With spiritual practices like yoga and meditation becoming more popular, it seems like everyone is talking about mantras. But what exactly is a mantra and how are you supposed to use it?In our westernized, modern-day spiritual practices the word “mantra” has become as mainstream as “intention.” But the two are actually quite different. The word mantra can be broken down into two parts: “man,” which means mind, and “tra,” which means transport or vehicle. In other words, a mantra is an

How I found my way out of depression, thanks to the writings of the English priest who brought Buddhism to the West.Ever since I was a child, I have been acutely sensitive to the idea — in the way that other people seem to feel only after bereavement or some shocking unexpected event — that the human intellect is unable, finally, to make sense of the world: everything is contradiction and paradox, and no one really knows much for sure, however loudly they profess to the contrary. It is an

What are affirmations?They are positive statements that describe a desired situation or goal, and are often repeated, until they get impressed on the subconscious mind.This process, causes the subconscious mind to to strive and to work on your behalf, to make the positive statement come true.When you know how to use affirmations, you get a great tool for achieving success and for improving your life.Most people repeat in their minds negative words and statements concerning the situations and

One of the most overlooked tools used in traditional jungle medicine is full immersion in nature. I’m talking about isolation in the middle of the woods, surrounded by nothing but trees, grass, rocks, and the occasional furry passerby.What happens when we rid ourselves of all modern day distractions? Our televisions, our computers, the radio, even newspapers and books – things that certainly have value but also take focus away from ourselves. The patients we brought into the Amazon packed

You probably think that doing Cross Fit or playing the guitar can never be useful if you want to start coding, develop apps or pursue any other career related to technology. You might even think that such activities will only waste your time and slow you down on the way to achieving your goal. Surprisingly, taking up a hobby that is unrelated to your job makes you much more productive. According to a research done by San Francisco State University, a person with a hobby is 30% more productive

Those familiar with Japanese background or culture might have seen some version of a komusō, or “priest of nothingness.” Instantly recognizable (and simultaneously unrecognizable) thanks to this woven baskets they use over their heads and the long flutes that protrude from beneath them, these Buddhist monks were exceptional for a number of obvious reasons. But it is their haunting meditation melodies which could be their most enduring legacy.The komusō, also occasionally interpreted as “monks

I’ve recently facilitated a series of workshops on mindfulness and spirituality at a drug and alcohol rehab clinic. The most popular workshop by far was the one where I taught people how to use William Bloom’s Endorphin Effect.Endorphins, which are the hormones of pleasure, improve your mood, promote physical health and help to reduce stress. When you exercise or experience something pleasurable, endorphins are released. Endorphins are the body’s natural opiates – our ‘endogenous morphine’

You get all kinds of happiness advice on the internet from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Don’t trust them.Actually, don’t trust me either. Trust neuroscientists. They study that gray blob in your head all day and have learned a lot about what truly will make you happy. UCLA neuroscience researcher Alex Korb has some insights that can create an upward spiral of happiness in your life. Here’s what you and I can learn from the people who really have answers:Sometimes it

We all have different thoughts in our head and we experience various feelings from time to time. When we do it consciously while being guided by our own higher self, things happen flawlessly and the results bring a lot of joy. When we don’t listen to what our higher self is trying to tell us, things can get really rough. How can you tell if a certain thought or sensation is coming from your higher self? How do you connect with your higher self and is there a visual model that can vividly

When you are feeling overwhelmed at work, it is important find out why you feel that way. Do you have too many responsibilities, or feel there are too few hours in the day? Is your boss piling on the pressure? Or is the company culture getting you down?Understand the triggers “Feeling overwhelmed is actually a stress response when we feel the demand on us outweighs our resources,” says Diana Dawson, career psychologist and owner of Working Career. Feeling out of control and under pressure is

When I read James Doty’s New York Times bestseller, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain, I was thoroughly enchanted. His story inspired me to believe that my future could be brighter than I can currently imagine.Doty is a medical doctor and a clinical professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University, and also the founder and director of The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). His work and accomplishments in this field