Blog
Find a New View
Here in the Northeast, days are cold and short in January. It’s a time to stay in a lot, and to act in harmony with nature. Nature is in a state of rest. And while we have to continue working, perhaps we can now do it in a way that
Take in the Good
It’s holiday time, and we will soon welcome in a new year. Whatever your religious orientation or belief system, it’s hard not to get caught up in the energy of this season. Whether you are taking part in a gathering or spending this time alone, whether this holiday season brings
Gratitude
There’s been a lot said and written on the subject of gratitude, how gratitude makes us happier, and actually brings more good to us. There are many ways to express gratitude, and speaking or writing about our feelings of gratitude for the people in our lives and for all the
Mantras
As I’m sure you know by now, I encourage everyone to develop a daily meditation practice, even if it’s just for five or ten minutes. You can find some short guided meditations on my site to help you: https://coaching.juliannedavidow.com/meditations-audio/ But along with my daily morning meditation practice, I also say
Spare Moments
Although it’s essential to develop a regular meditation practice to stay grounded, focused, and calm, there are many moments during the day when we can stop and reconnect with ourselves. Whenever you feel yourself getting pulled in a lot of different directions, try one of these methods: Slow your breathing.
Gatherings
The first Day’s Night had come And grateful that a thing So terrible had been endured I told my Soul to sing -Emily Dickinson Some writers get MFAs, some have degrees of other kinds, and some have none. Some attend many writing workshops, in which attendees read others’ work and
Calming An Anxious Mind
Now that summer is drawing to a close and fall is upon us, many of us may be feeling the extra pressure of starting new things, whether that is school or more responsibilities at work. There are lifestyle changes we can make to help us deal better with stress over
Role Models
Mindfulness isn’t only about meditating every day, developing a sense of presence throughout the day, calming our mind and bodies, learning to focus, or realizing that we don’t have to follow every thought that occurs to us. Although it is all of that—and more. It’s also about creating a greater
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
Today, more children and adults in the U.S. are being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD than ever before—and more prescription drugs are being issued all the time as well. While it’s true that some of us have more trouble staying calm and focused than others, when it comes to making diagnoses, where
There is always a way forward
Do you ever feel that you’ve hit a wall? For me, this feeling seems to come in cycles. Inevitably, after things have been flowing for a while, there’s a downturn. And sometimes the downturn becomes a pitfall. We may lose faith that there is any way out. But there is
Compassion training increases mental focus
For most of us, our minds have a tendency to “wander.” That is, we are not able to keep our focus on one topic for very long before moving on to another one. Research shows that mindfulness practice, in which we pay attention to the present moment in a curious,
I’m having the thought that…
Researchers say that we average between 50,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day. That’s a lot of activity! Each time we have a thought, it influences our feelings and the way we perceive things. Psychologist and author Dr. Steven Hayes, the originator of ACT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, says, “Thoughts are
Transformation
Does it ever seem that there are certain things you wish you could change but can’t? Certainly when we’ve been given a diagnosis of ADHD or another disorder, or when we’ve struggled with something for a long time and can’t see any progress, we can fall into despair. There’s something
Follow your own creative spirit
Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone’s task is as unique as his specific opportunity to implement it. —Viktor E. Frankl As writers and
Making Habits into Goals
A new year has just begun and, if you are like me, you want to set fresh goals, or reach the goals you set last year. When we set a goal, we usually feel enthusiastic. We may put it on the top of our “to do” list and have every
Holidays and Memories
The holiday season is upon us and shops are bustling. And whatever tradition you celebrate, whether it is Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, or another, if you are like me, you’re likely spending more money than you should! We all love prosperity, work hard for it, and most of us enjoy buying
Resilience
We set goals and try to attain them. But sometimes, no matter how hard we try, it seems the universe has its own agenda for us. Maybe we don’t get our first-choice school, or get hired for that job we applied for. Maybe we have faced a lot of rejection,
Grounded, Aware, Present
Mindfulness meditation changes the brain. So many research studies have given us proof of this fact. But even if you have a hard time meditating, here is a way to clear a space when your mind feels cluttered and overwhelmed. All you have to remember is GAP: Grounded, Aware, Present.
You’ve Got the Power
Do you remember the song from the musical, The King and I, that starts “Getting to know you, getting to know all about you…” That’s what happens with mindfulness meditation, only the “you” is one’s self. When we meditate, we get to spend some time every day simply being with
What is it to fail?
Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. —Winston Churchill. Most of us want to be successful in one way or another. We want to do well in school and succeed at getting good grades; get a good job and be successful
