Take It One Slow Step at a Time
Why Letting Go of What We Want Enables Us to Get What We Need
“The most exquisite paradox: as soon as you give it all up, you can have it all. As long as you want power, you can’t have it. The minute you don’t want power, you’ll have more than you ever dreamed possible.” ~Ram Dass
The first time I felt this paradox was in the middle of savasana after a challenging yoga class. I always say that yoga is a metaphor for life, and this is exactly why.
Savasana is the final resting pose in which you lay flat on your back, close your eyes, and do nothing. A super yummy savasana …
7 Steps to Create More Love and Happiness in the Present Moment
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” ~Abraham Maslow
It was 4:00am, but I was wide awake. I wanted to be a great achiever, a great partner, and a great parent. Instead, I had turned into an irritable insomniac who no longer knew how to relax.
I was trying to do everything perfectly and be everything to everyone. Demands kept piling up. This made it tough to focus on the present moment.
A wandering mind is less happy than a mind focused on what it is doing, according to scientific research. …
6 Lessons from a Cancer Survivor to Help You Get Through Anything
“Oh, my friend, it’s not what they take away from you that counts—it’s what you do with what you have left.” ~Hubert Humphrey
Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after my wedding, at twenty-seven years old. After months of grueling chemotherapy treatments, I am now recovering from surgery and can look back with tremendous appreciation at what my body has accomplished.
One question I get, after the gasps and looks of incredulity have faded, is how I got through it all.
Now, for a long time, my toughest challenges in life were those brought on by …
An Open Letter To My Bullies: Thank You For Making Me Strong
“The heart is like a garden: it can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?” ~Jack Kornfield
Dear Bullies,
To be honest, I didn’t think I would ever write you a letter. As far as I was concerned, the amount of suffering I went through during my school years was enough to make me bitter.
I didn’t forgive you, and I most certainly wasn’t about to forget.
I remember those years like it was yesterday—the cruel name calling; the scrutinizing of how I looked, what I said, and what I did; the public …
How I Think My Friend Who Died Would Want Me to Live
“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” ~Norman Cousins
Have you ever been there?
When someone you love suddenly disappears. When life, within a few seconds, turns upside down. When your biggest problems suddenly seem like nothing but drops in the ocean.
I know I have.
It was December 15, 2013. That was the day when everything changed, when her life came to an end, and many other lives were changed forever.
When they first told me she was gone, I couldn’t fully grasp reality. For a …
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own (Giveaway!)
UPDATE – The winners for this giveaway are:
- CA Los
- Joy Nicholson
When I think of minimalism, I think of two things: freedom and Joshua Becker’s blog, Becoming Minimalist.
I think of freedom because downsizing has enabled me to afford more experiences with people I love, travel more often, and do it all without the burden of storing and maintaining possessions I don’t really need.
I think of Joshua Becker’s blog because I’ve turned to it many times over the years for insights and tips to help me simplify and declutter.
For this reason, I was thrilled when Joshua reached …
You’ll Never Be “Ready,” So Stop Waiting
“It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready.” ~Hugh Laurie
Throughout our childhood and early adult years, we’re conditioned to think we need to be “ready” to take the next big step in life.
Our teachers won’t let us get too far ahead of where they think we should be in terms of knowledge.
Our parents try to protect us from ideas and truths they think we’re not ready to learn about.
We, ourselves, hold back when faced with major decisions that we don’t believe we’re ready to make.
We’re constantly told we’ll understand certain …
Happiness Hacks: 10 Ways to Infuse Your Life with Joy
“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Life seems complicated these days.
We’re all busy pursuing happiness, yet how many of us ever reach that goal?
Success, money, and busyness are top of our priority list, yet deep in our hearts we’d prefer time, love, and security.
It’s the age of making a living, but perhaps at the cost of making a life.
What really makes us happy, and how do we find it?
I spent many years trying to fit in, to be someone else, to pursue the dream of success, in …
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