Staying at one with the moment in front of you doesn’t come naturally to some people. In fact, it probably doesn’t come naturally to most people. Often, we are inclined to scrutinize the past and make desperate, half-thought-out plans for the future, when in fact, these practices do absolutely nothing for us. This is even […]
Part of embracing the now is acknowledging your place in the world. Now, that may sound fatalistic but I assure you, I don’t mean to detract from anyone’s personal greatness nor uniqueness by making this statement. Rather, I believe that sometimes in our quest to find a niche for ourselves—a one-of-a-kind niche—we drift away from […]
When we consider ways to become more focused on today and to be mindful of the present, sometimes we make things more complicated than they need to be: we follow a routine, scheduling in guided meditation exercises and making lists to keep us on task. However, a big part of staying present-minded when in the […]
It’s hard to fully appreciate the benefits of outward-directed mindfulness without first directing your focus inward and learning to be mindful of the self. In other words, it could be said that “taking time to stop and smell the roses” isn’t as meaningful when you don’t know what the beauty of the scent of a […]
Being human is an amazing experience, with all its wonders and flaws. Having the capability to perform complex mathematical problems and reason in philosophical abstracts is an amazing gift, and even the things that limit us—such as anxiety over what the future holds—are boons in their own way (plus, hey, opposable thumbs!). However, the intricacies […]
The idea of using non-documentary movies to explore the world of mindfulness and present-day living might seem a bit far-fetched. However, I want you to suspend your disbelief (after all, we’re talking movies, here!) for a moment and hear me out. There are several fictional movies across just as many genres that can help us […]
Making exercise a priority in your life is an admirable endeavor. The health benefits of getting a workout in a few times a week are well-documented, and many people who struggle with beginning an exercise regime often report feeling both physical and mental improvements after the regime becomes a part of their normal routine. Increased […]
In my journey through life, I’ve often found that many people—including me—take their core values for granted. What I mean is this: we form our inner values early on in life, based on what we’re told is right, wrong, important, etc. and we don’t pause to reevaluate these values as time goes by. Life goes […]
Many good things can come from quiet observation: we can learn by watching, we can get a feel for things that are unfamiliar to us, and we can increase the depth of our understanding of a person, place, thing, or phenomenon. However, being a total “wallflower” is no way to live your life if you […]
We all have a running monologue inside our heads. Sometimes, it’s a simple stream of consciousness, like a narrator speaking about our actions as we engage in them. At other times, it’s a critical analysis of our every doing. Too often, the inner voice can be a source of anguish, as we listen to our […]
During this time of the year, as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many residents of the United States take a bit of time to focus on the things they feel gratitude toward. This focus, however, can sometimes be myopic and short-lived. We throw all of our thought into what we are thankful for, but only for […]
Something that many of us who aim at mindfulness and attempt to stay focused on the present rather than mired in the past or obsessed with an uncertain future are interested in is finding ourselves, and expressing ourselves authentically. The question is this: should we take active steps toward this discovery of the authentic self, […]
