Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, by Leigh Marz, Justin Talbot Zorn
following is an excerpt from Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, May 2022, Harper Wave Publishers Navigating Noise Over the past fifty years, mindfulness meditation has taken a remarkable journey from remote monasteries of Burma and Thailand to the pinnacles of mainstream power—places like Apple, Google, GE, and the Pentagon. While some of this rise is attributable to increasing openness to new mindsets and worldviews since the revolutions of the 1960's, we believe the biggest reason for its newfound popularity is straightforward: There is a deep yearning for silence in a world of more and more noise. Whether we consciously realize it or not, we sense that p... posted on Oct 4 2022 (3,316 reads)

How to unlock your creativity – even if you see yourself as a conventional thinker, by Lily Zhu
engage in creative thinking every day, whether they realize it or not. Ekaterina Chizhevskaya/iStock via Getty Images Lily Zhu, Washington State University Do you think that creativity is an innate gift? Think again. Many people believe that creative thinking is difficult – that the ability to come up with ideas in novel and interesting ways graces only some talented individuals and not most others. The media often portrays creatives as those with quirky personalities and unique talent. Researchers have also identified numerous personality traits that are associated with creativity, such as openness to new experiences, ideas and perspectives. Together, they ... posted on Feb 7 2023 (3,455 reads)

Four Ways We Avoid Our Feelings & What to Do Instead, by Sandra Carson
essay is adapted from Embracing Unrest: Harness Vulnerability to Tame Anxiety and Spark Growth (October 2022, 274 pages) published by Page Two Books. When was the last time you felt anxious, with your body braced and on edge? It could have been when your partner was late coming home and you couldn’t reach them on their cell, your computer crashed just before a deadline, your child had a full-on tantrum in the grocery store, or you were waiting on medical test results. In that moment, how did you respond? Maybe you grabbed a bag of cheese puffs, or had a sudden impulse to tidy the kitchen, or found yourself online shopping for that incredibly useful cauliflower core... posted on Apr 5 2023 (6,263 reads)

It's Not A Thing That You Do. It's A Thing That You Are, by Awakin Call Editors
Askew uses his camera to capture bare human presence, taking his film subjects beyond the mind – into their inner, wiser, more intuitive and intelligent world. Through a nearly two-decade journey in explorative film, he has discovered a profoundly simple way to be together with someone and capture them – which is not an interview, but an Inner View. “People hide behind words,” Nic says. So Nic just waits and listens, “because those [initial words] aren’t the words. Those are the things that need to come out, almost like the words need to finish before that which is meant to come out would be said.” Nic’s Inner View Method has give... posted on Apr 11 2023 (3,277 reads)

To Be Made Whole, by On Being
electric conversation with Ada Limón‘s wisdom and her poetry — a refreshing, full-body experience of how this way with words and sound and silence teaches us about being human at all times, but especially now. With an unexpected and exuberant mix of gravity and laughter — laughter of delight, and of blessed relief — this conversation holds not only what we have traversed these last years, but how we live forward.  It unfolded at the Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis, in collaboration with Northrop at the University of Minnesota and Ada Limón’s publisher, Milkweed Editions.​​​​​​ The following is the syndicated... posted on Apr 22 2023 (3,434 reads)

Reemergence of Animate World Experiences, by Geneen Marie Haugen
on a short “workshop” given for Harvard Divinity School’s “Ecological Spiritualities” Conference, 2022) To shift my own awareness toward a more-than-human perspective, I sometimes take a wooden flute outside and begin to play, offering simple music to pine and stone, offering gratitude to billions of ancestors – from elements born in supernovas, to bacteria and trees, insects and trilobytes, to lineages of human ancestors both known and unknown. Offering wild prayers for all the beings who come after us, as well as gratitude to all of the teachers, both human and wilder Ones, is a practice to help destabilize my everyday mind and perceptions... posted on Jul 1 2023 (2,515 reads)

The 8 Kinds of Humility to Help You Stay Grounded, by Ravi Chandra
has been lauded as a virtue in most world cultures and wisdom traditions. More recently, scientists have started to study humility, and they’re discovering its many benefits. “Psychologists have recently linked intellectual humility to a host of benefits: showing more persistence in the face of failure, holding less polarized beliefs and attitudes, and being received as warm and friendly by others,” writes Tyrone Sgambati in Greater Good. As a psychiatrist, I think humility springs from deep awareness that the world can only come through our own eyes, experiences, and insights. No matter how knowledgeable or skillful I might be, there... posted on Sep 13 2023 (5,600 reads)

Jennifer Bichanich: Rising from the Ashes, by Jennifer Bichanich, Pat Benincasa
this deeply moving episode, Fill to Capacity podcast host Pat Benincasa speaks with writer and life coach Jennifer Bichanich. Jennifer opens a window on her experiences with profound loss, including losing her beloved husband when the church they were remodeling went up in flames. Despite immense grief and despair, Jennifer found ways to rebuild her life and discover her own creative resilience. Working with a shamanic energy healer, delving into art therapy, and joining the Modern Widows Club, she found community, healing and the possibility of creating something beautiful from the ashes of her life. This podcast explores themes of grief, healing, and the power of creativity in navigatin... posted on Nov 20 2023 (2,849 reads)

Nick Cave: Loss, Yearning, Transcendence, by On Being
follows is the transcript of an On Being interview between Krista Tippett and Nick Cave. You can listen to the audio version of the interview here.  Transcription by Alletta Cooper [music: “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds] Krista Tippett:Here are some experiences to which Nick Cave gives voice and song as exquisitely as anyone with whom I’ve ever spoken: the universal human conditions of yearning, and of loss; a spirituality of rigor; and the transcendent and moral dimensions of what music is trying to say. This Australian musician, writer, and actor first made a name in the wild world of ‘80s post-punk and later with Nick Cave ... posted on Dec 6 2023 (3,695 reads)

With a Soft Breath: How My Daughter Rides Horses, by Greta Matos
begun to teach my 3.5 year old daughter to ride horses on her own. Doing so has made me realize that for countless children who are taught the "traditional" way to ride horses, this rite of passage is (painfully) one of the most normalized places where people teach children power-over rather than power-with. It's where adults normalize using force to get what you desire; where adults normalize using violence to get "respect"; where adults model overt violation of personal space and complete ignorance or disdain for highly sensitive responsiveness.  I grew up with horses, and learned to ride alone at a similar age, and when I was a teenager I began ... posted on Feb 24 2024 (8,154 reads)

It will take hope, inspiration and action to save the earth, by Jane Goodall
Economic Forum / Mattias N I travel around the world 300 days a year, and everywhere, I meet young people who have lost hope. And we know that suicide rates are going up. If all our young people lose hope, then we are doomed. Because if you lose hope, you become apathetic. You give up and you do nothing. The future depends on all of us getting together now and doing something to try and heal the harm we have inflicted on this planet. How long can the earth survive if we continue as we are now? I’ve spent many years in the rainforest, understanding the interconnection of all living things. I learned about chimpanzee behaviour and about this amazing ecosystem of the forest, w... posted on May 10 2024 (3,945 reads)

A Grateful Heart, by John Kralik
seen in Parade - January 1, 2012) I’ve received quite a few nice notes and letters from people who saw my piece in Parade. That piece was necessarily much shortened, because of space limitations, so I thought I’d share an earlier draft with those who have taken the time to come to this page. Here goes. “Knowing that you had to work on Thanksgiving, of all days, I thought I’d express my gratitude that you have taken the time and made the effort to learn my name and greet me each day in a way that makes me feel like a person instead of a number.  It’s a small thing, but on any given day, it can make all the difference.  Thank you!” I sent th... posted on Aug 18 2013 (100,587 reads)

Infinity Of An Empty Heart, by Cynthia Li
like how the introduction makes it sound like healing is something that ends. :) So I'm continuing on my healing journey as I'm learning. It's like living and it's like these new stories. Nipun and Marilyn invited me to share a story with you, and I thought I would share one with you from last autumn. As I recount this, I invite you to join me on this little adventure and to go deeper -- maybe try closing your eyes to see more.Last September, I have just arrived in Tomales Bay. It's in West Marin, an hour north of San Francisco. This bay is very unusual in that on one side it's developed, meaning that there's a country road, a cozy restaurant, and a historic inn. On the other sid... posted on Jul 1 2024 (2,908 reads)

Hands On Research: The Science of Touch, by Dacher Keltner
Good‘s latest video features our executive editor, Dacher Keltner, on the science of touch. Here, he elaborates on cutting-edge research into the ways everyday forms of touch can bring us emotional balance and better health. A pat on the back, a caress of the arm—these are everyday, incidental gestures that we usually take for granted, thanks to our amazingly dexterous hands. Brian Jackson But after years spent immersed in the science of touch, I can tell you that they are far more profound than we usually realize: They are our primary language of compassion, and a primary means for spreading compassion. In recent years, a wave of studies has documented some... posted on Feb 24 2011 (43,850 reads)

7 Must-Read Books On Education, by Maria Popova
the free speech movement of the 1960s has to do with digital learning and The Beatles. Education is something we’re deeply passionate about, but the fact remains that today’s dominant formal education model is a broken system based on antiquated paradigms. While much has been said and written about education reform over the past couple of years, the issue and the public discourse around it are hardly new phenomena. Today, we round up the most compelling and visionary reading on reinventing education from the past century.   ISAAC ASIMOV: THE ROVING MIND Earlier this year, we featured a fantastic Bill Moyers archival interview with Isaac Asimov, in which the iconic ... posted on Jul 6 2011 (41,718 reads)

The Ripple Effect of Kindness, by Birju Pandya
the last few years, I've become a big proponent of Smile Cards. The premise behind these small cards is simple: do an anonymous act of kindness and leave a card behind, inviting the recipient to pay-it-forward. If he/she does, the chain keeps going, resulting in "ripples" of kindness radiating out. Smile Cards are wonderful in ways I cannot count. Small, simple, humble -- yet powerful, because one act of kindness can be the start of a long chain. But for all these reasons, the main reason why I use them is the subtle change that has begun to occur in the way I think. Recently, I was on a plane reading an intriguing financial book my friend had given me. As o... posted on Sep 11 2011 (23,361 reads)

The Library Rethought, by Maria Popova
to one-up the Greeks and what Shepard Fairey has to do with Copenhagen circa 1891. Libraries have a special place in history as a hearth of culture that kindled the greatest feats of science and the grandest works of art. Yet today, they’re in danger of being left precisely there — in history. As our collective use of libraries dwindles in the digital age, five brave efforts are innovating the concept of “the library” in ways that make it as culturally relevant today as it ever was. PENTAGRAM FOR L!BRARY Almost nine years ago, NYC design studio Pentagram got involved with the Robin Hood Foundation in an inspired effort to build new ele... posted on Dec 11 2011 (8,745 reads)

Anonymity in Giving: A Case Study, by Rev. Charles Howard
known them for a long time. We've been friends for years. Shared laughs, went to each other's weddings, had play dates for our kids. We're close and I share that not simply for full disclosure, but because it colors my perspective on this most inspiring story. I'm not sure it really hit me until I found myself on the phone speaking with one of these old friends of mine about the yearlong charitable project that she and her husband began this past January. The person on the other end of the phone line is a writer who has chosen to only be known as "Giver Girl." She and husband "Giver Boy" are the mysterious yet inspiring duo behind the website and project 52time... posted on Oct 25 2011 (15,768 reads)

9 Ways to Serve through Communication, by Birju Pandya
I continue along the path of giving, I’m learning of the constant opportunity to act from a space of service.  A recent personal insight in this space is how communicating with an intention to serve leads to markedly different behaviors.  Some examples below:   Talking   + Share only to the extent that its genuinely other-centric (not to bolster one's own ego).   + Sharing from a perspective of ‘bridge building’ to ensure that person-to-person connection, along with authentic adherence to one’s values, is of utmost importance (e.g., ‘proving’ that one is right is useless if you lose the connection along the way)   +... posted on Nov 28 2011 (23,862 reads)

If You Want To Be a Rebel, Be Kind, by Nipun Mehta
police had declared Monday, November 14th of 2011 as the day of the raid on the Occupy Oakland encampment.  It was the first Occupy site to call for a general strike that shut down the fifth largest port in the country; it was also the first Occupy gathering to report a shooting and a murder, as police violence also reached new heights.  With tensions mounting amidst political chaos, police escalated their violent crackdowns and the narrative of fear.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent in preparation for the raid, police from around the state were called in, and uncertainty filled the air. The night before, Pancho Ramos Stierle heard about growing tensions in ... posted on Nov 29 2011 (166,493 reads)