Most of us struggle with confidence. As meditation teacher Ethan Nichtern puts it, we’re like the inflatable people found in used car lots. The wind causes balloon men to rise and sway proudly, but if the wind dies, they collapse completely. Praise makes us float...

I love a good Target run as much as the next person. Stepping through the automatic doors of the popular superstore, it’s impossible to not feel uplifted. The lighting recalls the beckoning freedom of summer, and the colors are like a new crayon box. It’s a palpable...

In the early days of a crisis that is killing people and shows no sign of ending, I wrote, “to be alive is to carry survivor guilt.” It’s what I feel often, not just about war, but about violence, illnesses, and disasters everywhere, yet this was the first time I...

Relieving Anxiety The election is stressful, but avoidance won’t help. The key, says Harry Um, is taking action. On November 8, 2016, I was at work, furiously refreshing my web browser for news about the U.S. presidential election. This was supposed to be a landslide,...

We all want to lead lives that are happy, meaningful, and beneficial. We want to love and be loved. We want to live in a harmonious and peaceful human community. We want these things because of our natural goodness. If leading such a life is the universal goal of the...

1. Mindfulness Meditation: Train Your Mind to Change Your Life by Shauna Shapiro, PhD The widespread applications of mindfulness are based on a few general principles whose simplicity and power have sparked what has been called the “mindful revolution.” Yet with all...

Mindfulness is both a basic power of mind and an intentional practice. It is the universal capacity of mind to be aware, focus, and use its natural intelligence. It is present not just in us but in all beings. Mindfulness is also a specific meditation practice that...

Who doesn’t feel blown around by the hurricane winds of modern life? Information overload, job burnout, political and ecological threats, and seemingly endless culture wars make daily life feel challenging, isolating, and draining. Into this speedy wonderland of...

Question: My work and family responsibilities are demanding these days, and it’s not an option to drop any of them. I’m not able to do anything as well as I’d like to and I feel stressed, exhausted, and frustrated. How can I survive this? Furyu Nancy Schroeder:...

‘Q: I cannot tolerate much suffering. A: Anger is one of the cause of suffering — why not stop being angry?’ Everyday Buddhism