The Daily Mind
Daily Steps To Mindful Living
Approximately 40 million American adults – ages 18 to 54 – suffer from anxiety disorders. That’s about 18 percent of the adult population. A number that just cannot be ignored.
And we have to bear in mind that this number only includes diagnosed cases. There might very well be just as many people who haven’t been diagnosed but suffer from one sort of anxiety disorder or another. [Read more…] about How to Practice Mindfulness & Reduce Anxiety
Originally posted on May 12, 2017 @ 8:30 am
Online dating has become a widespread activity among men and women. But just like in the traditional dating styles, there are principles of behavior to live by, if you want to find a decent partner worthy of your love and respect.
Men, especially, are not very mindful of how they present themselves to women and repeat the same actions that turn off the opposite sex. Women, on the other hand, have become more discerning and can filter out the misfits and creeps among the lot.
Mindfulness in online dating sounds contradictory. The goal of finding someone you can hit it off with lead to people lying about their physical attributes, skills, interests and a lot more. Here are tips for men to practice mindfulness when you sign up in the real dating sites.
Be honest when creating your profile. You want to have a profile that will stand out without laying every bit of information on the internet. Make your profile interesting to catch the right kind of attention and women. But be mindful of your online security and don’t reveal too much about yourself that could put you at risk.
Keep your description truthful and specific, and avoid the clichés. When you show your hobbies and interests in a forthright but appealing manner, you will invite the right connection and retain enough mystery to hold their curiosity.
Upload some pictures of yourself. Professor of Psychology Benjamin Le of Haverford College agrees that physical attraction is important for a potential relationship to move to the next level. And with online dating, that primary attraction starts with pictures.
A too common mistake for both sexes is posting photos of themselves in their much younger years, minus the beer bellies and wrinkles that are now conspicuous in person. Or pictures that have been photoshopped to the point of being unrecognizable from the real you.
Don’t overcrowd your account with too many pictures of yourself in different poses, attires and occasions. It will give out the impression of superficiality and shallowness. A few good quality images should be sufficient to give women a peek into your personality. Avoid pictures that show you half-clad, unless you’re really a model for men’s underwear. Mindfulness is depth of character and does not unduly depend on physical attributes.
Be nice but don’t cross the line. In online or traditional dating, being friendly puts the other person at ease. But overdoing it can be irritating. Listen to her with genuine interest. She is talking to a complete stranger she hasn’t met face to face.
Say something nice about her profile and ask about things that she has already mentioned, like her hobbies. If she likes books, ask her about her favorite authors. Or certain foods if she’s into culinary arts. Don’t probe into her personal life unless she opens up first, as it could be unsettling and make her uncomfortable. Strike a balance by showing sincere interest but not prying too deeply.
If she asks about you, take the time to form an answer that won’t make you come out as a know-it-all. Be humble. Have a sense of humor but don’t make fun of anything at her expense.
If you sign up on a dating site in USA, imagine going into a bar and striking up a conversation with a random person. The same rules of behavior apply. Mindfulness in online dating is being aware of the other person, listening to what she’s saying and understanding her. Instead of trying to think up smart and witty things to say, focus on her and be authentic about it.
Follow these tips and you will find that online dating done properly can lead to a lasting and happy relationship.
Originally posted on April 25, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
Mindfulness and meditation are often touted as the path to inner peace, but is such a thing truly possible? Establishing healthy habits is difficult at the best of times, so the thought of starting a meditation practice while your life is in turmoil may seem like a waste of precious energy at best—and an insurmountable challenge at worst.
Mindfulness sounds like the practice of someone who already has their life in order: someone who drinks kale smoothies and can do a forearm stand in hot yoga; someone who has the additional time and desire to pursue such flighty endeavors. It may seem almost impossible for someone already facing the challenges that come with recovering from addiction. [Read more…] about Using Mindfulness as a Tool for Relapse Prevention
Originally posted on April 19, 2017 @ 9:00 am
For many, going to college is a large milestone in life. Whether you are attending a rigorous program such as or you are likewise going to a competitive engineering program at UCSD, there are many stressors that can make college life difficult. These are some of the best habits you can maintain for a happier and healthier life while in college.
When you enter college, it is an excellent opportunity to bond with someone who will help you through your college career, and even help give you direction in your future. If you go to a smaller school where professors are accessible, seek the mentorship of a professor or an older TA. Club leaders, managers, and coaches can also become excellent mentors throughout your college career. A good mentor is someone who wants to see you become successful. He or she is someone who has time to speak with you about your passions, give you advice in academics and in life, and guide you in the direction of your career and personal success. He or she may even become a colleague as you advance in your academics and life beyond the classroom. [Read more…] about Best Habits to Maintain While in College
Originally posted on March 27, 2017 @ 4:46 am
Recent global events added to our own personal stressors have made it more difficult for us to cling to our hopes and dreams for a better world. That’s why more and more people are turning to meditation to attain the inner calm and peaceful countenance that seem so elusive in the present time.
These books on meditation and mindfulness will help you gain focus, achieve serenity and lower stress levels. Here’s hoping they will be of valuable assistance to you in your daily practice. [Read more…] about 15 Books on Mindfulness and Meditation to Find Balance in Life
Originally posted on February 12, 2017 @ 4:36 am
Mindfulness meditation has been touted as an antidote to stress, anxiety and depression. And science has backed it up with evidence showing that people who practice meditation on a regular basis produce less of the stress hormone cortisol and more of the happy hormone serotonin in their bodies.
Mindfulness meditation brings us into a balanced state of mind. It accomplishes this balance by stimulating the whole brain to maximum performance. Our brains have right and left hemispheres. The left hemisphere is our logical, practical side while the right hemisphere takes care of creativity and intuition. One side usually dominates. That’s why we often say artists are right-brain persons and scientists are left-brain creatures. But ideally, both sides should be equally operating. With regular meditation, we can achieve whole brain function and enter into harmony. New neural pathways are created, blood flow improves and the mind is better able to deal with negative sensations like pain. When the mind is relaxed, it becomes a fertile ground for healthy cells to regenerate.
Here are three chronic diseases that we can prevent or halt the progress of, through mindfulness meditation:
Meditation involves focus on deep breathing and silent contemplation. When the mind goes into this state, the neural activity of the prefrontal cortex of the brain decreases, thereby lowering stress levels. Many researches have attested to these findings and taken brain scans of subjects for further tests and evaluation. It also found that participants in the study had lowered risks for heart diseases compared to a group who did not do meditation.
Mindful eating makes us aware of the food we eat, their taste, texture and appearance. It also keeps our focus on our hunger and satiety, so that we don’t overeat. But meditation has more than a psychological effect on our appetites. Science says that when meditation makes us more calm and less stressed, our bodies produce endorphins, neurotransmitters and hormones that have positive and relaxing effects on our bodies and minds. Endorphins give us a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, driving away hunger and emotional eating. The neurotransmitter GABA decreases neural excitability and stabilizes our moods, preventing binge eating, and the hormones DHEA, serotonin and melatonin strengthen our immune systems, help keep depression away and regulate our circadian rhythms to give us a good night’s sleep.
It should be noted that not all cases of obesity can be resolved by meditation alone. Genetic, environmental and organic factors can add to the excess pounds. These and the need to lose weight fast for health reasons will benefit from medical intervention. Although the human growth hormone (HGH) is also produced by the body during meditation, a doctor-prescribed HGH dosage for weight loss will give greater results in a shorter time.
Diabetes is a debilitating disease that has grave complications. Anyone diagnosed with it has to take medicines for a lifetime. People with this disease are prone to stress and depression, and for good reason since diabetes curtails pleasurable activities. Meditation helps in reversing insulin’s effect on the pancreas and reducing blood sugar levels by lowering the person’s stress. Stress triggers the body to produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which in turn increases glucose in the blood, leading to or aggravating diabetes. When stress is relieved, sleep patterns become regular, which promotes healing of the pancreas.
The alleviation of stress and anxiety that comes from the practice of mindfulness meditation promotes the healing or halts the progress of chronic diseases. Aside from the most common conditions of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, other continuing illnesses are hypertension, cancer, diseases of the gut and many more.
Western medicine has embraced this ancient Eastern practice as an important component of any therapeutic regimen. But we need not wait to be ill to start practicing meditation.
Originally posted on January 23, 2017 @ 11:22 am
