Podcasts about mindful

AI meditations are everywhere right now—apps, chatbots, VR headsets promising calm in 10 minutes or less—but are AI meditations actually helping guys handle real stress, or just giving you one more screen to hide behind? In this episode, we get real about AI meditations, digital mindfulness, and whether any algorithm can truly replace a human teacher who sees you, feels the room, and knows when you're about to lose it. We sit down with guest expert Steve Haberlin, PhD, to explore the intersection of technology, meditation, and human awareness. Steve has spent years studying both traditional mindfulness practices and emerging tech—AI, virtual reality, and digital training tools—and asking hard questions about where mindfulness is headed.Together, they unpack what technology can genuinely support in mindfulness practice—and what it can't. They discuss the difference between guided experiences and embodied learning, why attention and nervous system regulation still require human relationship, and how men can engage technology without outsourcing responsibility for awareness.This episode isn't anti-tech. It's pro-discernment.In this conversation, you'll hear:• The rise of AI-guided meditation and VR mindfulness tools• What technology can accelerate—and what it cannot replace• Why embodiment and nervous system regulation matter more than insights• The risk of mistaking consumption for practice• How real teachers differ from algorithms• Where mindfulness is likely headed in the next decade• How men can use tech without avoiding responsibility or presenceIf you're curious about meditation apps, AI tools, or the future of mindfulness—but want grounded perspective instead of hype—this episode offers clarity.You'll walk away with:✅ A realistic understanding of AI's role in mindfulness✅ Language to evaluate meditation tools critically✅ A clearer sense of what real practice requires✅ Perspective on presence in an increasingly digital worldSponsor:Peptides for Health by Mark L. Gordon, M.D. is a two-volume series exploring the science and clinical application of therapeutic peptides.Medical Edition Vol. 1 Release: December 22, 2025Consumer Edition Vol. 1 Release: January 20, 2026Discount Code: PFH25Medical Edition Offer Window: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026Consumer Edition Offer Window: Jan 20 – Feb 20, 2026Proceeds support the Children of Veterans Program.Preview both editions: https://tbihelpnow.org/biohack-yourselfLinks & ResourcesJoin the Men Talking Mindfulness team at the 2026 Spartan Race and take mindfulness into real-world challenge. This is about grit, presence, and brotherhood under pressure. Learn more and join the team here: https://mentalkingmindfulness.com/spartan-race-2026More episodes & resources: https://mentalkingmindfulness.comMental fitness & coaching with Will: https://willnotfear.comBook Jon to speak with your team: https://jonmacaskill.comIf this episode resonates, follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with one man who's trying to hold it all together.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of Holistic Spaces, we explore the Feng Shui Qi forecast for February 2026 as we move into the Year of the Fire Horse. We talk about the solar terms—especially the start of spring on February 4—and why this season is about renewal and quiet growth, even if it still feels like winter. We share what it means to align with this emerging energy as we approach the Lunar New Year on February 17, including insights on Tiger Month, supportive and challenging zodiac influences, auspicious dates, and simple Feng Shui practices like planting seeds as an intention ritual. We close with a tarot reading that highlights potential, natural flow, and the importance of patience as this new cycle begins.What we talk about in this episode:February marks the beginning of spring in the Chinese calendarThe energy of February is about hope and renewal, even if winter still lingersIt's important of aligning with the natural energy of the season and observing changes in your environmentThe Tiger month supporting those born in the year of the horse, dog, and pigWhy this is an ideal time of year to plant seeds as a symbol of personal growth and nurturing…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:2026 Feng Shui Amulet for Protection and LuckOur Feng Shui Energy Map EkitThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.Time stamps for this episode:[04:11] February's Solar Terms[10:57] Chinese Zodiac Reading for February 2026[13:11] The Energetic Shift Towards Spring[15:16] A Tarot Reading for February's Collective Energy[22:10] Practical Feng Shui Applications for GrowthMORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HERENEW EPISODES OF THE HOLISTIC SPACES PODCAST BY MINDFUL DESIGN ARE AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY.Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE

As today's teacher Jessica Morey says, "Anger's fundamental role is to protect us and protect what we care about in the world. It lets us know when a limit of ours, or a boundary, has been crossed." But because of its power and volatility, anger can be a troubling emotion to be with and a difficult one to work with. Today's practice is aimed at gaining insight into our anger so that we can respond skillfully in any given situation. Jessica Morey is a meditation teacher and coach. She has been practicing meditation for almost three decades. She is also the co-founder and former executive director of Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, a nonprofit organization bringing in-depth mindfulness and compassion training to youth. The transcription of this guided meditation will be online and in our app at Mindful.org next week.  Stay curious, stay inspired. Sign up for our free newsletter mindful.org/signup or download the app for free at mindful.org/app.  Show Notes Find more from Jessica Morey here. Go Deeper For more resources on meeting and working with anger, check out these articles on Mindful.org:  The Real Danger of Suppressing Your Emotions  Why Women Should Embrace Their Anger  Finding Radical Kindness in the Face of Chaos and Danger  Cooling the Raging Fires of Anger  Using the Energy of Anger  And to get more practice understanding powerful emotions like anger, try Guided Meditation: Notice How Sadness, Loneliness, and Anger Show Up in Your Body.  And more from Mindful here: More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org. The DONUT brings you free daily news without the extra noise—stay informed in under 5 mins, and feel good doing it. Subscribe here. 

Si sufres de estrés crónico, ansiedad generalizada o simplemente quieres entrenar tu mente parra vivir en el presente, quizá pueda ayudarte. Escríbeme a oliver@oliveroliva.com

Are New Year's resolutions helping your mental health, or quietly burning you out? In this episode of the Get Psyched Podcast, we unpack the difference between resolution culture and intention setting, and why the way we approach change can deeply impact our emotional well-being, self-worth, and nervous system.Resolution culture often tells us we need to fix or reinvent ourselves to be worthy. Intention, on the other hand, invites curiosity, compassion, and sustainable growth. We explore how shifting your mindset from “have to” → “get to” can reduce anxiety, increase motivation, and support long-term mental wellness.Today, we explore:

What if fear, grief, anger, and old hurts didn't run the show anymore? We share a gentle way to build real emotional capacity without white-knuckling your way through pain. Instead of diving into the deep end, we map a clear, safe progression—starting with mild memories, grounding in the body, and adding just enough mindfulness to feel what's there without getting swept away.We begin by setting the container: a quiet space, a stable seat, and a few minutes connecting to breath and body. From there we invite a small, manageable memory to surface—a minor disappointment, a touch of frustration, a flicker of sadness—and practice staying with it. You'll hear how to shift from fixing the feeling to feeling it, track sensations like tightness, warmth, or shakiness, and notice judgments or stories without letting them take the wheel. That simple arc—evoke, feel, notice, soften—becomes a repeatable flow you can trust.To make progress visible, we build an emotion inventory that spans both unpleasant and pleasant experiences. We rate intensity from 1 to 10, sort the list, and train at the lower levels until our nervous system learns, I can be with this. Over time, we advance thoughtfully to midrange emotions. When the material touches deeper trauma or profound grief, we talk about making a wise plan: what stays in solo practice and what deserves the steady presence of a therapist, guide, or healer. Along the way, we challenge the habit of avoiding joy, showing how the same mindful skills help us receive good feelings fully.By the end, you'll have a practical framework for emotional resilience: a safe setting, a stepwise method, and a roadmap for when to seek support. If this approach helps, follow the show, share it with a friend who could use steadier ground, and leave a quick review to help others find these tools.Support the showAdd your 5‑star review — this really helps others find us. Certify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.comAbout the Podcast Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change Rather than chasing peak experiences or spiritual bypassing, this podcast emphasizes embodied practice, ethical teaching, and mindfulness that meets people where they are—messy, human, and alive. If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and co...

Patrick the puzzle is missing a piece and worries that the kids won't be able to enjoy playing anymore. What will he do?

Are you staying busy and keeping up with your social media? Are you keeping everybody else happy? If so, you are probably out of touch, living life on autopilot, unaware of yourself and your impact on others. Are you out of touch? This episode helps you see if you are, and tells you what to do about it. Send us a textSupport the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, thoughtful encouragement.

Well Seasoned Librarian Podcast Season 16 Episode 18 Guest: Julia Halina Hadas Bio: ulia Halina Hadas is the bestselling author of WitchCraft Cocktails and Moon, Magic, Mixology and is the leading mixologist in the witchcraft and spiritual spheres - combining her professions and passions of witchcraft, mixology, and astrology. Her most recent work, The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology, reflects her witchcraft and healing practices, where she incorporates the meaning and myth of astrological archetypes and transits for empowerment, transformation, and manifestation. She is a certified reiki, crystal, energy worker, and holds a BA in Anthropology, with minors in Public Policy and English Literature. Magical Mocktails: https://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Mocktails-Nonalcoholic-Mindful-Affirmations-ebook/dp/B0FM282646?ref_=ast_author_dp_rw&th=1&psc=1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2-hgKPAH1Oa18vT-W_v9ITdVkXs-AHcjhF_EMNp97BD1chHZ_z_bqYgrXHFFhUsZYpSQJJ9bmAsWcxgmpXI4NuAP6F8yfJGh-XGjBQPyg7g.kTVtEJ9BK7KCiLyObGtGalK6MnLZ2CCxbvFTzHwsRN4&dib_tag=AUTHORWebsite: WitchcraftCocktails.com.About the Well Seasoned Librarian (Reviewer)Hailing from San Diego and spending his teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, Dean Jones has become a seasoned resident of the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. A true foodie and lover of the written word, Dean wears many hats: librarian, Podcaster, cookbook reviewer, and writer.Catch him at book festivals, farmers' markets, bookstores, or savoring a delicious meal at a local restaurant. Dean's passion for food and literature shines through his published works. You can find his reviews in “Amoral Beatitudes Magazine” and his insightful articles on platforms like Medium's “One Table One World,” “The Cookbook for All,” “An Idea,” and “Authors What Are You Reading?” Currently, Dean keeps Benicia Times Herald readers informed with his regular cookbook review column.

What does success look like? A neuroscientist wants you to question your cognitive scripts.  Anne-Laure Le Cunff conducts research into the neuroscience of learning and curiosity at King's College London, and also runs Ness Labs. She is the author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World.  In this episode we talk about: Her critique on our cultural obsession with "finding your purpose" The value of knowing your "cognitive scripts" Practical tools to live a more purposeful, curious, and fulfilled life Her mini-protocol for experimentation (based on the scientific method) Mindful productivity — and how it builds on moving us into an experimental mindset  Whether procrastination is actually the enemy? And tools to work with it. The upside of making space for your imperfections  Tips for navigating uncertainty  Why you want to avoid having too many experiments at the same time The main difference between a habit and an experiment How to learn alongside with other people — and why this matters  Collective "flow" states  Tips for community building And this question: is legacy important? Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris Thank you to our sponsors:  ZipRecruiter: ​​To try ZipRecruiter for free, go to ZipRecruiter.com/tenpercent.  IQBar: To get twenty percent off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping, text DAN to sixty-four thousand.  Fabric: Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/HAPPIER.  

Cousins Alice and Allie decide to switch their usual sandcastle-making jobs.

This is the All Local 4:00 p.m. update for January 19, 2026.

Si sufres de estrés crónico, ansiedad generalizada o simplemente quieres entrenar tu mente parra vivir en el presente, quizá pueda ayudarte. Escríbeme a oliver@oliveroliva.com

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In a world that demands constant action, we often forget that our true power lies in stillness. Welcome to Part 3 of our Calming Anxiety mini-series.Today, Martin (your host and clinical hypnotherapist) guides you through a powerful session on shifting your focus from "doing" to simply "being". If you struggle with the pressure to be the perfect worker, parent, or partner, this episode invites you to take off the mask and find rest in the present moment.In this episode, you will experience:The "Human Being" Shift: A mindset shift to help you realize you are a "human being, not a human doing".Radical Acceptance Visualization: A guided journey into a "beautiful room filled with soft, warm sunlight" to wash away the inner critic.Self-Love Affirmations: Learn to silence the voice that says you aren't enough by planting seeds of truth, such as "I am enough just as I am" and "I release the need to be perfect".Finding Clarity: Discover how stillness allows the "agitated waters" of the mind to settle so you can see clearly again.Why Listen? You do not need to earn your rest or your worth; it is inherent. This 10-minute session is your permission slip to stop striving and start existing in a state of peace and self-love.Call to Action (CTA)Found value in today's session? If this mini-series has helped you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review so others can find this sanctuary too.Share the Love: Please share this episode with someone who needs a little more self-love today. Let's spread a virus of kindness together.Remember: Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, smile often to yourself. In every thought, word, and deed—be kind.

Many of us are carrying the weight of the world's suffering right now. How can we acknowledge the immense suffering around us, and our own—and still tend to our hearts, minds, and bodies in a way that keeps us grounded and able to take compassionate action?  This week, mindfulness teacher and author Wendy O'Leary shares a guided practice that offers refuge and reminds us of our real and loving connection to one another.    Wendy O'Leary, M.Ed., author and health educator, has three children's books and an adult book on self-compassion in families. She is a certified mindfulness teacher, parent educator, and self-compassion advocate. Wendy has expertise in teaching skills for emotional resilience to children and adults. Wendy's next publication, a card deck for children titled "Let's Grow Happiness," is scheduled for release in April 2026. The transcription of this guided meditation will be online and in our app at Mindful.org next week.  Stay curious, stay inspired. Sign up for our free newsletter mindful.org/signup or download the app for free at mindful.org/app.  Show Notes Find more from Wendy O'Leary here. Go Deeper  check out these articles on Mindful.org:  Where To Start When There Is So Much Suffering  Breaking Generational Patterns of Suffering  Bringing Mindfulness to Students Suffering from Trauma  Addiction, Trauma, and the Problem of Being Present  And to get more practice being with difficult emotions and returning to connection, try An Interbeing Meditation for Connection and Understanding. And more from Mindful here: More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org. The DONUT brings you free daily news without the extra noise—stay informed in under 5 mins, and feel good doing it. Subscribe here.

Beloved,Are your affirmations not manifesting?

Yesterday I came across a news story that spoke to me on a VERY DEEP level. God is in charge. I am choosing to be more mindful of my desired future.YouTube Video I Mentioned: "Yacht Club Games is a Sinking Ship" by Jackaveli - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0iKIqEaOisBloomberg Article - "Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break' Moment" - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-02/creator-of-hit-game-shovel-knight-is-at-make-or-break-momentSupport the show

This talk was given by Gil Fronsdal on 2026.01.13 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* A machine generated transcript of this talk is available. It has not been edited by a human, so errors will exist. Download Transcript: https://www.audiodharma.org/transcripts/24333/download ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

This talk was given by Gil Fronsdal on 2026.01.13 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* A machine generated transcript of this talk is available. It has not been edited by a human, so errors will exist. Download Transcript: https://www.audiodharma.org/transcripts/24333/download ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE is a former soldier, world-championship athlete, award-winning international musician and artist. During a 28-year regular and reserve career, Ash served as an airborne soldier, helicopter pilot, jungle warfare and counter-terrorist specialist, spending 82 months deployed on operations. Since retirement, Ash has been a Senior Partner at McChrystal Group, led international business development at Palantir, runs a Leadership Development firm and is VP EMEA & APAC for Dedrone by Axon. Wounded multiple times in combat, Ash is passionate about giving back and is proud to support several veteran and mental health charities. To that end, he has committed to donate all author profits from the sale of his upcoming book - Mindful Soldier: Building Resilience to Overcome Life's Challenges – which publishes in the UK on 22 January 2026 and is available worldwide from 27 January 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I talk with Miles Woodroffe, CTO of Mindful Chef. We discuss his music career touring with The Specials and working with Bob Dylan and Ray Charles, how he transitioned into tech, building great teams, and finding people who enjoy working together.Links:mileswoodroffe.comMindful ChefNonsense Monthly

dont let this go over your head

Send us a textThis month, we're embracing the beauty of stillness. Not the kind that comes from doing more but from simply being more.No pressure. No noise. Just stillness, presence, and intention.If you've been craving silence, slowing down, or simply catching your breath, this episode is your gentle reminder: it's okay to rest, reset, and move quietly into your next season.Music by: Freebeats.io#TheQuietReset #PosiVibezPodcast #MindfulMomentsDO NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE!!! B.M.W. Blacknificent, Mindful & Whole Follow me on Instagram @Clo_posivibez Follow my FB: PosiVibez

January 11, 2026Pastor Curt WhiteSupport the show

To Join My Year of Decluttering Program: https://declutteryourchaos.com/course-private Hey Friends, In today's episode, Amber shows you how to take action in your home without triggering overwhelm, avoidance, or burnout. If you've ever felt stuck staring at a messy room, this is the missing piece. Try this today: Choose one small, specific space. Set a short timer. Regulate your body with a few slow breaths. Make one simple decision. Then stop on purpose. You'll also hear about Amber's year-long decluttering program, where you can practice this approach with support for just $1 for the first month. Learn more HERE.  The January Reset Day 1: Intention setting Day 2: Nervous system regulation (today) Day 3: Mindful action in the home Want support doing this consistently? You can try the year-long program for $1 for your first month at declutteryourchaos.com If this podcast is helping you, please leave a five-star review or subscribe wherever you're listening—it truly makes a difference. Tomorrow: Day Three of the January Reset — taking mindful action in your home without burnout. If you want support decluttering your entire home in a calm, sustainable way, the year-long Declutter Your Chaos program is open during the January trial period. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Looking forward to seeing your progress in the free Facebook group.  To join click below... https://www.facebook.com/groups/declutteryourchaos/ Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect:

To Join My Year of Decluttering Program: https://declutteryourchaos.com/course-private Hey Friends, In today's episode, Amber shows you how to take action in your home without triggering overwhelm, avoidance, or burnout. If you've ever felt stuck staring at a messy room, this is the missing piece. Try this today: Choose one small, specific space. Set a short timer. Regulate your body with a few slow breaths. Make one simple decision. Then stop on purpose. You'll also hear about Amber's year-long decluttering program, where you can practice this approach with support for just $1 for the first month. Learn more HERE.  The January Reset Day 1: Intention setting Day 2: Nervous system regulation (today) Day 3: Mindful action in the home Want support doing this consistently? You can try the year-long program for $1 for your first month at declutteryourchaos.com If this podcast is helping you, please leave a five-star review or subscribe wherever you're listening—it truly makes a difference. If you want support decluttering your entire home in a calm, sustainable way, the year-long Declutter Your Chaos program is open during the January trial period. If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Looking forward to seeing your progress in the free Facebook group.  To join click below... https://www.facebook.com/groups/declutteryourchaos/ Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect:

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A couch, a non-alcoholic hazy IPA, and a confession: leaving the monastery wasn't just about tacos and rules—it was about hugging family again and answering a call to serve a world on edge. What followed is a surprising arc from Spirit Rock to healthcare to a teacher training program that's now helping seed mindfulness across the Environmental Protection Agency and beyond.We walk through the real reasons mindfulness belongs inside complex institutions: not as a perk, but as a skills-based response to stress, climate anxiety, and high-stakes decision-making. You'll hear how EPA leaders enrolled in our certification, why they're inviting more colleagues, and what a mindful federal initiative could look like across agencies like the Forest Service, Housing, and even the military. The science is clear—reduced stress and anxiety, better communication, stronger resilience—and the stories show how a short practice can change a meeting, a policy conversation, or a homecoming after work.This is a grounded look at scaling compassion without losing integrity. We talk about attention as a shared resource, how training trainers multiplies impact, and why adopting mindfulness at work naturally shifts habits at home: how we speak, what we buy and eat, and how we show up for people we love. If you care about mental health, leadership, and a more humane approach to public service, you'll find both practical tools and a dose of hope.If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one way you'll plant a mindful seed this week. Your practice can be the spark that lights the next room.Support the showAdd your 5‑star review — this really helps others find us. Certify To Teach Mindfulness: Certify.MindfulnessExercises.com Email: Sean@MindfulnessExercises.comAbout the Podcast Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings Conversations with respected teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change Rather than chasing peak experiences or spiritual bypassing, this podcast emphasizes embodied practice, ethical teaching, and mindfulness that meets people where they are—messy, human, and alive. If you're interested in: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life Trauma-sensitive and co...

Our brains learn through a process that has three components: trigger, behavior, reward. Together these behaviors form what is known as a habit loop.  In today's meditation, Dr. Brewer walks us through a practice to notice triggers—when they're happening and how they make us feel. When we pay attention to these triggers, we can respond to ourselves with more compassion and make choices with a lot more clarity. Jud Brewer, MD, Ph.D. ("Dr. Jud") is a New York Times best-selling author and thought leader in the field of habit change and the "science of self-mastery," who blends over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training and a career in scientific research. He is passionate about understanding how our brains work, and how to use that knowledge to help people make deep, permanent change in their lives — with the goal of reducing suffering in the world at large. Dr. Jud is the director of research and innovation at Brown University's Mindfulness Center, where he also serves as a professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences at the School of Public Health and Psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University. Previously, Dr. Jud held research and teaching positions at Yale University, and the University of Massachusetts' Center for Mindfulness and was a research affiliate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The transcription of this guided meditation will be online and in our app at Mindful.org next week.  Stay curious, stay inspired. Sign up for our free newsletter mindful.org/signup or download the app for free at mindful.org/app.  Show Notes Find more from Judson Brewer here. Go Deeper Being with cravings with the intention of shifting our response, is one of the most challenging parts of mindful living. For more support with understanding craving, addiction, and presence,  check out these articles on Mindful.org:   How to Be Mindful With Your Cravings Rethink Your Food Cravings with the Art of Savoring  When Avoidance Rules Your Life: Understanding Compulsions vs. Addictions  How Mindfulness Can Help Teens With Tech Addiction  And to experience another meditation from Dr. Brewer that guides you through how to be with cravings to facilitate habit change, try A 12-Minute Meditation to Get Curious About Your Cravings. And more from Mindful here: More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Ellen J. Langer, Ph.D., discusses the profound connection between mindfulness and chronic health conditions. Discover how intentional thought patterns can significantly influence your physical well-being and improve long-term health outcomes. #MindBodyHealth #Mindfulness #ChronicHealth

In this bonus announcement episode Kelly share a new initiative that she has been working on for the last 3 months to create a more personalized and streamlined meditation experience from Mindful in Minutes and tells you how you can win a $500 retreat credit and a meditation swag bag. Find Your Meditation Match- Take the quiz here More Mindful in Minutes ⁠⁠Join the free 5-day Nervous system reset to overcome overwhelm⁠⁠ Books ⁠⁠Order Meditation For The Modern Family⁠⁠ ⁠⁠You Are Not Your Thoughts: An 8-Week Anxiety Guided Meditation Journal⁠⁠ **⁠⁠Download 4 sample days from You Are Not Your Thoughts Here⁠⁠** Join MIM on Patreon here ⁠⁠Order Meditation For The Modern Family⁠⁠ Let's Connect Email Kelly your questions at info@yogaforyouonline.com Follow Kelly on instagram @yogaforyouonline Please rate, subscribe and review (it helps more than you know!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Friends, Decluttering isn't a motivation problem. It's a nervous system problem. In today's episode, we talk about why clutter often shows up as a coping strategy during seasons of overwhelm—and why pressure, shame, and "just trying harder" don't work. You'll learn how avoidance forms, what maladaptive coping looks like in the home, and how to work with your nervous system instead of against it. This episode includes a guided nervous system regulation practice you can use anytime—before decluttering, when you feel overwhelmed, or when you notice yourself avoiding your space. The January Reset Day 1: Intention setting Day 2: Nervous system regulation (today) Day 3: Mindful action in the home Want support doing this consistently? You can try the year-long program for $1 for your first month at declutteryourchaos.com If this podcast is helping you, please leave a five-star review or subscribe wherever you're listening—it truly makes a difference. Tomorrow: Day Three of the January Reset — taking mindful action in your home without burnout. If you want support decluttering your entire home in a calm, sustainable way, the year-long Declutter Your Chaos program is open during the January trial period. You can find all the details at https://declutteryourchaos.com/ If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Here's to a calmer, more supported 2026! Click here for the year long program! Looking forward to seeing your progress in the free Facebook group.  To join click below... https://www.facebook.com/groups/declutteryourchaos/ Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect:

Hey Friends, Decluttering isn't a motivation problem. It's a nervous system problem. In today's episode, we talk about why clutter often shows up as a coping strategy during seasons of overwhelm—and why pressure, shame, and "just trying harder" don't work. You'll learn how avoidance forms, what maladaptive coping looks like in the home, and how to work with your nervous system instead of against it. This episode includes a guided nervous system regulation practice you can use anytime—before decluttering, when you feel overwhelmed, or when you notice yourself avoiding your space. The January Reset Day 1: Intention setting Day 2: Nervous system regulation (today) Day 3: Mindful action in the home Want support doing this consistently? You can try the year-long program for $1 for your first month at declutteryourchaos.com If this podcast is helping you, please leave a five-star review or subscribe wherever you're listening—it truly makes a difference. Tomorrow: Day Three of the January Reset — taking mindful action in your home without burnout. If you want support decluttering your entire home in a calm, sustainable way, the year-long Declutter Your Chaos program is open during the January trial period. You can find all the details at https://declutteryourchaos.com/ If this episode helped you, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it. Here's to a calmer, more supported 2026! Click here for the year long program! Looking forward to seeing your progress in the free Facebook group.  To join click below... https://www.facebook.com/groups/declutteryourchaos/ Download my free decluttering planner here: https://declutteryourchaos.com/decluttering-planner Let's connect:

Bianca RappaportCreatorWanderwell Clubhttps://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/bianca-rappaport/Guest BioBianca Rappaport is the founder of Wanderwell Club and a full-time nomad who has spent nearly a decade house and pet sitting across more than 20 countries on five continents. Since 2016, she has crafted a lifestyle that fuses financial freedom with meaningful travel—saving over $300,000 in rent, leveraging travel hacks for low-cost flights, and building a multi-six-figure investment portfolio. Remarkably, she reached Coast FI by age 34 without ever earning a six-figure salary.Her approach combines intentional, slow travel with smart financial strategies, values-based spending, and a commitment to community. Whether she's volunteering with locals or supporting small businesses, Bianca believes in giving back to the places she visits.Through Wanderwell Club, Bianca empowers digital nomads and remote workers to build a sustainable lifestyle that balances exploration, financial independence, and positive social impact.Show SummaryIn this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Bianca Rappaport, founder of the Wanderwell Club and long-time global nomad. Bianca shares how her multicultural background and early desire to see the world led her to a lifestyle rooted in slow, intentional travel and personal freedom.The conversation explores how Bianca built a financially sustainable life on the road through house sitting, frugal living, and long-term investing. She emphasizes the importance of community, mindfulness, and reciprocity in travel—encouraging listeners to slow down, build local connections, and make a positive impact along the way. Her journey is a compelling example of how travel and financial wellness can go hand in hand.Key Takeaways✓ Sustainable travel and financial freedom can go hand in hand with the right strategy.✓ Bianca embraces the term “digital slow mad” to describe her intentional travel style.✓ Slowing down allows for deeper relationships and a stronger sense of place.✓ A powerful passport is a privilege that opens doors to global mobility.✓ Even challenging moments—like crashing on a friend's couch—can lead to transformation.✓ House sitting offers a cost-effective, immersive way to travel long-term.✓ Financial literacy is key to sustaining a nomadic lifestyle and planning for retirement.✓ Wanderwell Club provides a supportive space for community, growth, and guidance.✓ Mindful travel creates ripple effects that benefit local communities.✓ Saying yes to new opportunities often leads to unexpected, life-changing adventures. Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Coach Nino Villa and Maria Casillas discuss how to approach the new year with healthier financial routines and more intentional goal setting. They dive into the rise of no spend challenges, why they've become so popular, and the potential downsides of using restriction-based approaches to manage money. Nino and Maria explain the importance of understanding personal spending habits, redefining spending categories, and identifying emotional or behavioral discomfort tied to money decisions. Rather than focusing on rigid rules, they encourage listeners to practice mindful spending by examining beliefs, motivations, and personal values behind their financial choices. The conversation emphasizes creating a purposeful spending plan that aligns with individual goals and circumstances. This episode is ideal for anyone looking to move beyond trends like no spend challenges and build sustainable, intentional money habits for the new year and beyond. Tools, Resources & Ways to Connect Looking for tools and resources to help you reach your money goals? We've got you covered. Join the New Money Habits Community Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits Become a member starting at $5/month Start your 7-day free trial today Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting processhttps://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools Holiday Spending & Gift Giving Planner (FREE): Plan ahead and spend with intention: https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planninghttps://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com Join Our Free Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedomhttps://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp Music CreditsThis episode features music by Summer School. Connect With UsFollow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates. no spend challenge, mindful spending, personal finance habits, money routines, financial goal setting, spending habits, intentional spending, budgeting mindset, financial planning, New Money Habits Podcast New Money Habits Podcast, no spend challenge, mindful spending, spending habits, money routines, financial goals, budgeting mindset, intentional living, personal finance, financial wellness

In this conversation, Cheryl McColgan discusses the importance of replacing unhealthy habits with healthier alternatives rather than restricting them completely. She emphasizes the ease of substitution in creating sustainable dietary changes and introduces the concept of mindfulness and tracking behaviors to facilitate change. The discussion is framed within the context of a 30-day healthy habits challenge, encouraging listeners to adopt small, manageable changes for long-term success. Takeaways Substitution is easier than restriction for behavior change.Small swaps can improve diet quality without drastic changes.Mindfulness in tracking behaviors can lead to automatic changes.Replacing unhealthy foods with healthier options enhances adherence.Cutting out beloved foods can lead to a rebound effect.Practicing discipline is key to forming new habits.The challenge encourages starting changes immediately, not waiting for a specific time.Mindful tracking can help in reducing alcohol consumption.The goal is to create sustainable habits through gradual changes. Disclaimer: Links may contain affiliate links, which means we may get paid a commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through this page. Read our full disclosure here. CONNECT WITH CHERYL Shop all my healthy lifestyle favorites, lots of discounts! 21 Day Fat Loss Kickstart: Make Keto Easy, Take Diet Breaks and Still Lose Weight Dry Farm Wines, extra bottle for a penny Drinking Ketones Wild Pastures, Clean Meat to Your Doorstep 20% off for life Clean Beauty 20% off first order DIY Lashes 10% off NIRA at Home Laser for Wrinkles 10% off or current promo with code HealNourishGrow Instagram for daily stories with recipes, what I eat in a day and what’s going on in life Facebook YouTube Pinterest TikTok Amazon Store The Shoe Fairy Competition Gear Getting Started with Keto Resources The Complete Beginners Guide to Keto Getting Started with Keto Podcast Episode Getting Started with Keto Resource Guide Episode Transcript: Cheryl McColgan (00:00.152)Hey everyone, I’m Cheryl McColgan, founder of Heal Nourish Grow and welcome to day six of your 30 day healthy habits challenge. So today we’re going to work on doing something that is not restrictive, but yet just replacing. So for example, this is just again, all about practicing discipline. And so instead of cutting something out completely, we’re just gonna do a swap. So one of the easier, Examples I can think of for this is maybe you drink a sugary drink or soda every day. Instead, consider drinking a glass of water in place of that or replace it with something closer to a soda, which would be maybe a diet soda, sugar-free soda, something like that. So rather than just trying to ditch the habit completely, we’re going to do a replacement behavior. And the reason this works is that substitution is just a lot easier than restriction, right? So small swaps can really improve your diet quality without having to do any crazy, really restrictive things. Like for example, keto, as you know, that that’s what I’ve done very strictly in the past. Right now, just so you know, I would still say I’m low carb, but I have kind of changed the way that I have been eating over the last year because I’ve started strength training a lot more and I did a bodybuilding competition. And so my diet looked a little bit different than it has for the past seven years, but I’m definitely still low carb and go in and out of ketosis at times still, but much more carbs in my life. Right. So that’s the example is that when you do something like keto and you go all in at the beginning, you’re really doing a lot of restriction, but instead can you replace those? And that’s really what it looks like for a healthy diet, no matter what kind of style of eating you choose, whether it’s just eating more whole foods or eating less sugar, whatever it is for you, making those adjustments in a sense that you’re replacing something rather than restricting it is a lot easier. So in the idea of like the keto diet, one of the things like so for example, carbs, let’s say potatoes well. Cheryl McColgan (02:09.814)instead of just getting rid of potatoes altogether, maybe replace it with something else that’s lower carb like cauliflower. Cauliflower is the solution for everything, right? So it’s just a replacement thing. And it also just create better adherence because if you try to cut everything out at once, and that’s really, again, what this whole challenge is all about is that year after year when I’ve talked to people or worked with people on doing new habits or New Year’s resolutions or goals for the new year, people always tend to bite off more than they can chew because when it comes to the time of year, like if you happen to be doing this in January, I mean, I hope you pick it up anytime. Because like I said, it’s always for me, it’s like, okay, notice that you need some help with something and don’t wait till Monday, don’t wait till tomorrow, just start doing it now again. So you could start this challenge over any time that you need it. But really it’s… Cheryl McColgan (03:28.281)But really what it’s meant to do is get you thinking in the right direction and start trying little new things so that you can create bigger changes later if that’s your goal. Or maybe there’s something that you think you want to change in your life. So maybe you try this one little habit around that first and then you think, okay, well that’s really not the right way to approach it. Or maybe you don’t actually need to change that thing at all. Maybe you just need to replace some behavior. So anyway, I hope that gives you some sense of why we’re doing it this way. But also in this particular one, like the restriction versus replacement, it’s just an easier behavior change. Because if you’re still going to have, here’s another example, if you need to cut down your coffee, right, or cut down your caffeine, instead of cutting out coffee completely, maybe you switch to decaf or maybe you switch to half-caf. You still get the taste, you still have the behavior, you still have the enjoyment of it, but without the thing that you’re trying to negatively impact. So hopefully that makes sense. Just doing these behaviors that replace things rather than restricting them is a lot easier. It can also just make you if you if you’re working on diet in particular, I mentioned adherence like diet is probably the place where it really impacts the most. Because again, like cutting out those things that you love is eventually going to cause a rebound effect process possibly whereas if you put in something similar but healthier, it just makes that behavior easier to repeat over time. And then you might find as you practice behavior longer and longer, it becomes more of a habit. Then maybe you cut down or cut back or cut out certain things because there are definitely certain things. And again, diets probably the best example, but there’s, there’s definitely things in your diet that just aren’t healthy and you’d be better off if you cut them out completely. And you probably say the same things about some lifestyle behaviors as well. So I think I may or may not have mentioned earlier in the challenge that You know, another thing that people like to look at this time of year tends to be behaviors around alcohol. And I, in the past, had interviewed Ian, who’s the founder of Sunnyside, and he had reached out to me because they’re doing something this month. So their app is available year round. And it’s actually a really cool app because it’s kind of on the same vein. It’s not totally taking the behavior away or it’s not restricting. It’s just asking you to be more mindful and track things. And as you track things and become more mindful, Cheryl McColgan (05:54.37)sometimes your behavior changes automatically. And so around alcohol, they’re not saying don’t drink at all, but they’re just saying be more mindful and maybe eventually do replacements, do mocktails, do different kinds of beverages, or eventually start cutting back. But it’s the tracking and the mindfulness about it and that substitution behavior that makes it really useful. So anyway, I’ll make sure that is in the show notes as well because they are actually offering a totally free. January program that you don’t even have to put your credit card in for. But anyway, the app is really awesome. And if that’s one of your behaviors that you’d like to do this substitution with, I would definitely recommend trying that app at some point. So hopefully this makes sense. That’s a pretty simple habit to try for a day. Just swap one thing. We’re just replacing or changing slightly. We’re not restricting. But just, again, that practice of being mindful around this and noticing what it is you might need to change, I think will be super helpful. So. That is it for today. I will see you again tomorrow.

In this episode of the Holistic Spaces podcast, we explore the Feng Shui colors to embrace in 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse. We discuss the importance of color in Feng Shui and introduce three colors that align with the energy of the year: Midnight Blue, Sunflower Yellow, and Chalk White. We share the meaning behind each color, how they can support balance, strength, and ease, and practical ways to incorporate them into your home and daily life. Throughout the episode, we emphasize the value of personal connection to color and encourage listeners to work with these hues in ways that feel intuitive and supportive.What we talk about in this episode:-How colors can significantly impact our energy and emotions-The cultural and personal significances of color-Midnight Blue is associated with balance and self-awareness-Sunflower Yellow as a symbol of strength and stability-Chalk White promotes spaciousness and ease…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:Our Feng Shui Energy Map EkitThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.Time stamps for this episode:[02:03] The significance of color in feng shui[05:50] Three colors for the year of the Fire Horse[12:09] Practical applications of color in feng shuiMORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HERENEW EPISODES OF THE HOLISTIC SPACES PODCAST BY MINDFUL DESIGN ARE AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY.Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE

If you've been feeling the pressure—burnout for you, overwhelm for your teen, and a constant sense that everyone is behind—this conversation with Dr. Greg Hammer (Stanford physician, mindfulness teacher, and author) is a deep exhale. Ginny Yurich and Dr. Hammer talk about why teens are carrying stress we never had (smartphones, comparison, eco-anxiety, school fears), and why his simple GAIN practice—Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Nonjudgment—isn't “floofy,” it's a practical way to rewire the brain toward steadiness and joy. You'll hear why gratitude is the foundation of happiness, how “small bites” change family culture, and why nature itself can bring us back to the present where happiness actually lives. Listen and share this with a friend who needs hope, and if the show has encouraged you, leaving a review truly helps other families find it. Get a copy of The Mindful Teen here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if they aren't particularly into making resolutions, for many people the New Year still feels like a fresh start: a time for taking stock, for reviewing what's passed, for turning the page on one chapter and starting another.  In today's meditation, teacher Frank Ostaseski asks: How do you meet endings? We can learn a lot about how we face the new by looking at how we let go of the old, and here Ostaseski offers a practice to surrender with curiosity and gratitude.  Frank Ostaseski is a meditation teacher who cofounded the Zen Hospice Project. In 2004, he went on to create the Metta Institute to provide innovative educational programs and professional training to foster compassionate, mindfulness-based care. The transcription of this guided meditation will be online at Mindful.org next week.  Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter:  mindful.org/signup Show Notes Find more from Frank Ostaseski here. Go Deeper  If you're facing a big change, even if it's completely unrelated to the New Year, mindfulness can help support your well-being as you consider options, make choices, and step into a new season. Check out these articles for more information: Embracing Change: What Nanalan' Teaches Us About Saying Goodbye  Goodbye, Things: Find Peace of Mind By Letting Go of Your Stuff  Mindfulness for Grief and Loss  Finding Your Way Forward When the Path Is Not Clear  And to experience another approach to intention-setting, try A 12-Minute Meditation to Find Stability Amid Change. And more from Mindful here: More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

Happy New Year, Protagonists!Welcome to our (slightly) new name and logo. In this Letters from the Creative Life post, you can read about what this new name means to us, and what you can look forward to here in the upcoming year. xo,Joanna & EvelynWhat does ALIVE mean?Finding my Tentacle and Showing Up All the Way to LifeLast year, Evelyn invited me to bring some elements of my creativity coaching to this amazing Substack community. In our collaboration, we decided on a new name: Creative, Inspired, ALIVE.You might be wondering, what the heck does ALIVE mean? And you would not be alone. In fact, I struggled to put “aliveness” into words while drafting this post. Every time I tried to define alive, I got lost in a fog of woo-woo buzzwords— presence, energy, alignment, flow, wholeness—but these words do nothing to help you feel what I mean by ALIVE.I asked a friend, “How do I make this real for readers?” She sighed and answered, “Joanna, you have to tell them about your tentacle.” My eyes went wide, and heat rushed to my cheeks. “No, I can't possibly write a public post about my tentacle. It's too cringe, too vulnerable, too sensual.” And then I shook my head, because I know when I have this kind of “no way” reaction, it usually means that's exactly the way I need to go–the way to my full aliveness.Alright, let's back up a bit. A few years ago, I found myself stepping out of the vortex that is early motherhood. I understood my capacity as a human to a new depth, yet yearned to rediscover my full self again. I wanted to sink my teeth into my existence. Not just the content of life–job, family, hobbies–but the experience of living. I joined a coaching circle and started the work of seeing my full self (especially the parts I wanted to hide), challenging my stories about the world (especially the ones I clung to), and harnessing my creative power more fully.Then, I read Audre Lorde's essay, Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power. I picked it up thinking it would help me understand my pull toward writing romance, and found something far deeper. I found a passionate declaration about the power of living life to its fullest, deepest, juiciest core:“For the erotic is not a question only of what we do; it is a question of how acutely and fully we can feel in the doing. Once we know the extent to which we are capable of feeling that sense of satisfaction and completion, we can then observe which of our various life endeavours bring us closest to that fullness.”This is what I wanted to commit to in my next chapter. The power of my deep, creative force that infuses life with passion and meaning, drives authentic action and connection, and challenges mediocrity by demanding fulfillment.So, I made “the erotic embodiment of life” my resolution for 2025. When I explained my New Year's intention to my friends, I described it like this: I imagine that I have a tentacle, covered in nerve endings, and I wrap it around the people, situations, objects–everything–in my life to feel, taste, smell, experience all of it as fully as I can. Imagine wrapping your tentacle around a piece of chocolate, a loved one's tears, a sense of accomplishment. Imagine wrapping your tentacle around the words you write, the clay you sculpt, the meals you make.In the first few months, I paid extra attention to all the good stuff—the joy and love in my life—but resisted when difficult circumstances arose. At which point, a wise friend helped me see that I wasn't showing up to the whole show. Could I find the erotic in the shadow? Could I feel discomfort all the way and see what it had to teach me? So, I started wrapping my tentacle around the challenges—the grief for my father, the crush of an agent's rejection, the exhaustion of motherhood, the boredom of spreadsheets. And something crazy happened, I started noticing beauty in all those things. I came to feel their essentialness to life. These experiences are what make me whole and perfectly human.While writing this essay, I stumbled upon Ellen Langer's research at Harvard. In her “I Hate Football” study, she found that asking participants to actively notice new things about an activity they dislike resulted in them enjoying the activity more. And the more they noticed, the more they liked it. Langer says, “We're brought up to wait for something to excite us…and all of that I think is wrong. Anything can be made exciting.” Mindful engagement helps us enjoy our lives.After a year of living with my tentacle, I got what ALIVE means to me. Alive is paying attention. It's inhabiting my senses. It's feeling my body. It's acknowledging my whole self—the good and the challenging parts. It's showing up fully in the creation of my life. My tentacle moved me beyond just existing or just doing; it deeply engaged me in whatever I endeavored. And I never felt so creative and inspired. For when you taste the world through your skin, how can you not be moved? How can you not be driven to contribute to it all?A tremendous freedom also came with committing to aliveness because the intention was always in my power to accomplish. External circumstances couldn't dictate my purpose. In fact, external circumstances often made it more interesting. Sick kid at home today, let me wrap my tentacle around that. Writer's block won't go away, ok, what does that feel like? I luxuriated in the texture of my car's steering wheel and the mix of joy and sadness in seeing my children outgrow their clothes.At the end of the day, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment if I showed up to whatever was. My to-do list could still have items on it, rejection could come, plans could change, but I had a successful day as long as I paid attention.In a short time, my aliveness started to feed back into my work. I not only showed up fully to the page, but my fullness started showing up on the page. I had access to more life to create with. I felt inspired by the simplest things because I noticed them deeply. It felt as if the entire universe showed up simply by my paying attention to it. Creative energy coursed through me.During this year, Evelyn invited me to collaborate in this community. I wrapped my tentacle around the opportunity and proposed expanding from Creative, Inspired, HAPPY to Creative, Inspired, ALIVE. Evelyn said, “Yes!” While kindness and optimism are guiding values here, we also wanted to make room for the multitude of experiences that arise as we persist on our creative journey. We aim to be present with whatever shows up as we make our art and share it.So, what does ALIVE mean?Alive means being present to life in this very moment. It means allowing the wholeness of ourselves, not shutting down any of our parts, but staying open to all that is–the joy and grief, the ease and challenge, the boredom and inspiration. To be with all of it.With aliveness in the mix, we are adding some pieces to our program this year. In addition to our beloved writing and reading content, we'll offer some new elements to support the fullness of our creativity practices. We hope you enjoy:* Some non-fiction selections about the creative process in our Book Club* Mini coaching sessions to reflect on and embrace our full creative selves* Wisdom from creativity experts, in addition to authors, on the Podcast* Reflective creativity prompts in the Community Chat* And *new* interactive creativity workshops coming this Spring and Fall!We are thrilled to start this new year together in our creative, inspired, ALIVE community. Get your tentacle out and let's live!Share with us what ALIVE means to you.Have you ever had a tentacle experience?What parts of life could you show up to more fully?What feels alive for you this New Year?P.S. I just started reading The Favorites for our Book Club meeting on January 25th. Swirling inside the world of ice dancing and a Wuthering Heights retelling, yes please! Has anyone else started too? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.creativeinspiredalive.com/subscribe

(From January, 2025)My website is here. 

What a great series! This episode wraps up The Empowered Eating Holiday Edit!  Don't forget to check out the details on our 4-month coaching program: The Empowered Eating Academy Gratitude isn't just about good vibes and Pinterest quotes — it's neuroscience. Each time you pause to say “thank you,” your brain rewires for more peace, joy, and connection. And what better way to wrap up the year than by practicing the science of gratitude? In this Empowered Eating Holiday Edit, Jess unpacks how gratitude changes the brain, impacts our physical and emotional health, and even supports more mindful, values-aligned nutrition through the holiday season.

In this episode of the Holistic Spaces Podcast, we share a feng shui qi forecast for January 2026, a month of transition, reflection, and gentle realignment. We explore the energetic themes of the month, key solar terms, and insights from the Chinese zodiac to help you understand what's unfolding beneath the surface. Plus Anjie offers an I Ching reading along with practical feng shui tips to support you in moving through January with intention, care, and self-compassion. This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and align with the quieter wisdom of the season.What we talk about in this episode:January as a time for self-care and reflectionThe energy of January is dominated by deep water qiEmbracing the darkness and stillness of winterJanuary 21st is a Po Day, a day for restThe full moon in January is known as the Wolf MoonUsing the energy of the new moon for gentle intention setting.…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:Our Feng Shui Energy Map EkitThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HERENEW EPISODES OF THE HOLISTIC SPACES PODCAST BY MINDFUL DESIGN ARE AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY.Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3234: Stefanie Bonastia compassionately unpacks the hidden tensions between dieting, body image, and true well-being, challenging the idea that weight loss and food freedom can coexist. She offers a powerful reframe: instead of chasing control, we can cultivate lasting health by nurturing peace with food, honoring our bodies, and redefining what “healthy” really means on our own terms. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jessikneeland.com/post/can-i-pursue-weight-loss-too/ Quotes to ponder: "You can find ways to move your body that feel fun and invigorating, or calming and grounding." "Healing your relationship with food is not the same as losing weight, and in fact they work in opposition to one another." "Our biology has no concept of thinness as a value system, it is simply concerned with survival." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3847: David Cain explores how genuine gratitude doesn't come from intellectual reflection but from tuning into the sensory details of everyday life. By focusing on the small, beautiful, and often unnoticed experiences unfolding in the present moment, we can tap into a deeper and more spontaneous form of appreciation, one that enriches even the most ordinary days. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.raptitude.com/218/2/gratitude-noticing/ Quotes to ponder: "Gratitude, when we do genuinely feel it, arises from experiences we are currently having, not from evaluating our lives in our heads." "Look for your good fortune not in some abstract assessment of your life situation, but in your experience right in this moment." "You'll appreciate so much more of every day, even bad days, when you look for the small pleasures of present moment experience instead." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa and her mom go to the Ahway Island community pool. It's very crowded, but Lisa works through her discomfort and meets a new friend.