In every spiritual tradition that I’ve encountered and studied, the litmus test for me is whether or not I can experience the truth of the teachings in my own life and in the world around me. So, it was a relief when I read the Buddha’s instruction to “come and see for yourself” whether the
A well-known Buddhist teaching says “When you open your heart, you get life’s ten thousand sorrows, and ten thousand joys.” However, for many, it may seem like the balance has tipped to sorrow rather than joy. This teaching asks us to be open and grateful for both the sorrows and the joys–acknowledging that the sorrows
I was talking to a wellness colleague of mine yesterday about advertising my Eat for Life classes starting in May and she said “People don’t want to think about being healthy right now.” That statement really took me by surprise. And, I’m not sure it’s accurate, at least not in my own life and in
A strategy that parents use (for better or worse) when children misbehave is to ground them from engaging in the activities that they enjoy. Getting grounded means you are usually forbidden to leave home, except to go to school, church, the doctor, or to other essential activities. Sound familiar? Although it did not result from
Some Americans are healthier than others and, despite what you might think, it isn’t because some people just take care of themselves better than others. Rather, the conditions in which some people live have a lot to do with it. For instance, our current food system reflects historic inequalities that lie at the foundation of American
I was sitting in meditation this morning and realized how much fear I had overcome through the practice of mindfulness (namely, present moment awareness without judgment and with kindness and curiosity). In particular, I was thinking about the pumpkin soup I made as soon as I arrived home yesterday from an overnight airplane trip back
Change is happening. Open your mind and get curious with all the kindness and compassion you can muster. Apply this instruction to any situation you find yourself in. In fact, it could be a mission statement for life. In the Buddhist texts, it is called understanding and knowing the truth of “impermanence”–an important lesson on
I can still clearly remember the day back in 1997 when I set the intention to deepen my meditation practice. I was sitting in a Quaker church in the middle of an Iowa cornfield at A Course In Miracles retreat led by Tara Singh, a deeply inspiring teacher from India who had spent three years
Do you think of “calm” and “holidays” in the same sentence? Probably not. In fact, often the holiday season becomes filled with obligations, unmet expectations and stressful demands. The American Psychological Association reports that holiday stress has a particular impact on women, due to their tendency to take on much of the responsibility for preparing
This holiday, make the season bright by enjoying your food without guilt and showing up in your holiday best. Mindful eating can help you have your holidays and your holiday food, too. These holiday tips are not your usual “show up for the party full so you won’t be tempted with goodies” and “drink lots
