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By Meerabelle Dey We all want serenity, that elusive state of calm that seems to belong solely to Tibetan monks and yoga instructors. People with serenity are better equipped to enjoy life. Their small problems remain small and don’t become magnified into huge catastrophes. And when real crises arise, they react with steady, clear thinking.  However, […]

By Nate Altmeyer Self-compassion is the muscle to train and strengthen to enhance emotional well-being. The practice of extending loving-kindness toward ourselves in moments of weakness and vulnerability is what will ultimately promote resiliency in the face of adversity.  It is not until we silence our harshest critic (ourselves) and chose to soften our hearts that

By Becki A. Hein, MS, LPC, Anxiety Topic Expert Contributor Many people come to my office wanting help for their anxiety. Much of the time, their anxiety can be clearly connected to events going on in their lives. I help them learn to stay in the present moment, to stop their habit of imagining worst-case scenarios and to breathe

First off, congratulations on your decision to enhance your personal growth through mindfulness! This is something you are doing for yourself and your well-being so make a commitment to schedule formal times to practice these exercises just as you would other important appointments. It is easy to lose enthusiasm and dedication to a new practice

BY DEBBIE HAMPTON Worrying has become a national pastime. Whether you’re worrying about repaying your college loan, having job stability in an unstable economy or making sure your toddler hits all the developmental milestones at the right times, there’s no shortage of material for mind sweat.  According to The Anxiety And Depression Association Of America, anxiety disorders

BYKAIA ROMAN I taught a mindfulness class at my daughters’ elementary school this week. Unsurprisingly, the kids taught me way more than I taught them.  While I was doing research to develop the class, I came upon a wealth of information about mindfulness programs in schools. For one, I learned that actress Goldie Hawn has been

Pema Chödrön on four ways to hold our minds steady and hearts open when facing difficult people or circumstances. BY PEMA CHÖDRÖN The most straightforward advice on awakening enlightened mind is this: practice not causing harm to anyone—yourself or others—and every day, do what you can to be helpful. If we take this instruction to heart and

Research proves an undeniable mind-body connection.  Post published by David Sack M.D. on Apr 21, 2015 in Where Science Meets the Steps When we seek help for a mental health condition, we can expect to hear about various medications and treatment options, but what’s often missing from the conversation is any talk of lifestyle changes. In a recent University of Illinois study,

Put simply, mindfulness is about bringing attention to your senses (smell, touch, taste, sound and sight) no matter what you’re doing. It applies to brushing your teeth, or walking to class, or engaging in some after school activity. Literally everything provides a new opportunity to be “mindful.” When you pay close attention to everything you do,

BY CLIFTON B. PARKER The practice of compassion meditation may be a powerful antidote to a drifting mind, new Stanford research shows. Compassion meditation focuses on benevolent thoughts toward oneself and others, as the researchers noted. It is different in this aspect than most forms of meditation in the sense that participants are “guided” toward compassionate