By Alejandra Roca Recharging your body and mind, improving your focus, and boosting clarity are all great reasons to meditate — but what if you could improve on what you’re already doing? What if you could create the perfect meditation space in your home? Carving out a private enclave for meditation…
“With the wakefulness of mindfulness, you become aware of how acceptance allows you to expand, while fear and insecurity cause you to contract. You acknowledge the futility of resisting the changing nature of the waves and currents of your mind. With the warmth of compassion, you soften your heart and…
“When your self-esteem honors interdependence and you take responsibility for the well-being of all, you engage in acts of selflessness. With virtue as your guide, you pay reverence to the whole of life—tending to yourself, others, and the world with the guiding light of what’s truly important. Life is the…
“The last of the three virtue practices is right livelihood: engaging in work with the intention of not causing harm to yourself or others—acting with truth and integrity without trying to take advantage of or manipulate others.” (Marotta 2013, 189). Inquiry: Ask yourself: “Am I employing right effort: making wise…
“Second on the list of virtue practices is right action: acting without causing harm to yourself or others by means of judgmental thoughts and emotional needs… While interpersonal dynamics are a 50/50 operation, you take 100 percent responsibility for your share of the action.” (Marotta 2013, 185). Inquiry: Ask yourself:…
“Speech, both oral and written, is so powerful an influence on human relationships and society that Buddha determined it worthy of inclusion on the Noble Eightfold Path! This is the first of the virtue practices, right speech: interacting with others to not cause harm” (Marotta 2013, 176). Inquiry: Ask yourself:…
The previous parts of this series explored the relationship between mindful self-esteem and self-care through the practices of mindfulness of the breath (Part I), mindfulness of the body (Part II), mindfulness of thoughts (Part III), and mindfulness of emotions (Part IV). This series focuses on ethical conduct and the intention…
“To move from a place of scarcity to one of abundance, paradoxically, you let go. You participate in the very practice of letting go: generosity. Generosity, the practice of giving without needing to get anything in return, is considered the most basic way to find freedom from suffering.” (Marotta 2013,…
“Joy means rejoicing in what is. Joy is freedom from regret, resentment, and blame. To experience joy is to recognize life’s blessings. Sympathetic joy, or mudita, means being able to feel happiness in the circumstances, accomplishments, gifts, and good qualities of others.” (Marotta 2013, 159). Inquiry: Ask yourself: “Do I…
“Gratitude is the acknowledgment of appreciation; the ability to notice what’s right, regardless. It frees you from clinging to what you want, avoiding what you don’t want, or being indifferent to what there is. With gratitude, you can recognize and engage in the wonder of life.” (Marotta 2013, 155). Inquiry:…
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