Morning Mantras
“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” Dalai Lama
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10 Thought Patterns that Keep You from Happiness
We tend to view our minds as our whole being. But through meditation we learn to watch our thoughts, almost like leaves floating by on a river. You can’t watch yourself, so that must mean that your thoughts aren’t all of you, but rather, a part of who you are. Even still, our thoughts undoubtedly shape our mental state.
Another side effect of watching your thoughts through meditation is the realization that your thoughts are cyclical, meaning the same thought patterns run in and out of your mind multiple times on a daily basis. As a result, negative thought patterns become the root of unhappiness.
What’s your attitude toward life and is it holding you back from finding peace and happiness on a daily basis? Here are 10 thought patterns that may do just that.
1. Obsessed with Perfection
Are you obsessed with perfection? If you’re constantly thinking that everything around you needs to be improved, then you’re likely never satisfied with what you have. Sometimes good enough is just fine, and it’s our ability to see this that brings us happiness.
2. Comparison Thinking
“Why am I not married?” “Why don’t I have children?” “Why don’t I make as much money as so-and-so?” These are examples of comparing yourself to those around you–a toxic thought pattern that will almost always bring you down.
3. Polarized Thinking
Looking at issues and opinions as black or white is ineffective because it’s largely inaccurate. You’ll often find shades of grey hidden between the lines. Try to truly put yourself on the other side of issues and understand where those around you are coming from even when it’s not so easy.
Read the Rest on Naturally Savvy.
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13 Ways to Be a Free Spirit
It’s not the path of least resistance, in fact, being a free spirit may mean feeling like you don’t perfectly fit into the society around. It’s the feeling of wanting to get to know life beyond the surface and of truly getting to know yourself.
“We all want to be extraordinary and we all just want to fit in. Unfortunately, extraordinary people rarely fit in.” –Sebastyne Young
It may seem irrational to want to live outside the lines, but what’s really irrational is living life through its mundane details. While the society around you may seem to reward those that stick to same job, same location, and same set of friends for the entirety of their lives, a free spirit always wonders “is this it?”
If you’re looking for a life beyond the details, here’s my guide to being a free spirit.
Read More: 13 steps on my Discovery Fit & Health Column:
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Yoga at Home: 10 Ways to Get Started
Last week was the big move as many of you may know. And more than anything it took me out of my beloved morning routine. In a way a change from the norm can be freeing, but after a bit you’re ready to get back to it. Yoga is one of the biggest parts of my routine. Coupled with meditation, it starts my day off right: with focus, awareness, and inner peace. Many of you have asked how to practice yoga at home without the help of a teacher, so I wanted to run through a daily practice. You should, however, be aware of the poses before starting a home practice.
What’s Your Intuition and Should You Listen to It?
Photo: archer10 (Dennis)
Rationally, you know that in a downed economy quitting your job is about the stupidest thing you can do. You’re a writer and you’ve hardly been published plus it’s hard to make a buck writing. But somehow you know you’ll be fine, in fact more than fine, so you quit your nine-to-five job and start writing. And in fact, years later you’re feeling quite confident in your career choice, just as you intuitively knew you would.
How Thinking Too Much Can Keep You From Doing
Photo: Klearchos Kapoutsis
It’s Sunday, you had a wild weekend at the end of a wild month. Life is busy, disorganized, over budgeted, fattening, and unhealthy. You decide that come Monday you’re starting over–you’ll eat three healthy meals a day, run daily, start meditating, and get to work on the job search.
15 Ways to Find Inspirational Wellness From Head to Toe
Photo: Crismatos ♥ Seize the day
Happiness starts on the inside and then shines out. It’s the idea of finding balance and mindfulness in all your daily pursuits. It’s about loving this body you’ve been given and realizing that you have a good amount of control over the amount of peace you find.
Finding Balance on the Internet
Photo: :mrMark
I’m always inspired by the thoughtful posts and ideas from bloggers just like myself on the internet and as we venture into the exciting world of holistic health, I want you to know what I’ve been reading this week.
Don’t Fall Victim To Common Meditation Mistakes
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The happiest and healthiest people are those that learn to live in the moment rather than stressing about what has happened in the past and what will happen in the future. By embracing the moment, good or bad, you learn to combat your own suffering.
5 Tips For Ayurvedic Eating
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I’ve taken quite a bit of Ayurveda training because I find the science fascinating and it just makes sense. And while I have only just scratched the surface, I have already learned so much. Ayurveda is a science that focuses on balancing the body’s life energies (vata, pitta, and kapha) rather than focusing on individual symptoms. Because of this, Ayurveda helps your body to arrive at its natural weight. It makes you feel calm, relaxed, and most of all, balanced. Your diet is one of the main components of Ayurveda.
