The wanting mind. The craving mind. The desiring mind. Call it what you will- we all have one and it can get the best of us while we are trying tirelessly to satisfy it. All wisdom texts tell us that we cannot quench or satisfy the craving for sense pleasures. Despite it being part of our human nature to orient toward pleasure and avoid pain, if left untamed, it can be highly destructive to you, …
You would never invite a thief into your house, so why would you invite joy thief into your mind? Unfortunately, we find that uninvited guests may arrive on a daily basis, requiring us to use discernment as we learn to respond wisely. Discernment starts with mindful awareness that thoughts are simply activities of the mind that come and go regularly. But what if they don’t seem to go? Some move in, set up shop, and work away in the …
Is there anyone who doesn’t have a bucket-load of information about what being “fit” means? It’s everywhere! We are given “fitness guru” suggestions on billboards, TV, radio, magazines, the web and anywhere information is being streamed. Fitness has become such an American obsession that it has begun to do real damage. It is painfully evident that many in this country are struggling to achieve and maintain what I’ll call “inner fitness.” When stripped of the toxic body-perfection messaging, and …
Anxiety over school shootings in America has become a collective fear for children and adults alike. The recent epidemic of school shootings and threats of school-based violence are shocking events that may prompt strong emotional reactions. When such incidents occur, it is important that parents and caregivers are equipped with information in order to appropriately respond and meet the safety and emotional needs of their children. Anxiety can be thought of as the body’s internal …
Melting Arctic ice, hurricanes, bailouts, unemployment, presidential elections, inflation, deflation, recession, depression! We are surrounded by an endless stream of anxiety inducing information – through TV, the Internet, newspapers, radio, and conversation. It is important to be aware and informed citizens, but what is “news” really, and when does another story become something other than news? We turn to various sources for insight to help us deal with uncertainty, and to calm our fears, but …
A wise friend said to me recently that when a person begins to crave being in the outdoors, something in them has shifted spiritually…that they have begun to genuinely embody a felt-sense that they are a part of something bigger. Life and its pursuits take on a new meaning around this same time, and perspective shifts from one of obligation and going-through-the-motions to one of willingness and gratitude. I like this way of thinking about …
As if preparing for a hurricane isn’t difficult enough, what about preparing your children for a storm? The “unknown” can create stress for families both before and after the storm. Taking the time to prepare your young ones for hazardous weather can save you from unwanted meltdowns. Children who have been prepared and whose parents handle the disaster well have a greater ability to utilize coping strategies. The following are tips to help you teach, …
Returning attention to the breath offers us a path home when our thoughts and emotions have carried us into the depth of the past or the unknown forest of the future. Sometimes it can simply be a way to bring what Tara Brach has coined, “a sacred pause”, stepping out of autopilot and reconnecting to what is, in this very moment. As human beings walking the path of life, we wish for things to be known …
Ridding ourselves from unnecessary fear is essential to living in peace. I wholeheartedly believe it is possible to discover peace while living in a world filled with so much destruction and strife. In my experience as both a therapist and mindfulness teacher, I have found that love is the antidote to fear and will swiftly raise anyone to the finest room in the house. Which room do you want to live in? You may believe that others …
The holidays are here and shopping has begun. At the top of everyone’s holiday wish list are electronics. Even our littlest loved ones are enamored with the latest and greatest gadgets. Who could blame them? Our world runs on technology and our kids are part of that world. Whether they are using electronics for school or entertainment, the demand exists. And as every parent knows, finding the right balance for electronics is tricky. How do …
