Tiny Buddha

Tag: sponsored

  • Practical Pathways to Inner Peace: A Free Video Series for Inner Calm

    Practical Pathways to Inner Peace: A Free Video Series for Inner Calm

    As a mom who works from home while caring for two young kids, I know all too well how easy is to get overwhelmed and stressed out. I also know the deep sense of regret and sometimes shame that bubble up when I lash out from a place of agitation (usually at my boyfriend, who’s equally frazzled).

    I sometimes beat myself up when this happens because this isn’t the kind of person I want to be. But this only makes things worse because now I feel bad about my actions, my impact, and myself. So instead, I try to catch myself and focus on doing the next right thing—which requires me to act from a place of presence and calm. Not always easy when you’re sleep-deprived and flooded with emotion.

    That’s why I appreciate simple mindfulness practices that I can implement anytime, anywhere, to help me relax and get out of my head. And that’s what drew me to the work of Meg Coyle, this month’s site sponsor.

    Meg Coyle’s simple awareness tools will help you restore inner peace and reclaim the wisdom within you.

    For more than thirty years, Meg has been a teacher and mentor to women searching for practical ways to deal with chronic stress and overwhelm—without a complicated, time-consuming process.

    In this FREE video series Meg will show you that emotional calm and mental clarity really aren’t as elusive as they seem. All you need is a reliable way to access them.

    Meg will explain how to restore inner peace and maintain it, no matter what’s going on in your life or in the world. In just three short videos (less than fifteen minutes total) you’ll discover…

    • One simple practice that will help you transform every situation into an opportunity for peace.
    • What it really takes to stay in the present moment (and connected to your inner wisdom).
    • How to consistently respond instead of reacting to your stressors for an improved quality of life.

    PLUS, you’ll get instant access to the 1Body Members Resource Library filled with practical resources, including downloadable guides, worksheets, e-books, transcripts of Meg’s podcasts, and more. As an added bonus, you’ll receive Meg’s tips, tools, and guidance directly in your inbox from time to time.

    No matter what’s happening around you, you can find a sense of peace and calm—and bring that into your interactions with the people you care about most.

    Sign up for Practical Pathways to Inner Peace, and let Meg show you the way.

    **While Meg speaks to women in her videos and writing, her tips and tools could work for anyone!

  • Free Webinar: Starting a New Business (for the Spiritually Minded)

    Free Webinar: Starting a New Business (for the Spiritually Minded)

    Click here to register for a free webinar around launching and growing your business.

    Hi friends!

    Over the years I’ve received countless emails from people asking for advice to help them start a heart-led business, as I’ve done with Tiny Buddha. Many of you have expressed frustration with your jobs—the constant grind, the low pay; for some, a toxic work culture—and a desire to do something more fulfilling with your time.

    I get it. I’m someone who needs to feel a sense of purpose with my work, and I never felt I was made for a 9-5; I’ve always wanted more control over my time.

    I think most of us want to enjoy the freedom and unlimited earning potential that come from being our own boss, while making a meaningful contribution that makes a positive difference in the world.

    But it can be a little daunting to go out on your own. You might have no idea what steps to take, or where to start, and that makes the entrepreneurial road seem mystifying and daunting. But it doesn’t have to be.

    Tiny Buddha sponsor Michael Gallagher, the founder and creator of the Master Peace Box, is leading a free webinar designed to walk you through the steps to start and scale your first profitable business. He created a course, Confidently Launch, after feeling the frustration of spending too many years learning the startup ropes, and now he’s giving away some of that information for free.

    His webinar will take place on Sunday, May 15th, at 11 a.m. PDT. There’s limited space available, so register here for free to reserve your spot. Don’t worry if you can’t make the live event; all registrants will have recording access.

    This webinar is perfect for:

    • Healers or practitioners wanting to find new ways to monetize their skills
    • People with an idea for a product or service who just don’t know where to start
    • Anyone intrigued by the idea of starting something (even if they have no idea what!)
    • Early-stage entrepreneurs or “side-hustlers” who’ve taken that first step and just need a little guidance on how to grow their projects

    Michael’s course walks you through everything from how to find and test an idea (using specific tech tools and tried techniques) to formalizing a business, and it explores how to drive growth using sixteen-plus different customer acquisition strategies.

    The free webinar will be a crash course of sorts, providing you with actionable items and insights to demystify the entrepreneur experience.

    “I questioned myself every step of the way, which only detracted from my available energy source for the project,” says Michael. “If I had known some of this stuff sooner, I could’ve avoided years of ‘figuring it out’ and actually worked on growth.” Michael felt he had to make this information available.

    Launching a business can be a profoundly spiritual experience. If we focus our efforts on something that’s deeply meaningful and authentic to us personally, it becomes a small expression of our soul. It allows us to dream of something of value to the world, grow through the process of bringing it to life, and watch our creation positively impact other people. And that process is a little easier (and more fun) when we have a roadmap to help guide us along the way.

    If you are feeling called to express yourself in this way, sign up for the free webinar here. I wish you all the success in the world with your new business—whatever that means for you!

  • You’re Invited: FREE Wisdom of Pema Chödrön Online Summit

    You’re Invited: FREE Wisdom of Pema Chödrön Online Summit

    Hi friends. I know that many within the community are grappling with uncertainty right now—as really, we always are—and I also know how terrifying it can feel to embrace not knowing. Whether you’re dealing with health issues, unemployment, or relationship struggles, the question of what’s going to happen can keep you up at night. And then there’s the uncertainty in the world at large.

    When we’re overwhelmed by groundlessness and fear, it can feel like we’re free-falling with nothing to hold onto. In those moments of panic, we search for something, anything, to help us calm the voice within and cope with the suffering that surrounds us. If there’s one person who we can count on for support in turbulent times, it’s Pema Chödrön.

    Pema Chödrön has been a guiding light for millions of people around the world. She has shown us how to appreciate life, embrace uncertainty, and find courage and compassion when things fall apart.

    As someone who’s benefitted immensely from Pema’s teachings, I’m excited to share a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear from 11 Buddhist teachers and heart friends inspired by Pema Chödrön. In this life-changing event you’ll explore powerful teachings to transform difficulty and live fearlessly with an open and compassionate heart.

    The Wisdom of Pema Chödrön: A Summit of Timeless Teachings to Awaken the Heart is a FREE online event taking place from April 7-11.

    Sign up here to save your spot.

    When you sign up, you’ll receive a free gift: 5 Teachings of Pema Chödrön (instant PDF download)

    Hosted by Krista Tippett, award-winning creator and host of On Being, this free, 5-day summit will include presentations from Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, Gaylon Ferguson, Judy Lief, Fr. Greg Boyle, Tami Simon, Margaret Wheatley, Anam Thubten, Karma Lekshe Tsomo, and Arawana Hayashi.

    In addition to the inspiring talks, spiritual teachings, and practice instruction from summit presenters, each day of the summit also includes Tonglen and lojong workshops with Judy Lief and exclusive archival teachings from Pema Chödrön, courtesy of Shambhala Publications.

    This free online summit is for you if you’ve found yourself asking:

    • How can I shake feelings of restlessness and learn to be okay with uncertainty?
    • How can I embrace life’s ups and downs and use challenges to awaken my heart?
    • How can I learn to practice loving-kindness when I feel hurt or betrayed?
    • How can I move more gracefully through undeniable change?
    • How can I bring more joy into my life, and into the lives of others?

    As Pema says, “From great suffering can come hatred, resentment, and despair… or from great suffering can come great openness of heart and a great sense of kinship with others.”

    I hope you enjoy the summit and learn new ways to cultivate openness, kinship, joy, and resilience, inspired by one of the greatest Buddhist teachers of our time, Pema Chödrön.

    Join the FREE Wisdom of Pema Chödrön Summit

    If you have any issues signing up or need additional support, please contact Lion’s Roar at learn@lionsroar.com.

  • Become a Certified Meditation Coach with Sura Flow (12-Week Online Program)

    Become a Certified Meditation Coach with Sura Flow (12-Week Online Program)

    Over the last thirteen years of running this site, I’ve read comments and emails from thousands of people with varied wants and struggles, but it seems to me it all boils down to the following two things:

    We all want to feel good and avoid feeling bad, and we all need to connect with other people on a meaningful level and feel that we make a difference.

    I can think of no better way to accomplish these goals than to meditate regularly and share the gift of meditation with others.

    Whether you practice cross-legged or through a movement practice, like yoga, odds are you’ve gotten at least a small taste of the blissful calm meditation can provide.

    There’s no better (or easier) way to create space in your busy mind and connect with yourself and the present moment.

    And there’s no better way to make a difference in someone’s life than to help them find peace, healing, and clarity.

    If you’ve ever considered becoming a meditation coach, I highly recommend you check out the LIBERATE 12-Week Meditation Coach Training Course from Sura Flow.

    Sura first discovered meditation while working a high-stress job on Wall St. Her practice was so profoundly healing for her that she eventually left New York to study in the countryside in Asia.

    She’s since taught thousands of students her signature approach to meditation: a three-step, heart-centered approach that cultivates energy flow, creativity, and inner guidance for self-actualization.

    She hosts the LIBERATE Meditation Coach Training Course twice annually, and the next starts next month, on March 15th.

    About the LIBERATE Meditation Coach Training Course

    Meditation coaching blends stress-relieving meditation practices with effective coaching techniques to help people cultivate emotional resilience, navigate periods of uncertainty and transition, and foster insight, clarity, and calm.

    This powerful combination allows practitioners to experience deep relaxation in their body and tap into their own inner wisdom to help them achieve their goals.

    Through this 12-week program you’ll learn to guide calming meditations for others, teach from your own personal experience, be “in the flow” and guide others intuitively, and help others develop a daily practice.

    You’ll learn different types of meditation, ways to practice, how to meditate consistently, and how to maintain your energy while seeing client after client.

    You’ll then have all the tools you need to become a professional meditation coach, which might mean offering meditation pro bono or earning over $200/hour.

    Who is This Training For?

    Meditation coaching is a useful skill for:

    • Professionals looking to expand their leadership skills
    • Health practitioners, teachers, and healers
    • Leaders in business and public service
    • High performers and teams
    • Educators and administrators
    • People who have high-stress jobs and lifestyles

    The Schedule and Curriculum

    You’ll need at least 8-10 hours per week to complete this program.

    This includes:

    • A live weekly training webinar on Tuesdays, from 6:00-8:00pm EST
    • A live Q&A with group coaching and practice sessions, on Thursdays, from 6:00-8:00pm EST
    • Weekly exercises/coaching assignments to integrate your learning experiences

    During the 12-week intensive, you’ll receive personal mentorship from a senior coach, with one monthly coaching session to review your homework and help keep you accountable, and you’ll have access to the LIBERATE community site for coaches and trainees for further support and encouragement.

    You’ll also receive six bonus sessions, including 60-90-minute training videos to help you develop your meditation skills, and a coaching business toolkit to help you take your training into the real world.

    —

    Whether you want to teach at a studio, create your own courses, or expand your business with meditation, the Sura Flow Meditation Coach Training Course will give you all the tools and skills you need to make an income and make an impact.

    You can learn more about LIBERATE by signing up for the price investment kit here.

  • Better Help: Affordable Online Therapy, Anywhere in the World

    Better Help: Affordable Online Therapy, Anywhere in the World

    **This is a sponsored post to introduce you to BetterHelp, a company I highly recommend!

    I hear it all the time—”I’m feeling more depressed than ever, and nothing seems to help.”

    I see it in blog comments. I read it in forum posts and social media replies. I also get stories like this in my inbox from people who are struggling to find a sense of peace and control in the constant chaos of their lives.

    And I empathize with all of them. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and stuck, physically and emotionally, and helpless to change what isn’t working.

    Many will tell you the answer to overcoming depression is medication, and I don’t deny that it can often be a crucial piece of the puzzle.

    But I don’t believe it’s the only piece. It wasn’t for me. It took me a while to recognize it, but my depression stemmed from unhealed traumas that had left deep scars and created faulty programming. And I couldn’t heal until I addressed them.

    If you’re struggling with depression now, maybe a traumatic past played a role for you as well. Maybe it’s circumstantial—you’re grieving the loss of someone you love or struggling financially. Perhaps it’s related to a health condition. Or maybe you’re predisposed to mental health issues because they run in your family.

    Whatever your unique situation, I suspect that, like me, you’d benefit from digging deep to understand not only what caused your depression, but also which choices exacerbate it—and what you can do to help alleviate it.

    That’s where therapy comes in. I credit therapy with saving my life, since it enabled me to not only peel back the layers of trauma but also develop healthy coping skills so I could free myself from bulimia and self-harm.

    But I know not everyone is as fortunate as I once was. Therapy isn’t always covered by insurance, and it can be hard to find a specialist in your area that addresses your specific needs and issues.

    This is why I’m happy to have aligned with one of Tiny Buddha’s newest sponsors, BetterHelp. I know their online therapists are saving lives by offering counseling—accessible from anywhere in the world—at an affordable price.

    If you’ve wanted to try therapy but have a hard time motivating yourself to get out the door, or the cost has been a barrier, BetterHelp may be the perfect vehicle to provide the help you need.

    More About BetterHelp

    After you take a quick, free online assessment, BetterHelp can match you with a licensed professional therapist in under forty-eight hours.

    The service is available worldwide, and all sessions are done securely online. And not only is it more affordable than traditional therapy, but you might also be able to get financial aid if you need it.

    You can choose to schedule weekly video or phone sessions, whichever feels more comfortable for you, and you can log into your account to message your therapist at any time.

    I can tell you from personal experience that it sometimes takes a couple tries to find the right therapist. Someone might look perfect on paper but might not feel like a great fit once you connect.

    The beauty of online therapy is that you don’t need to trek to different offices in different cities to find someone who can address your specific issues. With BetterHelp, you can easily switch therapists at any time, without leaving your couch, if you feel your therapist isn’t a great match for your needs.

    —

    I consistently recommend therapy to those who comment and email me because I realize self-help can only go so far. You can read all the blog posts in the world but still feel clueless as to what you, specifically, need, or how to get out of your own way and apply all the good advice you’ve read.

    That’s because we’re all different—what works for one person might not work for someone else. And just knowing what might help doesn’t give you the strength, motivation, and faith to get up and give it a go.

    Sometimes you need outside assistance to make a plan, break your patterns, and take back control of your life. A BetterHelp therapist can help you do just that.

    Click here to learn more and take a free assessment, and as a Tiny Buddha reader you’ll get 20% off your first month.

    I wish you peace, joy, and healing, friends!

  • BetterHelp: The World’s Largest Online Therapy Platform

    BetterHelp: The World’s Largest Online Therapy Platform

    **Though this is a sponsored post, you can trust I only recommend products and services I personally love!

    If you’re like most people, you’re probably starting to consider the goals and dreams you’d like to pursue in the New Year.

    Maybe you’re visualizing the person you want to be, reflecting on what you hope to accomplish, and strategizing about everything you need to do (and stop doing) to finally feel happy with your life.

    Most of us spend our lives chasing happiness, checking accomplishments and milestones off a life to-do list, as if each pen stroke brings us one step closer to bliss. Except that’s not how it works.

    And that’s why most of us never find that elusive happiness we’re all seeking: We focus on all the things we think we need to acquire or achieve instead of looking within and figuring out what’s really holding us back. The unresolved traumas, the core wounds, the limiting beliefs—all the mental and emotional hurdles that keep us down and stuck.

    It’s easier to focus on externals, but addressing the internal doesn’t have to be so hard if we get the right help and support.

    For me, it all started with therapy. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here today if not for the healing and insight I gained through years of inner work on a therapist’s couch. I’d probably still be bulimic, depressed, and driven by self-loathing, if I was even here at all.

    Fortunately, a lot has changed since then, and you don’t even need to leave your house to overcome your demons, break through your patterns, and free yourself from bad habits.

    If you’d like to make 2022 the year you finally get out of your own way, I highly recommend BetterHelp, the world’s largest online therapy platform.

    What Is BetterHelp?

    BetterHelp can assess your needs and match you with your own licensed professional therapist in under forty-eight hours. This isn’t a crisis line. It’s not self-help. It’s professional therapy, done securely online.

    The service is available worldwide, which means you may be able to find a therapist who deals with issues local professionals aren’t trained to address,

    It’s more affordable than traditional therapy, and financial aid is available for those who need it.

    How Does BetterHelp Work?

    After you’re matched with a therapist, you’ll be able to schedule weekly video or phone sessions, and you can also log into your account any time to send a message to your therapist.

    You can count on timely and thoughtful feedback whenever you reach out. But if ever you feel your therapist isn’t a good match, no worries—BetterHelp makes it easy and free to change therapists.

    Why Choose BetterHelp?

    Though I haven’t personally utilized BetterHelp, I feel confident introducing this service to you because I know how many people it’s helped. You can visit their site and you’ll find new testimonials added daily. Some recent ones include:

    I have been talking to Kamara to help me with my anxiety and depression over certain life events, since June of this year 2021. I find Kamara very attentive, intuitive, empathetic, and understanding. She is enabling me to think about my challenges in a way that is constructive and helpful in my healing journey. She gently encourages self-examination in a safe, caring way and allows self-expression without interruption, offering encouragement when needed. I would wholeheartedly recommend Kamara Marsh as a dedicated, knowledgeable, and effective therapist.

    —

    Melanie is extremely patient, and kind. She listens and empathizes with your concerns and gets you to confront your fears and worries whilst supporting you. She gives you the tools and the cues to work through your anxieties, and works with you to develop a deeper understanding into yourself. I have only had a few sessions with Melanie, but I am going to continue with her as I have faith in her practice.

    —

    Many people think therapists offer advice and solutions to help them achieve their goals and overcome their problems. They imagine the right therapist will have all the answers to fix what isn’t working in their life. But that’s not what therapy is.

    A qualified therapist helps you dig deeper and see clearer so you can better understand yourself and find your own answers. When you find your own answers, little can stop you, because you will have discovered not what’s right, but what’s right for you personally. And you’ll gain the skills needed to do it again and again, as you navigate life’s inevitable setbacks and challenges.

    If you’re ready to take charge of your mental health and make meaningful change in your life, visit BetterHelp to get matched with a professional therapist—and as a Tiny Buddha reader, you’ll get 20% off your first month.

    I hope you get the help you need to start creating your own roadmap to happiness!

  • Book Giveaway, HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time

    Book Giveaway, HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time

    The other day, while scrolling through my Facebook feed, I came across the kind of uplifting story that makes my exhausted-mom-bleeding-heart melt.

    It was from a mother who’d decided to fly alone with her two-year-old and five-year-old, only to find herself overwhelmed by two screaming, overtired children.

    I can imagine the stress and anxiety she felt, given that I often feel that way just sitting in my living room with my poor-sleeping baby and high-energy toddler—which is why I almost shed a tear when I read about the other moms who stepped up to offer help.

    One fellow mama let the solo mom cut her in the security line, another helped carry all her bags, and a third woman held one of her children for a long stretch on the flight and carried him all the way to baggage claim, where she left with a hug and a “Merry Christmas!”

    Right when she needed it, this mother found herself the proverbial village it takes to raise a child—through the air and back again. (See what I did there?!)

    Whether it was the spirit of the holiday season or just basic human decency, these women made a tremendous difference through their selfless acts of kindness.

    I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough stories like these—tiny reminders that the world is full of good people who care and want to help.

    It’s easy to feel discouraged sometimes, whether you’re covered in spit-up at 3am or collapsed under the weight of all your responsibilities after one too many days burning the candle at both ends.

    In moments like these, when we’re feeling drained and depleted, we need to remember that there are kind, loving people all around us who are willing and eager to lend a hand, if only we speak up.

    For me, and for many, that person is Brad Aronson. Not only did he amass a beautiful collection of kindness stories in his bestselling book HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time, he walked his talk just recently by offering me his time and support after I reached out for advice.

    True to form, he’s also offered ten free copies of HumanKind to Tiny Buddha readers, and I couldn’t be more excited to get his inspiring book into even more hands.

    There’s a reason Forbes referred to it as “the most uplifting and life-affirming book in years.”

    HumanKind shines a spotlight on the best of humanity and includes countless practical suggestions and ideas to help us bring out the best in ourselves.

    What strikes me most about HumanKind—aside from the fact that all author royalties go to Big Brothers Big Sisters—is that the people profiled are just like you and me. They’re everyday people with struggles of their own who one day decided they wanted to do something good—then did.

    Whether you’re looking for confirmation that the world is a caring place or inspiration to make a difference in your own sphere of influence, HumanKind has you covered.

    It will feed your spirit, fuel your motivation to give back, and fill your heart with hope.

    To enter to win a free, signed copy of HumanKind,  comment below, sharing why you or someone you love would appreciate this book. Then email the link to your comment to kind@bradaronson.com so Brad has your email address to contact you if you win.

    You can enter until midnight PST on Sunday, December 12th. Brad will contact the winners directly the following week.

    Happy Thursday, friends!

  • HumanKind: A Feel-Good Book That Can Lift Your Spirits & Change the World

    HumanKind: A Feel-Good Book That Can Lift Your Spirits & Change the World

    We’re approaching that time again, “the most wonderful time of the year,” they say.

    Some love the holidays because they appreciate the comfort of tradition—the regalia, the reunions, the rituals.

    Others delight in the nostalgia of holidays past, when all was calm and all was bright, even if just for a day.

    As for me, I love the spirit of giving and the way the season often brings out the best in people.

    It’s the seat given to someone with an armful of bags, the donation offered to someone with a head full of worries, or forgiveness extended to someone with a heart full of regrets.

    Yes, for me it’s kindness that makes the holidays magical because it reminds me that people are good—that’s their warmth and compassion and tenderness in the world.

    The truth is, it’s always there. People love and give and care every day, we just have to pay attention. And when we do, we generally feel better about life, and inspired to do better for the people around us.

    This is why I love Brad Aronson’s book HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time, which ranks high on my gift list this holiday season.

    Given the barrage of demoralizing news updates lobbied at us daily, it would be easy to grow cynical and fall into despair. But our inflammatory, polarizing media only highlights part of the picture. HumanKind Is the antidote to news-induced despondency—a beacon of hope that will brighten your outlook and restore your faith in humanity.

    With heartwarming stories and practical tips, HumanKind will have you smiling, crying, and opening your eyes to the countless ways you can make a difference for your family and community. And all the author’s royalties go to Big Brothers Big Sisters—so just buying a copy does some good!

    Brad was inspired to write this book after supporting his wife through leukemia. The silver lining of tragedy is that we often see just how many people care, and this was true for the Aronsons. Friends, family members, and colleagues alike all showed up and helped however they could.

    Brad’s experience isn’t unique, as HumanKind reveals. The book is a treasure trove of real-life, feel-good stories that show how small acts, when committed with love, can make a massive difference. And it’s chock-full of ideas to make a positive impact and find both joy and meaning through simple acts of kindness.

    Imagine if more people gave others a chance when they were down—like Nick Bayer, who changed homeless teen Dante Wilson’s life when he hired him for his café in Philadelphia, inspiring Dante to mentor youth from difficult backgrounds.

    Visualize a world in which we all created light where once we only knew darkness—like six-year-old Gabriel Alijalian, who inspired thousands of people to commit acts of kindness on November 3rd, the anniversary of his leukemia diagnosis.

    How might it impact us all for the better if more people made it a goal to brighten someone else’s day—like event planner Heidi Berkman, who started the Bloom Project to give leftover flowers to people in hospice and their loved ones?

    These everyday heroes from HumanKind all have in one thing in common: the simple decision to do what they could to make life better for someone else.

    That’s something we all can do—starting with ourselves. Reading one story daily during your morning or nightly routine will ensure you start or end your day encouraged and full of optimism.

    Then I highly recommend you start your own chain of hope by grabbing a copy of HumanKind for a friend, who may be inspired to do the same.

    Just like we don’t have to wait for the New Year to start a new habit or create positive change, we don’t need to wait for the holidays to spread a little goodwill. At any time, we can “be the change” we wish to see and be the reason someone believes that people are good.

    And the beautiful thing is that is caring is contagious. Much like good news, it only takes one tiny spark to make kindness spread like wildfire.

    **If you’re looking for personalized holiday gifts, Brad will send you a FREE bookplate (a sticker you place inside the book) inscribed with a message for your loved one and signed by the author. Click here for more details! If you buy six or more books directly from the author here, the books are only $10 each and you can get each copy signed and inscribed for free. 

  • FREE Online Summit, Activating Hope, Starts on Thursday!

    FREE Online Summit, Activating Hope, Starts on Thursday!

    “Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity.” ~Jane Goodall

    Hi friends! As you may know, I’m always on the lookout for free events that can help us be our best selves and create a better world. With this in mind, I’m excited to invite you to a FREE online summit, starting this week—Activating Hope: Together We Can, Together We Will.

    Considering the division and chaos in the world today, it’s not easy to hold onto a sense of optimism, and it may seem pointless to do so. Hope alone won’t solve the problems we face as a collective—the impacts of climate change, the uncertainty of the pandemic, the challenge of racial injustice.

    But hope isn’t naivete or magical thinking. Hope can be a powerful force for positive change, igniting our inner strength and propelling us into action. That’s what inspired Jane Goodall—a beacon of hope and kindness in the world for decades—to lead this transformative event.

    This FREE four-day online summit starts this Thursday, November 4th. You’ll hear from a once-in-a-generation gathering of celebrated speakers and luminaries, including:

    • Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, with an opening keynote and closing remarks
    • Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck of Academy Award–winning documentary My Octopus Teacher
    • Zolani Mahola, actress, storyteller, and lead singer of internationally acclaimed South African music group Freshlyground
    • Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, the first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits
    • Edith Eger, PhD, Holocaust survivor, bestselling author, and specialist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
    • Jack Kornfield, PhD, author, Buddhist practitioner, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center founding teacher
    • Tara Brach, PhD, psychologist, author, and teacher of meditation, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening
    • Bonnie Wan, partner and head of brand strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
    • Corrina Gould, chair and spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan

    Through inspiring stories and teachings, hands-on workshops, and illuminating conversations, you’ll learn how to hold onto hope when all seems hopeless, cultivate hope in your children, and face the challenges of your everyday life with strength and optimism.

    Register here for free to reserve your spot and receive the full daily schedule. I hope you enjoy the lineup!

  • 9 New Spirituality & Wellness Books You Won’t Want to Miss

    9 New Spirituality & Wellness Books You Won’t Want to Miss

    Hi friends! I’m sure many of you are already familiar with Sounds True. They offer books and programs to help us all live more genuine, loving, meaningful lives.

    Through the years I’ve found some fantastic resources for personal growth and healing through their site, so I was happy to oblige when they asked me to introduce you all to nine new Sounds True authors in the spirituality and wellness space.

    Justin Michael Williams, Sah D’Simone, Faith Hunter, and LaRayia Gaston bring meditation, music, dancing, and yoga to a broad audience, with a shared mission to reach underserved BIPOC and LGBTIQIA+ communities.

    Ashley River Brant, Briana Saussy, and Becca Piastrelli invite us to integrate the sacred arts, earth wisdom, and ancestral medicine into everyday life.

    Light Watkins and Sarah Blondin offer unique and engaging ways to integrate mindfulness into our spiritual practice.

    Enjoy these short excerpts from nine books that will uplift and inspire!

    —

    Always remember: even small gestures can have big impacts.

    When you see someone who looks like she’s having a bad day, you can give her a smile or a kind word. When you see someone being mistreated or bullied, you can step in and redirect the conversation. When you see someone being ignored, you can acknowledge him and help him feel seen. When you see someone who could use a little help, you can offer your hand.

    These are micro-gestures: simple, easy things that anyone can do. All you need is to be mindful of the people around you and set an intention to make a positive impact when and where you can. In many cases, you’ll see the difference you’ve made immediately. You’ll be able to tell by the look on someone’s face or the words of thanks they offer in return.

    But even when that doesn’t happen, it’s important to keep in mind that the effort is worth it. It’s worth it for other people’s sake and it’s worth it for your own. You will always be able to look yourself in the mirror and say, “At least I tried.” Besides, we don’t always know in the moment the impact we’re having on people when we choose to give a f❤ck about them.

    Excerpted from LOVE WITHOUT REASON: The Lost Art of Giving a F*ck, by LaRayia Gaston. Sounds True, March 2021. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    We practice rituals in our everyday life without even knowing that we’re doing so. Shaking a hand or hugging in greeting, sitting down for dinner with loved ones, washing our hands, taking our dogs for walks, making coffee in the morning, and even saying good night to a family member each night. But the loss of the Sacred and disconnect from our hearts has turned ritual into a mindless routine.

    Making our coffee in the morning turns into a moment to worry about all our daily to dos. Weddings—a sacred rite and celebration of loving union between two beings—become stressful events. Meals become grab-and-gos from one place to the next, or are eaten while multitasking or on our phones.

    In contrast, mindful ritual offers the structure we crave in a sacred and healing way that allows inner security, stability, and peace to flow effortlessly in grace as the world turns and life changes before our eyes with each passing season.

    It’s important to remember that our bodies are not machines designed to move throughout our lives in a linear way. We are multidimensional, organic energy here to empower ourselves to cocreate with the universe and embody the love that we all are.

    With noisy and often chaotic modern lives filled with stressors that take us away from this essence of truth, rituals can remind us of the trust and sacred agreement between ourselves, the Earth, and Spirit.

    You can think of ritual as spiritual nourishment for the soul. Ritual helps us find inner harmony and perspective, it connects us back to what is true, and it brings us to a sacred space of peace within, beyond the stresses and worries of everyday reality. It enriches our lives, fosters our own inner healer and authority, and ignites an ancient fire within: a spiritual fire that has always been there, carried forward generation after generation and lifetime after lifetime as a desire to connect to something greater—something sacred.

    Excerpted from TENDING TO THE SACRED: Rituals to Connect with Earth, Spirit, and Self, by Ashley River Brant. Sounds True, June 2021. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    Children raised in recognition of their goodness grow into good adults. I have been blessed to meet them from every conceivable walk of life, of every skin color and culture. I stand strong in the knowledge that we who recognize and foster the good in ourselves and others far outnumber the unkind, the cruel, and the heartless.

    What can we do to nurture and call out that goodness in our children? There are so many ways, but among them I see a theme, a red lifeline leading out of the labyrinth: to see our children, to really see them, not as we would have them be nor expect nor desire them to be, but as they, in and of themselves, are. To see their natures, likes, dislikes, passions, and preferences and to know that between the hair-pulling and tattle-telling and driving us to drop into bed dead with exhaustion at the end of the day, they will grow and change and reveal marvel after marvel.

    This is why I love looking to the birth chart, that one-of-a-kind heavenly star map, when I seek to understand and better relate to a child. The stars and Planets and the stories they tell are each unique. They are decidedly not my story, but the story line of the child, their path, a celebration of their particular gifts and knowings.

    Stars, Moon, Sun, Planets: they are all luminous bodies, all shining light that reveals what needs to be seen, revealing a whole child with many stories and many adventures awaiting. When we see that child clearly, then possibility opens and we have done something truly good.

    Excerpted from STAR CHILD: Joyful Parenting Through Astrology, by Briana Saussy. Sounds True, July 2021. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    In order to be heart minded, we need to bring the heart and mind into harmony and partnership with one another. For this to happen, we have to train the mind not to fear and close off from the heart, and instead, serve our heart and implement its wishes.

    In order to do this, we have to undo our mind’s association of feelings of the heart with hurt and harm. In situations that would ordinarily have us retreat or retaliate, we need to remain conscious of what’s happening and choose to soften and lean into our heart’s center.

    Each time we practice this softening, we send a new message to the mind that signals that we are safe, willing, and wanting to live in this more open, more sensitive way.

    Over time, if we are resolute in our intention to step into our heart, our mind will become less rigid in its defenses against feelings and tenderness, and gradually we will become more heart centered.

    Remember, we are not trying to pit the heart and mind against one another; we are trying to marry their aptitudes.

    Perhaps it would help to spell out how I see their differences:

    The mind attaches; the heart lets go.

    The mind operates out of fear and distrust; the heart operates on faith and ease.

    The mind is frantic in its functioning; the heart is slow, deliberate, and peaceful.

    The mind thrives on and enjoys problem seeking and solving; the heart thrives on acceptance of all things and labels nothing as “wrong” or “right.”

    Excerpted from HEART MINDED: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love, by Sarah Blondin. Sounds True, June 2020. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    We’re not built for the way things are today. While technology and modern life have evolved at a breakneck pace, from a genetic perspective, humans are largely the same creatures we were thousands of years ago.

    Our bodies are still seduced by the rhythms of the land. Our hearts quietly plea for the village to support us through life’s rites of passage. Our spirits dance at the thought of circling around the hearth fires and telling our stories. Everything within us longs to know our place in the world. And yet, most of us are getting none of that. We are deprived.

    Like our ancestors, we wither without a tangible sense of intimate connection. In this time, where we supposedly have every option for connection and growth at our fingertips, we are still seeking that intangible something that is clearly missing in our lives.

    Like our ancestors, we wither without a tangible sense of intimate connection.

    We feel unrooted and disconnected from the land that is our home.

    We feel untethered from our long line of ancestors and our deep human history.

    We lack strong, healthy communities that support us and hold us accountable. And we find ourselves grasping and searching for our deepest sense of ourselves.

    When we unsubscribe from this restless and individualist approach to life that we’ve been steeped in and instead learn to infuse our days with ancestral wisdom, we gain a truer sense of who we are and, more important, a powerful sense of belonging.

    Excerpted from ROOT AND RITUAL: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the Self, by Becca Piastrelli. Sounds True, November 2021. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    Before You Feel Ready

    I can’t remember doing anything in life that I’ve felt fully prepared to do before I attempted it—
    not writing books, not teaching meditation classes, not running retreats, not asking someone out on a date, nothing.

    The confidence doesn’t usually come until much later—after trying the thing a few times, and
    maybe falling down once or twice. Then you get some experience under your belt, learn from your mistakes, and eventually start to feel more prepared.

    I know I’m not the only one who’s been afraid to start. And in case you’re feeling that way now, I’ll share my little “secret” with you: the final step for getting ready is to leap into action before you feel 100% ready. In other words, stop thinking about it and just go for it.

    The most useful lessons won’t happen until after you leap and begin fumbling your way through the initial stages. And since you have no idea which mistakes you’ll make, you may as well get on with it so you can start learning from them and building your confidence in the process . . . BEFORE YOU FEEL READY

    Excerpted from KNOWING WHERE TO LOOK: 108 Daily Doses of Inspiration, by Light Watkins. Sounds True, May 2021. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    FORGIVENESS IS MY TEACHER, LOVE IS MY GURU

    After trauma, we naturally shield ourselves from future harm, and our fight-or-flight response kicks in when we’re triggered. When the wall goes up, the emotional poison seeps deep into the subconscious, and this makes it challenging to fully love yourself.

    Forgiveness doesn’t mean you will forget. It only means you have the power to release the anger, resentment, and frustration associated with a traumatic situation.

    There’s an interesting intersection between stress, psychological health, and forgiveness. When you forgive, you naturally feel less stress when you recall a difficult situation, and overall your symptoms of depression and anxiety are greatly reduced. Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. By acknowledging what happened and letting go of shame, you open a doorway to self-compassion and kindness.

    The struggle we have with forgiveness is heavily saturated with the push-and-pull dynamics of disappointment. We hate ourselves for missteps and beat ourselves up even in moments of innocence. We are also plagued with the artificial safety of playing the victim or viewing ourselves as weak.

    Real talk: it’s extremely challenging to forgive in the middle of pain, but when you’ve transitioned past the situation, free yourself and extend the hand of empathy. To shift, we have to fully commit to forgiving the person who caused harm and forgive ourselves. Once committed to the process, you can direct your focus on cleansing the energy surrounding the trauma, take responsibility for your part in the mess, and speak honestly to your spirit.

    Excerpted from SPIRITUALLY FLY: Wisdom, Meditations, and Yoga to Elevate Your Soul, by Faith Hunter. Sounds True, August 2021. Reprinted with permission. 

    — 

    As you start to make progress and recognize your innate amazingness, the next step to uncovering more of your true essence is to let go of unintentionally running around like a thirsty animal that is never satisfied.

    Catch yourself when you start to believe your happiness is dependent on your senses constantly being fed with only pleasant experiences. “I need to hear nice things!” “I need to taste nice things!” “I need to touch nice things!” “I need to smell nice things!” “I need to see nice things!” “I need to feel nice!”

    If you are constantly craving and chasing the quick pleasure that comes from the senses you will never be satisfied. This is a classic form of suffering. When we constantly chase good feeling after good feeling, we never build a muscle for coping with the unpleasantness of life. But unpleasantness is a natural part of life—grief, pain, despair, sadness—that requires us to meet it with awareness, not by running away.

    You will experience unpleasant sensations, and that is OK, in fact it is necessary. As a spiritually sassy warrior, you become empowered by your hardships. Your genuine happiness and your amazingness shines from your awakened heart and is not dependent on external factors.

    When you catch yourself chasing sense gratification, remind yourself that genuine happiness does not come from the outside, a quick way to exercise your amazingness is by wishing that all people be free of insatiable cravings.

    Excerpted from SPIRITUALLY SASSY: 8 Radical Steps to Activate Your Innate Superpowers, by Sah D’Simone. Sounds True, September 2020. Reprinted with permission.

    —

    Many self-help gurus will tell you to get rid of your toxic thoughts by drowning them out with positive affirmations. I don’t know about you, but that sh*t never works for me. I can only repeat “I am beautiful” so many times in the mirror before I get bored.

    I believe we must turn toward our toxic thoughts instead of trying to drown them out. I know that might sound crazy, but follow me on this one. When a toxic voice comes up, you have a choice. You can let it berate you and become paralyzed in fear, or you can learn why you’ve held on to this voice in the first place. You don’t get rid of your toxic thoughts by sweeping them under the rug.

    You get rid of them by healing them at the root and then taking brave action to prove them wrong. This gives us a chance to take responsibility instead of being defined by the story our minds have invented. Your toxic thoughts are here to teach you something. They are a marker. An indicator. A flag in the ground pointing toward your growth and healing. I know it’s not easy, but you must turn toward your toxic thoughts and listen to them with fierce self-compassion. That’s the only way they will ever stop running your life from the background.

    Whenever you catch a toxic thought running wild in your mind, pause and ask this question: In what area of my life do I need additional healing, support, or growth? The answer to that question will give you a clue about where you need to invest additional time and energy to evolve beyond this toxic thought.

    Excerpted from STAY WOKE: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us, by Justin Michael Williams. Sounds True, February 2020. Reprinted with permission.

  • The You Matter Marathon: A Simple, FREE Way to Change Someone’s Life (No Running Required)

    The You Matter Marathon: A Simple, FREE Way to Change Someone’s Life (No Running Required)

    I care. I’m here. I’m sorry. You can.

    Two simple words can make a huge difference. They can soothe, heal, connect, and inspire.

    Perhaps the two most powerful words in the English language: You matter.

    Far too many people don’t believe this is true. Especially since the start of the pandemic, many have felt isolated, purposeless, and some even hopeless, wondering if they’ll ever feel connected and valuable again—if they ever even have.

    My new friend Cheryl Rice started this global kindness movement, the You Matter Marathon, for this very reason.

    It all began back in 2016 when a colleague handed her a business sized card with only those two powerful words on it—You matter.

    That gesture and those two words touched Cheryl deeply.

    Cheryl wanted to pay it forward, so she ordered her own You Matter cards and began sharing them with family and friends. From there, she began handing them out to people she appreciated in her community, like her dry cleaner and the man who sold her fruit at her local farmer’s market.

    Weeks later, she got confirmation that her simple mission had the capacity to completely transform someone’s day—and maybe even their life.

    She was standing behind a woman in the grocery store checkout line. The cashier asked the woman how she was doing. Instead of offering a painfully dishonest, knee-jerk “I’m fine,” she confessed that her husband had just lost his job, she was having issues with her son, and she didn’t know how she was going to get through the holidays. She then pulled out her food stamps.

    Cheryl’s heart ached for this woman, who she wished she could somehow help. She knew she couldn’t solve her problems or take away her pain, but she could give her one of the most powerful gifts anyone can receive from another human being—a moment of validation. And that’s exactly what she did when she approached the woman in the parking lot and handed her a You Matter card.

    The woman began to cry and said, “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

    Her response caught Cheryl off guard and cracked her heart open even further. She asked if she could give the woman a hug and then Cheryl went to her car and cried.

    So many people are starving for acknowledgment, walking through their days in a daze of pain, hoping someone will truly see them and care. Maybe you’re one of those people, or you were at one point in your life. I know I’ve been there before.

    We all want to believe that we matter and that our feelings matter, but we don’t always think to give this type of affirmation to the people we encounter. Maybe because we get wrapped up in our own problems or because we think it takes a lot of time or money to make a meaningful difference for someone else.

    But when we reach outside ourselves and make a heart-to-heart connection with someone who’s hurting, or who just yearns to be seen and valued as a human being, in that moment, we matter. We make a difference. And we inspire someone else to do the same, one life-affirming interaction at a time.

    That’s what the You Matter Marathon is about—creating positive connections within and between individuals and communities one card share at a time.

    To support their primary mission of sharing one million You Matter cards every November, they offer a free month’s supply of You Matter cards to anyone who signs up here.Since 2016, millions of cards have circulated through eighty-three countries, making a massive, stunningly positive impact. Join the movement and help heal the world, one day and one card at a time.

    To learn more, check out the one-minute You Matter Marathon highlight video and Cheryl’s ten-minute TEDx talk, You Matter—Changing the World with 2 Words.

  • FREE Dalai Lama Global Vision Summit: The Power of Compassion Starts on 10/14!

    FREE Dalai Lama Global Vision Summit: The Power of Compassion Starts on 10/14!

    “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

    Every last one of us experiences pain and suffering, and we all see it all around us. Trauma, tragedy, illness, loss—these are all unavoidable parts of being human. And even if we endure less hardship than most, we’ll still have to watch the people we love struggling, wishing we could somehow help.

    We can, and it’s far simpler than we may think. We don’t need to save people, fix their problems, or change their lives. We just need to care and be there, with open arms and ears and a loving, compassionate heart.

    The Dalai Lama, one of the world’s most beloved visionaries and examples of peace, teaches that compassion is the greatest antidote to suffering. If you’ve been fortunate to know someone who listens without judging and always tries to understand, then you likely know this is true.

    Since I believe that kind of love can heal the world, and raise new generations who need less healing, I’m thrilled to invite you a FREE, momentous online event—personally endorsed by the Dalai Lama himself—exploring the transformative power of compassion.

    Tens of thousands of people have already signed up to learn from an incredible panel of twenty presenters in this historic online event. And you can join them for free right now.

    Sign up to reserve your spot and tune in on your own schedule from Oct 14-18.

    Over the course of five packed days of talks and guided practices, you’ll learn powerful insights and practical methods to:

    • Accept and transform your emotions fearlessly
    • Build resilience and joy through the practice of compassion
    • Develop deeper, more meaningful relationships
    • Create real change in your life and in the world

    Don’t miss the chance to explore over thirty talks, meditations, and guided practices from friends and students of the Dalai Lama, including world-renowned meditation teachers, scientists, scholars, artists, best-selling authors, and activists.

    Sign up now for free access. And don’t forget to put October 14-18 in your calendar!

  • FREE Online Event for Women: Get Unstuck, Find Passion & Purpose

    FREE Online Event for Women: Get Unstuck, Find Passion & Purpose

    Do you ever feel like you’re not doing even a fraction of what you could be doing with your life? I’m guessing we’ve all felt like that since the start of the pandemic. But did you feel like that before—like you have gifts to share and passions to explore, but you just don’t know how, or where to start?

    Or maybe you want to believe you have gifts, but you question yourself. You dismiss your potential. And as a result, you hold yourself back.

    I suspect most people struggle with these feelings at one point or another.

    I felt this way before starting Tiny Buddha—when I worked a series of unfulfilling jobs and settled into a comfortable sense of invisibility in the world. Wanting to hide because I felt inferior while secretly dreaming of being seen. Doing things that didn’t matter, feeling like I didn’t matter either, wishing I could get unstuck.

    And I’ve struggled again in recent years, as I’ve tried to evolve and explore my creative potential and jutted up against block after block. It’s not easy put yourself out there, especially if you’re not even sure what you want, or what you can do.

    With this in mind, I’m always on the lookout for tools and resources that can help us get out of our own way so we can connect with our passions and turn them into purpose. That’s what draws me to Dr. Claire Zammit’s work.

    A world-renowned female empowerment mentor, Claire has helped more than 500,000 women make a positive impact by doing what they love.

    In her FREE Unlock Your Feminine Power seminar, she shares a revolutionary process for getting unstuck and creating a life of connection, creativity, contribution, wellness, and authentic success.

    Though at one point she speaks to the idea of trusting in a higher power, and she talks about our potential as our “destiny”—two ideas that don’t resonate with me personally—I found myself nodding my head through most of the seminar.

    Based on her groundbreaking doctoral research and twenty-plus years helping millions of women achieve extraordinary results, she shares a proven, three-step approach for making the most of our lives.

    In this FREE online training session, you’ll discover how to:

    -Shatter the #1 invisible barrier blocking smart, talented women from fully realizing their potential

    -Determine which key area of your life, such as relationships, health, prosperity, or purpose, is best for you to focus on right now

    -Set an intention that creates a “chain reaction” of extraordinary results in ALL areas of your life

    -Release the limiting beliefs that hold women back, that are also the root cause of self-doubt and feeling invisible, isolated, or not good enough

    -Activate your “Feminine Navigation System” so you can intuitively and confidently make powerful decisions and become resilient in response to challenges

    -Find the support, resources, and opportunities you need to thrive

    -Free yourself from the isolation and loneliness far too many women experience and step into connection with a global community of “Power Partners”

    At the end you’ll learn about a comprehensive program that can help you apply the teachings shared, but the seminar itself is both empowering and eye-opening—and it’s absolutely free to tune in.

    If you’re anything like me, you might find it hard to prioritize your own wants, needs, and interests—both because time is often hard to come by and because you’re many things to many other people. But I’ve learned that the world needs us to share our gifts. And we can only make a difference for other people if we first do something different for ourselves.

    If you’re excited about new possibilities and ready for change, sign up for the FREE Unlock Your Feminine Power seminar here.

    I hope this helps you get out of your own way and become the person you want to be!

  • How to Access Awakened Consciousness Through Meditation [Free eBook]

    How to Access Awakened Consciousness Through Meditation [Free eBook]

    If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely tried meditation, or even adopted a consistent habit, only to question if you’re doing something wrong. You show up and put in the time, but despite your best efforts, you’re not reaping the expected benefits, or at least not with the consistency you originally hoped to see.

    Perhaps you initially turned to meditation for stress-relief, some way to defuse the constant sense of pressure and overwhelm that’s prevalent in our achievement-focused society.

    Or maybe you first tried meditation to help you focus and be more present so that your days don’t go by in a blur while you’re busy rehashing the past and worrying about the future.

    Both were true for me.

    Before I found meditation, I lived my days shuffling through a number of damaging mental habits: dwelling on victim stories, beating myself up for all the ways I felt I’d failed, and pressuring myself to somehow achieve massive success in order to prove my worth.

    I was missing out on my life while focusing on all the life I’d already missed and all the life I might miss if I didn’t somehow do better.

    I hoped meditation would save me from myself, and in some ways it has. But I’ve also placed unrealistic expectations on my practice and found myself making, what I later learned, are common meditation “mistakes”—mistakes that prevent us from experiencing the greatest benefit of meditation: awakened consciousness.

    Spiritual luminary Craig Hamilton explores this thoroughly in Unlocking the Power of Meditation, a FREE eBook that I suspect you’ll find both eye-opening and life-changing.

    In a nutshell, awakened consciousness is a sense of connection to our true nature, beyond our mind and ego. It’s the place where we can easily access our intuition, wisdom, creativity, confidence, inner strength, and resilience.

    This is what I think we’re all after: not just reduced stress and greater focus in the moment, but access to an expansive, sacred part of ourselves that brings us an immense sense of freedom, flow, and connection to everyone and everything around us.

    If you’ve struggled with meditation, as well—if you’ve found it difficult to maintain a regular practice and feel you haven’t experienced all the mental, emotional, and physical benefits you’ve read about—I highly recommend you check out Unlocking the Power of Meditation.

    In this powerful resource based on groundbreaking research, Craig reveals the five surprising, yet pervasive mistakes most of us make that prevent us from accessing the true potential of meditation.

    He also shares one powerful shift we can make to ignite our meditation practice and access awakened consciousness.

    When you learn how to practice what Craig calls “direct awakening” you’ll discover how to:

    -Access the miracle of awakened consciousness every time you meditate and allow its powerful energy to infuse every aspect of your life.

    -Experience a deep inner freedom from the hypnotic spell of fear and desire, enabling you to meet life’s challenges with courage and grace, beyond reactivity or compulsion.

    -Access a source of wisdom that arises spontaneously in response to the needs of the moment, bringing forth laser-like clarity faster than the speed of thought.

    -Tap into a dynamic and seemingly limitless source of energy, enabling you to do whatever needs to be done in each moment without burning out or becoming drained.

    -Access an inner well of creativity that brings forth a seemingly endless flow of unexpected new ideas, visions, and integrative solutions from a place beyond the mind.

    -Become a conduit for an overflowing love and care that flows through you into the world from a place beyond your mind’s comprehension.

    It’s a short eBook with a massive impact, and it ends with an invitation to a free ninety-minute workshop that can help you take your meditation practice to the next level.

    If you’re ready to move beyond the most common mistakes meditators make and live a life filled with meaning, purpose, love, and inspiration, you can download the free eBook Unlocking the Power of Meditation here.

    I hope you find it as helpful and illuminating as I did!

  • Recognizing Our Human Goodness May Be the Most Radical Act We Can Take

    Recognizing Our Human Goodness May Be the Most Radical Act We Can Take

    Most of us can be way too hard on ourselves, when life is already hard enough. We spend our days taking an inventory of all the ways we’re falling short, tell ourselves we’re not good enough, and even question our basic goodness, as if there’s something wrong with us at our core. I know I’ve done this countless times before.

    When I respond harshly instead of pausing before reacting or make a mistake I keep making over and over again, it’s easy to conclude I am fundamentally bad or damaged, or else I would more consistently do better.

    Then, waddling in this space of shame and self-judgment, I instinctively shut down and disconnect from others. After all, it’s hard to let people in when you’re afraid of what they’ll see and the possibility of being rejected once they see it.

    If you can relate, I have a feeling you’ll appreciate the latest offering from Tara Brach, Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness.

    In this beautifully illustrated gift book, Tara explores how we can stop judging, avoiding, and resisting that which makes us afraid or ashamed and open to our true nature—a boundless field of awareness that is innately fearless and loving.

    This recognition of our essential human goodness may be the most radical act of healing we can take. It’s the realization that we don’t need to fix ourselves, because we’re not broken. We simply need to peel away the layers of fear and judgment and reconnect with who we are at our core.

    Drawing from more than four decades of experience as a meditation teacher and psychologist, Tara shares her most valuable practices for reconnecting with the beauty of our humanity―from timeless Buddhist wisdom to techniques adapted to the specific challenges of our modern age.

    I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the following excerpts, reflection exercises, and illustrations from Trusting the Gold, and I hope you’ll find them as helpful as I do!

    To receive a book excerpt PDF and audiobook download of Tara reading Trusting the Gold, visit TrustingtheGold.com.

    Our Basic Goodness

    The gold of our true nature can never be tarnished. No matter how it might get covered over or disguised by feelings of anger, deficiency, or fear, our awareness remains radiant and pure. In the moments of remembering and trusting this basic goodness of our Being, the grip of “something’s wrong” dissolves and we open to happiness, peace, and freedom.

    What Is Good Enough?

    I could have done that better. I should have gotten more done. I wish I had been more sensitive. For many years, “never enough” was a chronic habit of my mind, and I could run endless variations on the theme. Finally one night before going to bed, I sat down and asked myself: “Okay, what would be enough? What do I have to do to be good enough?”

    Over the next weeks I started tracking what happened after I’d completed a successful weekend of teaching, or after receiving feedback about contributing to others’ well-being, or after being particularly kind or generous with someone. The enough feeling would last for about 2.4 minutes before I’d start fixating on what else I needed to do, how I needed to prepare for the next event, how I needed to be more consistently sensitive and kind. Even the most satisfying accomplishments, upon close inspection, would seem tainted by ego, and therefore not spiritual enough. Whatever I was doing, it didn’t leave me with an enduring sense of enough.

    Since that long-ago evening when I faced the never-ending narrative of falling short, I have discovered that enoughness has absolutely zero to do with accomplishing, nothing to do with achieving, and is not at all about trying to be good enough. Rather, the realization of enough is right here in the fullness of presence, in the tenderness of an open heart, in the silence that is listening to this life. These are the moments when the glow of gold shines through.

    REFLECTION

    Pause and let yourself sink into this moment, into presence, into your heart. Gently say to yourself, “There’s nothing to do. This is enough . . . I am enough.” Feel the fullness and peace of coming home.

    The Second Arrow

    One day, it is said, the Buddha was talking to a group of his followers about our habit of being down on ourselves when something goes wrong, and how that only imprisons us in suffering. Noticing that one of the young men there looked puzzled, he invited him forward and asked, “If a person is struck by an arrow, is it painful?” Probably thinking that was a pretty obvious question, the student responded, “Well, yes it is.”

    Nodding, the Buddha went on. “And if that same person is then struck by a second arrow, would that be even more painful?” The student replied, “Yes, it would be.”

    The Buddha then explained: In life, difficulty naturally arises—things don’t go as we wish, or we have an accident, or we get sick. “We can’t always control that first painful arrow. However,” he went on, “we can add to our pain by the way we react to what’s happening.” He added that we might feel victimized or angry about life being unfair, or we might blame ourselves for our poor self-care.

    “Our reaction is the second arrow, and it intensifies our suffering,” said the Buddha. “We become identified with a suffering self.” The young man nodded, now understanding how painful the added emotional reactivity can be.

    It’s helpful to remember that the first arrow in this story is not only about that unpleasant feeling we experience when something goes wrong in our lives. The first arrow can also be the emotional pain we feel when we are afraid or angry, when we feel grief or hatred. It can be the pain of depression or lust. And when we then respond by blaming ourselves for these already painful feelings, we are shooting the second arrow. As we awaken compassion for ourselves and release shame and self-judgment, we free ourselves from this suffering and heal our hearts.

    REFLECTION

    The next time fear or anger arises, try holding it with compassion rather than shooting the second arrow of painful self-judgment and blame.

    —

    To receive a book excerpt PDF and audiobook download of Tara reading Trusting the Gold, visit TrustingtheGold.com. 

    **Though this is a sponsored post, you can trust I only share products and services I love and can easily personally recommend!

  • FREE Online MindBody Therapy Summit for Healing and Well-Being, June 2-6

    FREE Online MindBody Therapy Summit for Healing and Well-Being, June 2-6

    Hi friends! I’m excited to let you know about the MindBody Therapy Summit, a FREE online event, presented by the Embody Lab, that’s coming up next week.

    In this inspiring 5-day summit, running from June 2nd through June 6th, you’ll hear from some of the most impactful healers, teachers, and researchers at the intersection of wellness, spirituality, psychology, embodiment, and somatics.

    What Is MindBody Therapy?

    MindBody therapy helps us understand and shift what gets in the way of being free, happy, and fully alive.

    While traditional therapy focuses on verbal processing and cognitive meaning making, MindBody therapy invites us into the wisdom of our body as the intuitive place of healing and well-being.

    How Can This Event Help You?

    Blending traditional wisdom and embodiment practices with contemporary neuroscience and psychology, MindBody therapy supports healing and transformation while working with every aspect of an individual—psychological, psychical, spiritual, energetic, and social.

    Through methodologies such as Somatic Experiencing®, Hakomi, Body-Mind Centering®, Gestalt, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Integral Somatic Psychology, and many other body-oriented approaches to psychology, you’ll gain practical tools to connect with your body and your true self.

    Who Is This Summit For?

    The MindBody Therapy Summit is for you if:

    -You’re seeking knowledge about psychology, somatics, trauma therapy, plant medicine, attachment/intimacy work, internal family systems work, experiential developmental psychology, social/cultural justice and therapy, stress and resilience, and applied poly-vagal theory.

    -You feel like you’ve hit a wall in your talk therapy and you’re looking for a fresh perspective on healing.

    -You’re interested in incorporating somatic methods of healing into your daily practice.

    -You’re ready to fulfill the highest expression of yourself and bring a new dimension of joy into your life.

    -You’re looking to connect with like-minded people engaged in psychology, embodiment practices, and self-inquiry.

    If you’re ready to access a new level of healing and wholeness, click here to register for the MindBody Therapy Summit and get FREE access to all 5 days of inspiring talks. I hope you find them healing and transformative!

  • A FREE eBook for Women Who Feel Stuck, Dissatisfied, and Restless

    A FREE eBook for Women Who Feel Stuck, Dissatisfied, and Restless

    Hi friends! As you may know, I’m a big fan of Evolving Wisdom, a site that offers virtual courses and workshops, along with countless free resources and audio seminars, to help people create real, lasting change.

    With this in mind, I was excited when the team recently reached out to me to share a free resource from Evolving Wisdom cofounder Claire Zammit, PhD, whose mission is to empower women to fully express their gifts and talents.

    As someone who once felt painfully stuck—confused about what to do with my life and not good enough to try even if I knew—I understand what it’s like to feel dissatisfied, and powerless to change it.

    I know what it feels like to languish in discontent day after day, wanting a sense of passion, purpose, and connection, but not knowing where to start, or how to get out of my own way.

    And I get the soul-sucking sense of despondency that comes from feeling unseen, unheard, and unvalued.

    I also know there are millions of other women out there who feel all these same things—smart, caring, talented women with so much to give the world… if only they could get past the internal blocks that prevent them from living a life of creativity, purpose, love, and impact. (And men too, I know…)

    If you can relate and you’re ready for change, I have a feeling you’ll appreciate Claire’s FREE eBook, The Feminine Power Breakthrough.

    Over the past two decades, Claire has helped millions of women all over the globe create fulfilling, impactful careers and lives.

    In this short but powerful guide to getting unstuck, she shares both stories and exercises to help you break through your inner glass ceiling, access your intuition, and finally do something exciting and meaningful with your life.

    She also provides access to a free companion seminar to help you get the most from the eBook.

    Who Is The Feminine Power Breakthrough For?

    The Feminine Power Breakthrough is for you if you’re eager to feel:

    • Connected to your passion, purpose, and who you are when you feel most like yourself
    • Unshakable self-confidence and the power to bring your dreams to life
    • Magnetic and open to receiving love, support, and appreciation from those around you
    • Connected to your intuition with clarity about your next steps and the pathway forward
    • Fully expressed with your greatest gifts and talents unleashed and recognized and rewarded by others
    • Seen, heard, and fulfilled, with the knowledge you’re making a profound impact on the world at large
    • Secure in the knowledge that you’re living up to your potential and being the best you that you can be

    Studies show that people who have a greater purpose live longer, happier lives. But there’s another compelling reason to prioritize your dreams and create a meaningful life that you love: when you step into your power and use your gifts, you help make the world a better place for all of us.

    That’s one thing that really stuck with me from The Feminine Power Breakthrough—the idea that we can all create tremendous value for the world if we first recognize that we’re valuable. It’s only when we recognize our worth and potential that we’re able to open ourselves up to the opportunities and support that can help us make the mark we want to make.

    If you’d like to download the free eBook and see how it can help you evolve and thrive, you can access it here.

    I hope it’s helpful to you!

    **Sorry for excluding you on this one, guys. I generally aim to be inclusive with everything I write and share, but I enjoyed this eBook too much not to pass it along!

  • Free Online Festival: A Different Kind of Trauma Conference

    Free Online Festival: A Different Kind of Trauma Conference

    Hi friends!

    Last year I invited you all to join the Embodied Trauma Conference, a powerful, healing event hosted by Tiny Buddha contributor Karine Bell.

    This free, five-day online summit featured a series of talks from twenty-two thought leaders, all focusing on different aspects of healing from trauma—including developmental, sexual, racial, and intergenerational.

    This year she’s offering a FREE follow-up event that I’m sure you’ll find transformative. It’s called Tending the Roots: A 4-day Odyssey of Resilience & Reimagination, Culture & Community, and it takes place next week, between April 21st and 24th.

    This event will focus on our personal and communal healing, and you can expect educational and experiential workshops, and also music, movement, and art.

    It will be a time of learning and connecting, experimenting and experiencing, and interacting and playing together.

    Closed captioning will be available, and there will also be separate Zoom room spaces with creative activities for kids during some of the main workshop sessions (if you need something to keep them entertained while you tune in!)

    Who is Tending the Roots For?

    This festival exploring trauma healing and transformation, with our bodies as the site of liberation is for…

    Humans, big and small. Lovers and skeptics. Those longing to connect despite wounds around connection. Dreamers and activists, Aspiring activists, body-centered practitioners, therapists, parents and caregivers, educators, artists, musicians, and anyone interested in dancing with and tending to the flame of our life energy in creative, life-supportive ways.

    If you’d like to learn how trauma opens up portals of resilience and growth and connect with like-hearted people dedicated to healing in their own lives and in the world, sign up for the FREE Tending the Roots festival here.

    I hope you find this unique event both cathartic and liberating!

     

  • Free 7-Day Sleep Challenge: Meditations, Tips, and Tools for a Restful Night

    Free 7-Day Sleep Challenge: Meditations, Tips, and Tools for a Restful Night

    Does stress cause sleepless nights, or does a lack of sleep cause stress?

    Both have been true for me, especially since becoming a parent, and I’m guessing for you too.

    When life gets challenging, it’s hard to shut your brain off at night.

    You know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. You know you feel better in the day when you’re well-rested. But it’s hard to relax, physically and mentally, when you have a lot on your mind. It’s like there’s a tornado inside your head, and all the sheep-counting in the world couldn’t pull you out.

    And when you haven’t gotten adequate rest, it’s hard to function and deal with, well, anything. You feel on edge, easily irritated, and perhaps both foggy and jittery—like you can’t think clearly, and yet you can’t stop thinking… because you have a lot to do and figure out, and you can’t afford to stop just because you’re tired.

    If you’ve experienced your share of restless nights and exhausted days, and you’d like to improve your sleep routine, I highly recommend the 7-Day Sleep Challenge, from Mindfulness.com.

    This challenge was designed to help you make good sleep a lasting habit so you can become a healthier, happier you.

    Led by mindfulness teacher and international speaker Cory Muscara, the challenge provides daily emails with practical advice to quickly improve your sleep, nightly audio coaching sessions, and a corresponding meditation for each, to guide your mind and body toward better rest.

    This FREE 7-Day Sleep Challenge is for you if:

    • You can’t go to sleep at night, and you wake up tired
    • You wake up in the middle of the night and lie there for hours trying to get back to sleep
    • You feel reactive throughout the day and small things set you off
    • You don’t have the energy to do the things you enjoy
    • You frequently complain about lack of focus and poor memory
    • You are ready to make good sleep a habit

    Benefits of Better Sleep

    When we get the recommended seven-plus hours of sleep, we enjoy a wide range of benefits:

    • Increased focus and productivity
    • Strengthened immune system
    • Lower risk of heart disease and stroke
    • Decreased risk of diabetes
    • Improved memory
    • Decreased stress, anxiety, and depression
    • Balances excessive weight fluctuations
    • Decreased risk of chronic diseases

    Life is just plain better when you’re well-rested.

    You feel calmer, more energized, and better able to focus and enjoy your day, and you’re far less likely to say and do things you’ll  later regret. Which means good sleep not only boosts your physical and mental health, it can also improve your relationships.

    And odds are you’ll also feel better about yourself when you’re showing up as the person you want to be—not an easily irritated zombie who can’t wait to collapse into bed (only to toss, turn, and stress about how few hours you have left to sleep before another draining day).

    Ready to sleep your way to a healthier, happier you? Click here to take the FREE 7-Day Sleep Challenge and get the tools you need to wind down and fall asleep more easily and get the restorative rest you need to be your best!

  • Creative Meditation? This Art Subscription Box Incorporates Mindfulness

    Creative Meditation? This Art Subscription Box Incorporates Mindfulness

    Get into the feel-good flow of creating with the new and improved Master Peace Box, now only $39.

    Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about creating. For me, it’s a form of therapy. It’s a chance to get out of my head and into a state of flow, freeing myself from my obsessive thoughts while pouring all my feelings onto the page, or the canvas, or even the pot. (Though to be fair, not often the pot. I’m a horrible, infrequent cook!)

    Creativity is healing, energizing, and rejuvenating, and it’s also a fun, easy way to be mindful—to be fully immersed in the present moment, free from pressures, worries, and regrets.

    It also enables you to create something you can feel proud of. It doesn’t have to be perfect or professional; regardless of what you make, it’s yours. Your heart. Your soul. Your vision. A piece of you, and all your complex beauty. And there’s something empowering about that.

    If you also appreciate the healing benefits of art and enjoy accessing the feel-good state creativity evokes, I think you’ll love the Master Peace Box!

    What Is the Master Peace Box?

    This art subscription box sends a monthly art supply kit that pairs with a guided virtual workshop. The classes incorporate meditation, helping you foster mindfulness through creativity every month, on your own or as a fun date night activity.

    You’ll receive everything you need to craft something beautiful, with expert guidance from professional artists over Zoom.

    Each month, you’ll explore a new artistic and healing experience.

    This month, the Master Peace Box takes on watercolors and sound healing. You’ll get into a relaxing, soothing flow state with a sound healing practice, led by Susy Shieffelin, founder of The Copper Vessel and sound healing training guide. Then, you’ll dive into the painting lesson, creating a watercolor piece with The Whimsical Creative.

    The event goes live on March 28th, at 10am PST, but if you can’t make the live Zoom workshop, no worries! You’ll have three weeks to access a recording of the event, so you can find the perfect time to unwind and enjoy a little relaxation and imagination.

    Create More, Stress Less (in 3 Easy Steps)

    Want to give the Master Peace Box a try?

    1. Get the Box.

    After you sign up here, you’ll receive a box full of art supplies for the paired virtual workshop.

    2. Join the Workshop.

    Get access to live art classes from professional and renowned artists. If quarantine has made life feel a little grey, this is a great way to add some color!

    3. Feel Good.

    The Master Peace Box team holds space for you and your creative journey. Who knew feeling good was so easy? Art knew. Art knew all along.

    The Master Peace Box was created by life coach Michael Gallagher. His intention was to share the practices that helped him heal—meditation and self-expression—in one easy and approachable setting.

    To dive deeper into the worlds of creativity and spirituality, follow him on Clubhouse @masterpeacebox.

    —

    Maybe you’re like me and you relish the opportunity to express yourself while feeling free and childlike, or maybe you’re new to art but love the idea of feeling alive, excited, and inspired. Either way, the Master Peace Box can take you on a journey to calm and creative bliss. I hope you enjoy the sound healing and workshop—and I’d love to see your painting if you want to email it to me after the event!

    **Though this is a sponsored post, you can trust I only promote products I love and can easily personally recommend!