The strength of imagination

The strength of imagination

While imagination is not included on most psychological strengths lists, I find it to be a fun and effective tool for working with thoughts and emotions. The good news is that we can cast into the future to set goals, connect more compassionately with people around...
self-compassion journaling prompts

self-compassion journaling prompts

Psychologist Kristin Neff says there are three elements to self-compassion: self-kindness vs. self-judgmentcommon humanity vs. isolationmindfulness vs. overidentification Here are some journaling prompts designed to help you explore and practice those elements. Bring...
practicing joy – the delight of the day

practicing joy – the delight of the day

To help each kind promise settle into my bones, I want to make a practice of it. What can I do on a daily basis to keep the promise alive in my life? This month’s promise is “I will live with joy for no apparent reason.” This calls me to find joy in each moment,...
Practicing mindfulness of breath

Practicing mindfulness of breath

There is no better way of bringing yourself to this moment than to focus on your breathing. If you are upset or anxious, you can say to yourself “take a breath.” If you are practicing breath awareness meditation (shamatha or “calm abiding”), your breath become your...
Practicing Mindfulness of Body

Practicing Mindfulness of Body

My meditation teacher begins meditation by encouraging us to think “mindfulness of body, mindfulness of breath, mindfulness of mind.” Mindfulness can be defined as “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly...