“Because the mind is often miles away from the body, Vietnamese Buddhist monk and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh (1976, 15) explains, the “breath is the bridge” that connects the mind to the body. Bringing your attention to your breath halts the incessant chatter of your thoughts and your concern…
“Breath work has been revered through the ages as potent medicine for calming the mind and body. When you consistently breathe from your belly, you change patterns in your nervous system and in your mind. Abdominal breathing stimulates your hypothalamus, the “command center” of your brain—in response, your hypothalamus sends…
“When you constantly determine whether you’re measuring up, this turns on your stress response because you either forget to breathe or hardly breathe. Your feelings of insecurity increase. In this vulnerable state, you tend to mindlessly react, and in doing so you lose your connection with yourself.” (Marotta, 2014, 17)….
by Dr. Deborah Zucker “Self-Care” is a big buzzword today in the health community. There are many books and professionals offering quick and easy tips for better “self-care”. But, I’m going to suggest something here that may seem kind of radical. Self-care isn’t about the list of things you are supposed to do…
This series explores the relationship between mindful self-esteem and self-care and begins with a wonderful article by Deborah Zucker, a naturopathic physician and transformational health coach, who wrote the new book, The Vitality Map: A Guide to Deep Health, Joyful Self-Care, and Resilient Well-Being. As opposed to focusing on what…
“This is a long journey, the journey of a lifetime. It’s indeed a curious ship that sails into the mystery with nothing on board save confidence of mind, courage of heart, and commitment of purpose. This is the journey of mindful self-esteem that unfolds and arises from the qualities of…
“From the wakefulness of awareness, the warmth of compassion, and the wisdom of the journey comes connecting to others, caring for a larger whole, and committing to your core values no matter what comes your way. Mindful self-esteem is an unfolding process that cultivates self-acceptance and self-compassion—qualities that offer strength,…
“On the path of mindfulness, true self-esteem is being true to yourself” (Marotta, 2013, 78). Inquiry In your quest for external validation driven by striving imagine what it would be like to engage in non-striving—having clear intentions, staying focused, being a keen observer, and allowing life to unfold as it…
“When you cultivate mindful self-esteem, the qualities of acceptance, compassion, and virtue live within you as inseparable triplets” (Marotta, 2013, 7). Inquiry If there was nothing to chase after—no external measures of true success and no need to be separate and distinct to prove your true worth—could you find “more…
“Mindfulness itself is the ultimate frame within which to perceive the actuality of things as they are” (Kabat-Zinn 1990, 331). If mindfulness is the ultimate frame, mindful self-esteem might be defined as “self reframed” (Marotta, 2013, 97). Inquiry If you viewed yourself within the framework of non-judgmental awareness, who would…
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