It’s wild to think about, but it’s true: We can change our brain. It is the fundamental notion of experience-dependent neuroplasticity. Rick Hanson, a neuropsychologist and author of Buddha’s Brain and Hardwiring Happiness, says we can use the mind to change the brain to change the mind for the better. Our thoughts and [...]
How many couples will find out today that their partner is cheating on them? If you look at divorce statistics here in the United States, it adds up to plenty of heartbreak. According to the American Psychological Association, 90% of people marry for the first time by age fifty, and 40% to 50% [...]
Before we dig into just how to be your own BFF, let’s address the WHY. Life is chaotic, and all of us know what it feels like to have the proverbial sh*t hit the fan. Without someone we can rely on no matter what when things really get tough, we may end up [...]
There are so many things that can throw us off course in our lives, some of them obvious and some of them subtle yet persistent. Regardless which category of “storm clouds” has you veering out of alignment with your joy, clarity and overall well-being, here are some mindful methods you can use to [...]
Life is full of emotional chaos, but bringing it back to focused activities that give joy to your soul can mean the difference between making it or breaking it day to day, year to year. Today, find 10 – 15 minutes to grab a pen and paper (your journal if you keep one) [...]
You know that small voice that tells you to do something and you are afraid if you don’t do what it suggests that you will regret it? At the last minute before I mounted Checkers, the horse, I walked back into the tack room at the Miraval Resort Life in Balance Spa in [...]
Loving Kindness: Sounds great, right? As with so many things, though, the term itself can make the practice feel out of reach when we don’t have a clear understanding of what it means. Of course the best way to understand is by experiencing it directly, but in lieu of that, here are some [...]
When I was a little kid, I used to think that words said in anger were a true reflection of the thoughts and feelings of the monster doing the screaming. The insults stuck with me. It wasn’t until adulthood that I changed that narrative. I learned that sometimes human beings reach a boiling [...]
Exploring the Prayerful Nature of Loving Kindness Meditation Five years ago, I signed up for an 18-month spirituality course, the Kivvun program offered by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. The course had four main components: 1 Yoga (check—already doing it) 2 Meditation (check—big practice already) 3 Text Study (check, check—love it and been doing it [...]
Finding My Truth In Between Judaism, Buddhism and Life Somewhere around 2012, I realized I had stopped believing in God. I tried to trace it back and it seemed like I lost faith around 2007 or 2008, when my twin girls were in middle school. Before that time, I was consistent about celebrating the Jewish [...]
