A Case for Loving-Kindness Meditation
We’ve all been there—we’re having a conversation that we don’t necessarily want to have and we begin to feel defensive. Our mind may start racing or our palms may start sweating. Anger starts rising up hot on our necks, and we’ve hit the point of either shutting down and tuning out or getting upset. Usually […]
The Pursuit of the Happiness Myth
In this century the concept of ‘success’ has changed. In the past financial independence and prestige represented success. In some cultures large families were regarded as a sign of success as well. Now it seems regardless of the amount of money we accumulate, the size of our families or the prestige we have: if we […]
Satisfying Sexual Relationships: How to Make them Work
A satisfying sexual relationship is an important part of intimacy, which is what most people are actually looking for when they use the term chemistry. A first date is just an introduction to a person’s immediate personality— take them at face value. If you’re interested in what they have to say and feel respected and […]
Why Small Moments Matter
Recently, The Intelligent Optimist sat down for a Q&A with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, head of a worldwide network of meditation centers, talking about optimism and fundament goodness—asking one very provocative question for our time: TIO: Can fundamental goodness be seen in the face of violence? SR: ‘Every moment presents an opportunity to recognize the core […]
The Essentials of Aromatherapy
Many years ago, while studying healing at The Center of the Light in Great Barrington, MA, I developed a passion for Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a wonderful way to enhance your life— creating a comforting atmosphere of your choosing in your home or office. With smell being the quickest way to shift your own mood or […]
Experiencing the Journey to Live Our Dreams
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” –Paolo Coehol, The Alchemist So many times we hear commonly shared wisdom like “Happiness is not a destination, it’s a way of traveling.” But what does that mean? Like many things, in theory it sounds great, but it’s not quite […]
The Issue of Aging
How many times have we heard someone told to act his or her age? It has become such a common phrase in our society; we rarely stop to think what it really means. This morning, while meditating, a thought came into my head; that I was 10 years younger than I am. Suddenly, I felt […]
Finding Our Personal Freedom
“Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns…We may want to love other people without holding back, to feel authentic, to breathe in the beauty around us, to dance and sing. Yet each day we listen to inner voices […]
Embracing Impermanence
“We are uncomfortable because everything in our life keeps changing — our inner moods, our bodies, our work, the people we love, the world we live in. We can’t hold on to anything — a beautiful sunset, a sweet taste, an intimate moment with a lover, our very existence as the body/mind we call self […]
The Importance of Keeping Good Company: Finding Your Five
Think about it for a moment; who do you spend most of your time with? Draw a few people into your mind, and expand on this thought, what beauty do you find those people bringing to your life? Do those who’ve come to mind create a calm, positive environment when you’re around them, or are […]