Mindfulness is being purposefully aware of here & now. Intentional is a mind-set, a willful and determined way of responding and doing that may encompass behaviors, attitudes, thoughts, and feelings. To be intentional, it is our object (purpose) for being a certain way… for example, kind, patient, understanding, etc. It may be our intent (purpose) […]

Let laughter be part of your daily routine for self-care… A good, belly laugh can help to relieve physical tension and relax our muscles. It boosts our immune system by decreasing stress hormones (cortisol) & boosting infection-fighting antibodies. In the brain, laughter works to trigger ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters called endorphins. As a result, laughter can help […]

Our ‘mindfulness muscle’ is strengthened by the way we routinely use and direct our attention. It is an observing and abiding mind that objectively watches how we are as we are throughout our daily experiences… attentively noticing our automatic & habitual patterns with relaxed alertness, and gently redirecting our attention to the present moment as […]

Taking a minute or two for a ‘Moment of Silence’ can be a powerful and moving experience. Time itself seems to slow down as we take PAUSE from whatever we’re doing to simply be with ourselves in quiet and stillness. By being silent and inactive for a full minute or two can promote greater presence […]

To ‘see’ things clearly in life, we need to adopt & cultivate an attitude that is open, objective and receptive. We need to learn to be more non-judgmental- and to be more understanding of things just as they are. When our orientation toward what we are experiencing is non-judgmental, we tend to open up ourselves […]

Impulses or urges can be deeply conditioned tendencies toward certain actions- whether they are words or behaviors. Noticing our impulses especially before they carry us away into reflexive action can take real skill of attention, as well as forbearance not to give in to what often can be habitually unwholesome ‘traps’ with questionable consequences. Suppressing […]

An Eastern tradition, a ‘bow’ to another is a sign of peace, respect & trust. A person bows to the other upon arriving & leaving. It is the equivalent of our handshake, with sincere & deep respect implied in the gesture. In bowing to another we also show our reverence for the ‘universal energy’ we […]

The world we live in is one big ADVENTURE! It is always available for us to explore and to examine… and where there is interest… there is inquiry. Curiosity is our natural inclination to keep awareness wide open & “fresh” for discovering and for learning new things. It moves & motivates us even in difficult […]

Happiness is a way of being. It means figuring out ways in which we can be happy despite what we might experience on occasion. Happiness has much to do with the big “A” word- ATTITUDE- even in the face of mildly to moderately negative events that may routinely occur in our day-to-day lives. How we […]

To give is an act of kindness. It is something we should work on doing all year long… and something we should actively encourage in one another- the values of giving, helping, and sharing. Acts of generosity tend to be contagious especially in families, organizations, and communities that openly talk with one another about them. […]