Teaching mindfulness to kids has been said to improve their wellbeing, boost performance in the classroom, increase emotional intelligence, and reduce stress and “negative” behavior. In Old Path, White Clouds, a retelling of the Buddha’s life, the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh explains that one of Buddha’s...
Read MoreBreath action into everyday words. “You might be surprised at how many nouns in the English language can be used as verbs.” ↓ Words have always fascinated me. One thing I discovered by playing with words is that they don’t always fit into neat categories or have...
Read MoreMindful eating means being intentional about what, when, and how you eat. It can become more intuitive the more you practice. ↓ ↓ Benefits of Mindful Eating Reduces binge eating and emotional eating Improves digestion Increases satisfaction and satiety Acts as an innate form of portion control Leads...
Read MoreHere’s how to use it to get fitter ↓ It was Sunday morning, which meant I had a long run on the training schedule. 9–10 miles was what I had to tackle on this particular weekend. By 8 am, I had consumed my favorite pre-run breakfast of oatmeal,...
Read MoreAlong with newer children’s books about mindfulness, many beloved picture books also offer mindful messages about kindness, friendship, and contemplating the world around us. Here are a few of our favorites. In recent years, there has been an explosion of books for kids about mindfulness and...
Read More♠ That chronic back pain is a message from your body. Are you listening? These 5 questions will help you gain insight. When back pain is occasional and acute, it generally has a really important message like: “Take me to the doctor! I’m injured—which is very helpful....
Read More↓ The skills we cultivate by playing tennis can also help us be more mindful—even if you've never before picked up a racket. Success in tennis is based on a simple principle: The present is all that matters. It sounds easy, except it’s not. A Harvard study showed that...
Read More↓ A new study suggests that practicing acceptance helps reduce our stress more than simple mindful awareness. Life can be stressful. Whether it’s the stress that comes with having too much work to do in too little time, fulfilling caregiving obligations, or dealing with a major illness...
Read MoreWe in the modern West assume that the normal mind is a healthy one. But a "healthy mind" is still subject to many types of distress, including depression, anxiety, frustration, restlessness, boredom, and resentment. Only when such imbalances are excessive are we advised to seek...
Read MorePhilosophy isn't just for professors. Embracing a philosophical attitude can make you healthier, happier, and (of course) wiser. List the top three things you’re interested in—that’s a request I made of 14 different people. Their responses included world travel, family, health, nature photography, playing guitar, and...
Read MoreNew research finds that those who meditate can focus their minds and control their impulsivity better than those who do not meditate. Your brain is actually shaped by your thoughts and your behaviors, which is why stress can take a toll on brain function over time. While some...
Read MoreNew research finds that practicing mindfulness is linked to better-coping flexibility and decreased stress levels. Stress is often villainized but it is also inevitable, which means effectively coping with stress is our best defense. According to new research, mindfulness meditation-based interventions may help build long-lasting flexible coping skills...
Read MoreThe skills we cultivate by playing tennis can also help us be more mindful—even if you've never before picked up a racket. Success in tennis is based on a simple principle: The present is all that matters. It sounds easy, except it’s not. A Harvard study showed that...
Read MoreStruggle to stay focused when you meditate? Learning to listen like a musician can deepen both your meditation practice and your mindfulness. Musically minded people are naturally deep listeners. The variety of nuances and qualities that they can discern within a few bars of music is absolutely...
Read MoreBeing aware of the present moment may reduce certain symptoms. Some women breeze through menopause, barely registering a physical or emotional complaint. For others, menopause can be a truly challenging time, when symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes and increased irritability become pronounced and interfere...
Read MoreReleasing anger and frustration can actually help you regain control over a hectic day or win back productivity after feeling frazzled. But you have to do it in a mindful way. On the surface, these three people live worlds apart: Stefan works as a family practice nurse...
Read MoreMeditation is like sitting by the bank of a river, watching it flow by. From time to time, we get pulled into the (thought) stream, but that’s OK. In fact, pulling ourselves out to again sit and watch is the heart of the ↓ I got tired of...
Read MoreWays to allow for reflection while walking. ↓ In the children’s book Wacky Wednesday, Dr. Seuss imagines a world where people are doing very odd things indeed, like driving a car facing backward. That’s how I felt the other day in my neighborhood. I saw one lady pushing...
Read More(Ps. You can develop the same habits to improve your own mental toughness.) ↓ Mental toughness is a choice and a discipline, not an innate quality bestowed upon the lucky. In this article, originally published on LinkedIn Pulse, Dr. Travis Bradberry shows you how to get tough. ↓ We all...
Read More↓ You can create daily routines that help rewire your brain for present moment awareness and free you from ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. What does standing in line at Starbucks, stop signs and stairs have in common? The answer – each is opportunities...
Read More↓ How we “Go Big” and “Go Small” in order to fulfill the mission of the Foundation for a Mindful Society. ↓ When you have a mission that sounds as broad as ours—supporting people everywhere who want to bring more mindfulness into their life—it’s sometimes hard to see...
Read More↓ Use this method to process traumatic experiences and challenging emotional states. ↓ My favorite way to really catch up with a friend is to go for a walk. Some prefer meeting for a drink or lunch, but I love to walk and talk. A newly developed type...
Read More↓ How to Cultivate Mindfulness by Listening to Your Thoughts ↓ Try this exercise to develop mindfulness by meditating on one’s thoughts. Perhaps at some time you have sat quietly by the side of an ocean or river. At first there is one big rush of sound. Listening quietly,...
Read More↓ Listening: The Supreme Skill Listening is an act of surrender. - Brian Eno ↓ Listening is the powerful, soothing agent of all communication. Listening is the best tool there is to lower anxiety, diminish division, and open into sameness, into togetherness. Listening will help almost anyone who is triggered...
Read More5 Things You Need to Know Before You Go on a Meditation Retreat ↓ Thinking about going on a meditation retreat this summer? Here's what you need to know. ↓ 1) What’s the Setting? Urban-ish or rustic, vegetarian or vegan, silent or guided, beach or mountain, solitary or group—retreats come in...
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