Have you ever gotten lost in a good novel? The imagery so distinct, and the characters so well-described that it almost seems real . . . . . . and when you get to the last page you might feel sad that it’s come to an end. Fiction has a way of taking us […]
What Happens When Mindfulness Collides with Neuroscience?
When’s the last time you turned on the local news and heard a warm-hearted, uplifting story? Having trouble calling anything to mind? While it might be true that the media focuses mainly on hardship and tragedy, it’s also true that our brains are hardwired to remember the bad more often than the good. So how […]
Tara Brach, PhD and True Refuge: Mindfulness Strategies for More Lasting Healing
Sometimes people spend a lifetime resisting one particular feeling. But according to Tara Brach, PhD, being able to nudge them gently into their “ouch” moment can be pivotal to opening people up to self-compassion . . . . . .and in just one hour, Tara shared how a simple gesture (hand on heart) and two […]
New Tools for Healing: Bringing Mindfulness Practice into New Places
Capital murder, armed robbery, aiding and abetting . . . Often, the people who commit such crimes are fueled by years of anger and rage, and feel they have no other outlet for it than through violence. But for 20 inmates at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama, a groundbreaking mindfulness program introduced them […]
The Danger of Turning to "False Refuge": Overcoming Harmful Patterns with Mindfulness Practice
Everyone is busy (or at least, it certainly feels that way). There’s always people to care for, things that need to be checked off the list, and deadlines to meet. In the business of life, it’s easy to fall into harmful shortcuts instead of seeking out long-term solutions. And sometimes these habits may seem like […]
The Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation: Ram Dass on Cultivating Loving Awareness
For just one hour this week, we got to soak up the wisdom and the gentle spirit of a luminary. I’m talking about the legendary Ram Dass . . . . . . and people from all over the world who joined us for Wednesday’s webinar have been letting us know how moved they were […]
Can Mindfulness Strengthen an Aging Brain?
Sometimes it seems like a lot changes as people age – we start experiencing different sleep patterns, or hormone fluctuations, and maybe even lowered immune function. Plus, it can often feel like the brain just isn’t quite working the way it used to. So what if there was something we could do to help jumpstart […]
How Mindfulness Impacts Focus Even During Discomfort
Picture this. It’s early morning, when the world often feels perfectly quiet. But for many people, there is no silence. There is only a loud buzzing in their ears, and nothing seems to make it stop. It’s tinnitus, a condition that affects people all over the world. And for some, these sounds can trigger severe […]
Expanding our Capacity to Love Others (and Ourselves) through Mindfulness
Doctor, nurse, therapist, social worker . . . . . . we all have roles we identify with, both personally and professionally. But, what do these roles we play have to do with experiencing unconditional love, and how can changing our awareness impact our sense of it? In this video clip, Ram Dass, PhD, […]
How Mindfulness Works: Can it Help with High Blood Pressure?
When’s the last time you had your blood pressure checked? Was it normal? For one in every three American adults, it’s not. And the scariest part? High blood pressure can increase our risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, and organ damage. But, could mindfulness have an impact on lowering blood pressure? Led by Joel Hughes, […]