Mindfulness is an important and effective practice in this busy, stressful world. More than ever, people are feeling overwhelmed. Schedules are full, there is a lot of uncertainty, and it can be hard to find rest, relaxation, and peace. That’s why mindfulness has become increasingly popular in recent years.

My Shaman teacher once shared this parable about a family, their cow and a monk. I'll summarize it....

A monk came upon a family living alone in a shack. They had one cow and used it for milk and cream and sold some to the other villagers. They were proud of the cow and their ability to survive on such humble means, and they were proud to share their meager helpings with their visitor.

Failing is something many of us fear. We think if we have failed at something, it means we should give up on that goal or dream or thing we attempted to be successful at. It was not ours to have.

Most humans seek comfort and routine over change. So anything outside the cozy comfort zone we create for ourselves is viewed as a threat by our brain. Our amygdala, that ancient part of the brain that determines our response to danger, will light up and tell us we need to fight (our perceived threat) or flee from it, or even make us freeze in place (stay stuck).

March 8th was International Women's Day, and the month of March is considered Women's History Month. While I don't think it comes with brisket and a pint, it still seems like something to celebrate!

It takes practice to be confident socially. Some of us feel like we don't know enough to have conversations with others, or we feel unworthy compared to others. This increases our anxiety.

If we define confidence as the willingness to try, then we know that building our confidence comes from taking action. It's not that we don't know what we need to do, it's that we don't do it. We puts things off, our inner critic tells us how useless and lazy we are and we develop self-doubt. This becomes a decision not to try. It's the opposite of confidence.

Carol Dweck, a psychologist and researcher, found that people fall into two categories of mindset. One group believes traits like our intelligence and abilities are innate and unchangeable and we only have a set amount of them or fixed mindset. The other group believes that we can change and grow depending upon the level of effort we put into things or growth mindset. These mindsets can play a huge role in how we behave and the level of success we feel in our lives.

Winter is officially here. For many areas of the country, that means darker, shorter days, cloudy skies, and colder temperatures.

While some people love this time of year, it can be a struggle for others. It’s estimated that about 5% of adults in the U.S. deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Even more people tend to feel down and sluggish this time of year. If winter tends to make you feel like staying in bed all day, or you know that it brings down your mood and makes you feel more depressed, you’re not alone.

Stress is unavoidable. In some cases, a little stress can actually be beneficial. But, if we’re being honest, we’re living in an overly-stressful world, and it can be hard to manage it. Too much stress can quickly become overwhelming and cause you to burn out.