From doorknobs, to desktops, to cell phones – pretty much everything we touch can be a breeding ground for germs. So maintaining a strong immune system is one key to staying healthy. But when stress sends the immune system into overdrive, it may attack the body, instead of protecting it. And for some, this can […]
Why Mind-Wandering Can Be a Detriment to Happiness (and One Way to Refocus)
When our thoughts start to stray, they can tend to go in one of two directions. Sometimes we find ourselves dreaming of an upcoming vacation or looking forward to a get-together with friends . . . . . . or, maybe we’re distracted by worries about approaching deadlines or unpaid bills. Even though the […]
Mindfulness . . . There’s an App for That?
As technology makes its way into what seems like every corner of life, it can feel rather challenging to strike that careful balance of knowing when it’s helpful and when it’s not. And frankly, the last place you might expect an electronic gadget to come in handy is front and center during your mindfulness practice. […]
Changing the Brain with Meditation: What’s Sleep Got to do With It?
When a busy day is done, and you’re finally tucked in bed and fast asleep, your brain gets a break from that seemingly endless daily barrage of stimulation. For researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, that made for an ideal opportunity to take a look at brain waves in their most natural, uninfluenced state. They […]
Brain Change and Compassion: Using Mindfulness for Greater Empathy
All too often, we hear of people in need, of too many people going without. And as the holiday season fast approaches here in the United States, opportunities for kindness and helpfulness start to ramp up – a lot of people annually volunteer their time at local soup kitchens or set aside money, food, or […]
Mindfulness and Fiction – Is There a Connection?
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 […]