Understanding the balance of being vs doing is critical to avoiding burnout and overwork. In Doing Mode, accomplishment and activity are seen as much more valuable than rest. But productivity must be balanced with Being Mode, which prioritizes rest and helps us restore energy and attention for the next burst of activity. I often fall…
Did Jesus meditate? In short, yes — but it depends on the definition of meditation used. Biblical records show Jesus spent much time in solitary prayer and contemplation. In addition, some Jewish teachers in the time of Jesus were beginning to adopt a more personal, mystical approach to religion. There’s significant debate about whether Jesus…
Sometimes, it can feel like life is happening “to” you. By setting intentions, you may find you’re able to live more purposefully and make progress towards the life you want to live. In this article, we’ll walk through how to set intentions, how it’s different than setting a goal, and how you can use tools…
Mindfulness vs awareness is a tricky concept to untangle. Both awareness and mindfulness involve observing your thoughts, emotions, and environments. The key difference between awareness and mindfulness is that mindfulness promotes nonjudgmental observation. Mindfulness and awareness are two concepts that are easy to confuse. While the two concepts are closely related, they’re not precisely the…
What, exactly, is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully focusing on the present moment nonjudgmentally. It is closely associated with meditation, but mindfulness goes broader, including practices like gratitude that don’t fall under the umbrella of meditation. Mindfulness is a huge topic, and it’s hard to know where to start, or even nail down…
There are a few things you can do to help induce a state of flow, starting with finding an activity that you enjoy (but that also challenges you). Then, practice it enough to become experienced at it. In this article, we’ll explore how to achieve a state of flow, and look at 11 flow state…
When I went on a 10 day silent meditation retreat, I had no idea what to expect. If you’re considering a meditation retreat, my hope is that my experience may help you. Wondering what it’s like to go on a meditation retreat, and if it’s worth it? The retreat I joined was a 10-day silent meditation…
Monotasking—focusing on one thing at a time—is a way to apply mindfulness to your work life, increase your productivity, and improve your odds at ending up in a state of flow. If you find yourself jumping from task to task while working, you’re not alone. In a world full of distractions, multitasking is a common…
The main difference between mindfulness and flow is that mindfulness requires that you maintain awareness, while flow requires you to become immersed in an activity. Flow is a state of mind reached when you’re entirely immersed in an activity, to the point where you may lose track of time and forget yourself. Mindfulness, in contrast,…
Mindfulness isn’t a religion. Rather, mindfulness is a secular toolkit that can help reduce stress and improve well-being. However, there is a tangled ancient and modern relationship between religion, spirituality, and mindfulness. Let’s clear up any doubt: mindfulness is not a religion. And, at least as practiced in scientific studies, it’s not even necessarily spiritual….
Sometimes, you just have a bad day. It happens to all of us. But sometimes it’s possible to stop a bad day and turn it into a good one, or at the very least, slow it down. Let’s explore how to turn around a bad day. Whether it’s the proverbial “wake up on the wrong…
Most of us feel like we “fail” at meditation as soon as we get distracted. But the truth is, that’s what meditation is about: getting distracted and then coming back to the present moment. Without distraction, the exercise wouldn’t work. In this article, I’ll discuss why “failing” at meditation is necessary along the path to…
Wondering how to experience mindfulness? Examples of mindfulness in everyday life are everywhere. Mindfulness isn’t just about meditation. From mindful eating to cuddling with your dog to mindful walking, mindfulness is more about how you show up in the present moment than any specific activity. Most of us want to be more mindful, but common…
The best spiritual subscription boxes include Goddess Provisions, Mindful Souls, and Tamed Wild. Typically, these boxes include items like crystals, aromatherapy products, books, natural beauty products and spiritual tools. Read on for a comparison of each (including pricing) so you can choose which box is best for you. Spiritual subscription boxes can make the perfect…
The best mindfulness subscription boxes include TheraBox, Mindful Souls, and Goddess Provisions. Typical items include scented candles, meditation aids, and gratitude journals to support you on your mindfulness journey. Read on for a comparison of each box so you can choose the perfect one for you. Making sense of the options can be overwhelming –…
