Research shows that mindfulness practice is linked to increased gratitude and life satisfaction (Cheung & Lau, 2021; Ivtzan et al., 2016; Strohmaier & Cane, 2021). But how does it work? How do we cultivate gratitude as we are sitting here breathing in and breathing out? When we practice mindfulness, when we practice nonjudgmental awareness ofContinue reading “How Can I Have More Gratitude?”
Tag Archives: mental health
What is the Place of No Thought?
Zen Master Dahui talked about the place “where the road of words and speech ends” (言語道斷) and “where the domain of mental activity disappears” (心行處滅). Meditation is connecting with that place through immediate experience – What’s right in front you, right now? Mindfulness is letting go of thinking and judgment, and returning to the mindContinue reading “What is the Place of No Thought?”
How Do I Quiet the Monkey Mind?
“Monkey mind” is a Buddhist term likening our mind to the restless and unsettled nature of a monkey. Our mind is always jumping around, grabbing at different things, and never staying still. How do we slow down this monkey mind? The good news is, we don’t have to slow it down. All we have toContinue reading “How Do I Quiet the Monkey Mind?”
Is Meditation a Form of Escape?
Meditation is often portrayed as a state of peace and calm. With some practice, we do tend to get a taste of being grounded and relaxed. But, however reassuring that feels, we also quickly learn that this feeling does not last forever. Some of us might start to view meditation as a way to recreateContinue reading “Is Meditation a Form of Escape?”
How Do I Work with Guilt?
Guilt is a feeling that we have done something wrong. It could be that we did something we believe we shouldn’t have, such as lying to our partner, or lashing out at someone. Conversely, it could be that we feel bad for not doing something that we believe we should have, such as not beingContinue reading “How Do I Work with Guilt?”
What Does it Mean to Observe?
When we practice mindfulness, we are simply observing our experience. We are being impartial observers. What does it mean to be an impartial observer? One mindfulness practitioner described it as “observing without getting involved.” So it’s like that. In mindfulness practice, we simply observe everything in our experience without getting involved, without getting wrapped upContinue reading “What Does it Mean to Observe?”
Mindfulness FAQ 