really wanted was to say “No”? I could write pages about the complex reasons for […]
When we follow the slender threads, we open worlds. –Kim Hermanson I met with a colleague over coffee this morning, and we talked about how powerful it is when we listen to the whisper of divine inspiration and allow it to guide us in our life and career choices. I’ve said for several years that […]
Consciously choosing to activate the energy of being inspired supports a positive mood and encourages action toward personal and career goals. Many of us create intentions and/or goals throughout the year, and a lot of us ride the wave of inspiration that comes with the beginning of a new year. Remember that whatever we place […]
Meeting your inner critic with self-compassion is an effective strategy to support personal change and growth. As you move toward your intentions, hopes and dreams this season, keep in mind that practicing self-compassion may be one of the most effective things that you can do to help you realize your intentions. Some people hold the […]
Mindfully creating clear intentions is one of the most powerful things we can do to create change in our lives. I’ve been devoted to this practice for a number of years, and it’s one of the practices that supports me in creating an intentional life. It’s easy to go through life meeting whatever demands arise day to […]
Contemplation and action are both important when making mindful decisions. With meditation, we have the opportunity to contemplate the options and possibilities. When we are still and quiet, we are more able to hear our inner wisdom. The answer lies within. We just need to sit still long enough to listen. Muddy water, let stand, […]