Mindful

What personal values have changed for you over time? THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS COMPASSION. Having compassion for myself is very challenging for me. I find it easier to be compassionate to my patients, my staff, my loved ones than I do, deep down, t

One of the things I love about mindfulness is the constant invitation to go deeper. Even a few breaths can get you started, shifting from hectic and harried to calmer and more peaceful as you gain perspective on the thoughts and emotions racing aroun

Many major museums—like the Smithsonian, the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the British Museum—are using 3D technology to replicate artifacts from prehistoric cave art in France to Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings, making art and ar

Dr. Sally Safa had her own periodontist clinic and was raising a family when burnout struck. “I woke up one morning and I could not go to work,” she says. “I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was trying to push through it. I was vomiting. I could

Music tours are hugely profitable, and fossil-fuel-intensive. Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin said the band wants to “turn it around so it’s not so much taking as giving”—announcing they won’t tour again until they can make the process neutral, or e

Greyston Bakery makes more than great-tasting brownies. Greyston, New York’s first registered Benefit Corporation, is making an impact on the community, society, and the environment. At the very heart of Greyston’s operations are the tenets of nonjud

Depression is a classic example of what’s referred to today as an invisible illness. When you’re depressed, you may find yourself expending precious energy just so you can appear to the world as if nothing at all is troubling you. This “it’s-work-to-

I remember vividly the days when I first learned to drive. The sheer terror. I carried the responsibility of a two-ton death machine with me every moment I was in the car. All the dials, levers, and pedals I needed to focus on to make the thing go, t

Life offers many uncertainties that can threaten our safety and well-being. Controlling the mayhem makes a certain amount of sense, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everybody just did what you said? Sadly, not everyone responds pos

With apologies to Dickens, let’s call these Two Tales of One City, unfolding within the span of a single week last September. In one, dozens of onlookers do nothing (except film the horror with their cellphones) while at least seven assailants stab a

Using your steady attention and awareness, you can investigate and deconstruct mental habits and patterns. Contemplating impermanence & change Guided inquiry (e.g., in MBSR, MBCT) Habit-change Contemplating the elusive nature of your identity Examini

In my experience most people who start practicing meditation find it, at first, to be an unusual or unnatural experience. Asked to sit still and pay attention to our breath repeatedly, most of us will formulate some version of the thought, “Why would

Spring is an ideal time to nourish your mindfulness practice. With the change in seasons, boost of fresh air, and longer hours of daylight as inspiration, you can consciously invite in greater simplicity, love, and compassion, and clear those habits

Like any good spring cleaning, let’s get right down to the basics of mindfulness and meditation. One of the most foundational aspects of mindfulness is the ability to calm and focus the mind using your breath. By bringing your attention back to the b

To connect more deeply with others, we must face the one person that we keep on the shortest leash: ourselves. We often reject other people’s care or attention when we believe we don’t deserve it—but there’s nothing special you must do to deserve lov

Talking about race isn’t easy for anyone—and teaching about race can be a minefield. One of my own most difficult moments teaching about race happened when I encountered intentionally provocative behavior from one of my students, Dan, an Asian-Americ

In this excerpt from your book, you detail the steps you took to help one of your students process his attitudes and biases. What kind of energy does that work require? It requires a certain kind of commitment, a certain willingness to turn toward th

S To begin, the “S” stands simply for STOP. Literally. Just stop what you’re doing, whether it is typing or rushing out the door. Give yourself a moment to come to rest, pause, and collect yourself. T The “T” stands for TAKE a conscious breath. Now t

This Italian tradition translates directly to “the walk,” but it’s so much more than a simple excursion on foot. Italians get dressed up to “fare la passeggiata” in the evenings on weekends and holidays, when the whole town takes to the streets to se