On February 28, right before sunset, I was backing out of the driveway in my car, anxious to get to my Dad’s apartment to take him to the dining room of his beautiful senior residence in La Jolla, California. “Wait, stop!” Danielle said, running up to my car window. “What [...]
When I first registered for MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Center for Mindfulness, I knew after eight weeks of training that a whole new world of education and practice was opening up for me. The scientific research showing the benefits of mindfulness was compelling, and [...]
You are never too old to rewire your brain for more happiness and resilience. There is a fabulous YouTube video seen by more than half a million people called “Confessions of a Jewish Mother: How My Son Ruined My Life.” Selma Baraz, the late mother of James Baraz (of “Awakening Joy” fame) recounts [...]
This was my second time euthanizing a beloved pet. Last time, when I took Dusty, our 17-year-old bulldog/shih tzu rescue dog to put him out of his misery, my reaction took me by surprise. I had to triage my body on the spot, throwing all my Mindful Methods at myself one at a [...]
Wouldn’t it be great to make this year the year that you don’t get so triggered by all the usual suspects? Wouldn’t it be nice to stay calm in traffic, get out the door in the morning without stress, and interact peacefully with the biggest button pushers in your world? Mindfulness can and [...]
That sense of inner peace and calm we all crave? It is possible to tap into it on demand through mindfulness, but it takes practice. In fact, the more you practice, the more access you will have to calmly responding rather than merely reacting to life’s most challenging moments. Give yourself an easy [...]
Holidays can be wonderful in so many ways: time with family and friends, time off of work, time to relax and celebrate with loved ones. But holidays can be stressful, too. Whether it’s money worries, holiday traffic, or that family member that always pushes your buttons this time of year, being calm and [...]
You probably have mindful moments on and off throughout your day. Those count! Pat yourself on the back for those moments. Here are some examples of seemingly mundane daily routines that provide wonderful opportunities to practice mindfulness. When we do this, we train our brain to become more able to drop into mindfulness [...]
One of the simplest mindfulness meditations you can practice is that of putting your awareness down into your feet. It’s so calming and grounding to connect with awareness in this way. Walking meditation is one possibility for undertaking this mindfulness practice, but you can also do it sitting down. I’m lucky enough to [...]
Has all the buzz in recent years about gratitude practice got you wondering how to jump on the joy train? The benefits of having a gratitude practice have been written about extensively. Current studies reveal fabulous health and overall wellness benefits including lower blood pressure, stronger immune system, higher occurrences of positive emotions [...]
