Anxiety is a significant public health concern, affecting about 31% of adults and adolescents, which is nearly one in three people (NIMH, 2022). Research shows that mindfulness practice is effective in reducing anxiety (Hofmann & Gomez, 2017). In this video that I developed for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, I discuss what mindfulness is,Continue reading “How Can Mindfulness Help with Anxiety?”
Tag Archives: mindfulness
Mindfulness & Self-care
Self-care is an important part of wellness. Many of us take care of others (humans, animals, plants), but do we take the time to take care of ourselves? And what does that self-care look like? When we take care of someone, we are ultimately giving them our attention. In fact, one might even argue thatContinue reading “Mindfulness & Self-care”
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 Live an Authentic Life?
We all desire to live a life that is open, one in which each moment is imbued with freshness and aliveness. Zen Master Wumen said, “The great way has no gate.” Great way means a life that is completely wide open. And similarly, Zen Master Sengcan said, “The great way is not difficult, just don’tContinue reading “How Do I Live an Authentic Life?”
How is Mindfulness Different from Guided Imagery?
Clinical social worker Belleruth Naparstek is a psychotherapist and guided imagery pioneer. According to Belleruth, guided imagery is “a deliberate, directed daydream designed to create healing, change, learning, or growth.” It involves using our imagination to engage in a multisensory experience that brings relaxation, peace, or positive change. Guided imagery is a powerful and effectiveContinue reading “How is Mindfulness Different from Guided Imagery?”
What is Beginner’s Mind?
Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few” (Suzuki, 1970). Beginner’s Mind (Chinese: Chuxin, 初心, Japanese: Shoshin) is a mind that is completely open, without judgment, without expectations. A beginner does not have the baggage of prior experience. Why is prior experience aContinue reading “What is Beginner’s Mind?”
What Can Mindfulness Add to My Life?
In our busy lives, we have to prioritize our time so that we don’t spread ourselves too thin over the many tasks and responsibilities that seem to keep piling up. So it’s understandable to ask, when we consider devoting time to an activity, what this pursuit will add to our life. Given the commitment ofContinue reading “What Can Mindfulness Add to My Life?”
Is Mindfulness a Hype?
Mindfulness is ubiquitous these days. It is purported to be helpful with mind, body, and soul, and everything in between. But is mindfulness everything it’s hyped up to be? Well, mindfulness is a technique that originated from Buddhist meditation practice, which has been around for over 2,500 years. So if it is a hype, thenContinue reading “Is Mindfulness a Hype?”
Can Mindfulness Help with Loneliness?
All of us have felt lonely at times. For some of us, loneliness can linger and cast a long shadow over our day to day lives. A recent study showed that 13.8% of adults always felt lonely (McGinty et al., 2020). But we probably don’t need researchers to tell us that loneliness is part ofContinue reading “Can Mindfulness Help with Loneliness?”
How Do I Stay in the Moment?
As we devote more time to meditation practice, we begin to taste what it’s like to be in the present moment. We gain a deeper appreciation for being in the moment, but we also notice how often we get pulled away from the moment by our thoughts and fantasies. At this point, we ask, “howContinue reading “How Do I Stay in the Moment?”
Mindfulness FAQ 