Mindfulness

Mindfulness

In psychology, this is called experiential avoidance. Trouble is, this experiential avoidance may seem helpful in the moment, but research shows that continuous avoidance of uncomfortable or upsetting thoughts can actually increase our anxiety and distress. Indeed, Dr. Russ Harris outlined in his book The Happiness Trap that experiential avoidance contributes to anxiety, depression, and numerous other mental health challenges; the harder one tries to avoid the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, the "more bad feelings we create."

This experience taught me that letting go isn't about weakness, failure, or loss. It's about creating space-for ease, clarity, and the next chapter of our lives. In fact, it was my own transition to my next chapter that enabled me to finish the book. I learned to release outdated beliefs, soften my self-judgment, and eliminate roles that no longer fit.

You've seen it on T-shirts, Instagram captions, and coffee mugs: "Good vibes only." But is it just a trendy phrase or is there real science behind the power of positive thinking? As it turns out, there is. Neuroscience shows what many of us instinctively feel: staying optimistic, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness can do more than just lift your mood. They can actually change how your brain works, and even influence your long-term health. Let's take a closer look at how positivity affects the brain, and how you can train your mind to be more resilient, optimistic, and happier.

Auto-Sensory Meridian Response is everywhere right now: SNL skits, Grammy-nominated indie albums, and celebrity performances. ASMR is a phenomenon in which audio or visual triggers, like delicate tapping sounds or soft whispers, create a pleasurable tingling feeling called paresthesia. Medical role-play videos are among the most popular ASMR content, with "doctors" staring into the camera and leaving spaces in the dialogue to "listen" to the viewer's imagined responses.

Big energetic shifts are in the air, as September not only coincides with the powerful magic of eclipse season, but it also heralds in the autumnal equinox, which is the first official day of fall here in the Northern hemisphere. In 2025, this celestial event takes place on Sept. 22, and it serves as the exact midpoint between the summer and winter solstices.

Many of us were handed down a story of what success is supposed to look like. Often, it's these markers that are external: titles, salaries, accolades, recognition, and so on. The reality is that we can meet all the traditional markers and still not feel fulfilled. While those achievements matter, we can also be left feeling emptier than expected, especially if they aren't anchored to our own values, passions, and truths;

Don't try to eliminate your stress. Instead, take advantage of it. Three experts, Aditi Nerurkar, MD, MPH, Kelly McGonigal, PhD, and Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD combine their insights on physiology, psychology, and mindfulness to show how stress management can become a superpower. They explain how stress can help you grow, how the body's "challenge response" fuels focus and energy, and how mindfulness can help you see beyond your thoughts.

A CEO client once told me about the time she pushed her company into a joint venture that looked irresistible. The pitch deck sparkled, the recent success of a similar deal was fresh in her mind, and her intuition told her to move quickly. Six months later, the partnership unraveled due to different cultures, incompatible goals, and millions in lost investment.

Ever feel like you're doing all the yoga, but still getting stuck in stress, anxiety, or that annoying mental spiral at 2AM? You might be dealing with the Kleshas - the hidden blockers in your brain that yoga philosophy has been calling out for thousands of years (long before your therapist said, "Let's unpack that"). In this guide, we're breaking down the 5 Kleshas in a way that feels modern, relatable, and totally TikTok-worthy - with zero Sanskrit degree required.

The originator of this concept, global humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, recently spoke at Deakin University's Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, exploring the theme of Absolute Intelligence versus Artificial Intelligence and the nature of our innate, embedded intelligence. The key factor is that, unlike artificial intelligence, Absolute Intelligence becomes accessible when your mind is calm and settled. It's a deeper intelligence that allows you to see more possibilities and make better decisions by tapping into your intuitive abilities.

A new study published in Mindfulness (June 2025) suggests that just two minutes of shared meditation can quickly increase emotional closeness. The research, led by psychologists from the University of Pennsylvania, shows even a brief interaction, like making eye contact or reflecting on shared human emotions, can promote deeper connection, empathy, and feelings of warmth. In the first experiment, 55 people (average age: 24) were paired in quick virtual sessions via Zoom. Most participants didn't know each other or have any meditation experience.

As a yoga teacher and retreat leader, I've spent years guiding groups at a boutique retreat center in the seaside village of Troncones, Mexico. In this space, I watch the same scene unfold over and over again: a woman arrives, alone, unsure, quiet, sometimes a bit emotional on the first night, not certain what drew her here, only that she needed to come. But by week's end, there is a marked change, a radiance, her eyes clear, her breath at ease.

I felt an inner devastation that caused so much emotional distress I could no longer hide it or hide from it through my work. I did not feel like doing anything except cry and share my suffering with anyone willing to listen. After Karla left me for the third time, I went to a meditation retreat in Estes Park, Colorado, led by Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk who founded mindfulness and was nominated by Martin Luther King, Jr., for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Shame is an inhibitory emotion on the Change Triangle, the tool that teaches us about emotions. Shame is an emotion designed to keep us from acting in ways that get us banished from the people and groups we need, like our family, peer groups, religious groups, and communities. But when we grew up in environments that harshly punished us for our mistakes, shame tells us to keep our mistakes hidden, lest we "pay the price." That's how shame blocks accountability.

The pressure was electric. Hope and fear did a wild dance in my chest and no matter how hard I tried, my imagination kept racing ahead. This was the moment that could change the trajectory of my life and career - and I blew it. But the lessons I took from that failed audition turned out to be more valuable than any role.

About a month later, Ben received a call from an old colleague about a work opportunity at a pizza-and-wine bar in Tylösand, a beach town on Sweden's west coast. As a chef, the experience sounded exciting to him, and we also saw this as our opportunity to try somewhere new. That's why, weeks later, we found ourselves vacuum-sealing most of our clothes, giving away what we didn't need, and subletting our apartment - not knowing how long we'd be abroad.

Every year at this time, I think of a quote from the Bible, but which I know from Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, in which seven-year-old Jeanette stitches a needlepoint sampler decorated withthe inscription: The summer is ended and we are not yet saved. We are not yet saved: no, not in this house, where I experience the back-to-school week in September far more urgently than New Year's Day as the time of year for a behavioural reset.

The Mahamudra Meditation Center sits atop a secluded mountain, about an hour from Kathmandu. It can be reached on foot or by an off-road vehicle during dry weather conditions. The center is a brainchild of a Chogyal Rinpoche, a young Tibetan Buddhist master, torchbearer of an esoteric lineage of Buddhism that dates back to the 12th century. He believes that the time has come for the common people to have access to the knowledge that was hitherto safeguarded by the Tibetan Masters.

Austin Curtis was a prominent Black scientist whose work had spectacularly practical applications. Among his successes: He developed many new uses for peanut byproducts, including rubbing oils for pain relief. His work exploited the untapped potential of materials that others neglected or discarded. I urge you to adopt a similar strategy in the coming weeks, Aries: Be imaginative as you repurpose scraps and leftovers. Convert afterthoughts into useful assets. Breakthroughs could come from compost heaps, forgotten files or half-forgotten ideas.

My grandmother passed away a few years ago after a long battle with cancer. Even as her health deteriorated, she never lost her spirit. She'd still get excited about whether the Pittsburgh Steelers might finally have a decent season after Ben Roethlisberger's retirement. She'd debate the Pirates' chances with the kind of passionate optimism that only comes from decades of loyal disappointment.