How to remove yourself from stressful situations and change your own stress-inducing behaviors for a more peaceful life. — Wouldn’t it be better to prevent unnecessary stress rather than scramble to manage the demon once it’s out of control and wracking havoc on your body, mind, and heart? It’s not possible to remove stress completely, and you wouldn’t want to. Stress is a natural response to potentially dangerous events…

#2 They bring new insights — Every week for the past three years, I’ve met with my two closest friends for study and discussion. We might miss a meeting if the sky was falling. But otherwise, we’re ultra-committed. Not because we should be, but because we love our tiny group so much. Our content focus has…

A stunning end-of-life memoir that will make you simultaneously cry and celebrate the beauty of life — Raw. Vulnerable. Honest. Those words jump immediately into my mind when I attempt to describe the New York Times Bestseller, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Most people want to deny death. They brush it aside as though it will never happen to them. I, instead, want to know…

To turn them around, learn how to boost your self-esteem — We all feel envy at times. An acquaintance gets a shiny new car, a colleague nets a promotion, or a close friend falls deeply in love. We notice. Envy passes through us for a moment. Then it’s gone. But for some, envy is not so simple. Envy in it’s more…

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive”—the Dalai Lama — The Dalai Lama characterizes compassion as “the foundation of all well-being.” He says it’s in our own self-interest to care about the welfare of all because compassionate action can increase our own happiness, have a positive impact on our health, and make the world a better place too. The Dalai…

An unconventional idea that may have tremendous merit — A decade ago, one of my friends decided to marry herself. She wrote vows, created a ceremony, and conducted the rite in a place that held special significance for her. To be honest, the idea seemed strange to me at first. But over the years, as I’ve lost myself in…

When we understand suffering, we can learn to suffer less — Does it sound insane to say we can bring an end to suffering? That’s precisely what the Buddha claimed in his first teaching after awakening. Suffering isn’t caused by fate. And it’s not a punishment from on high. According to the Buddha, suffering is caused by the mind, the way…

And secure your own happiness at the same time — Would you like to be a more loving person? Would you like to be the kind of person who makes others feel safe, secure, and appreciated—not just romantic partners, but everyone? Honestly, this is not easy to accomplish. For example, when you’re speaking with another person, you may automatically wrinkle…

Since anyone can be drawn into a cult, protect yourself by knowing the signs of a cult leader — Cult is a strong word. A word I never wanted to use. People in cults drink poison-laced kool-aid and die together. People in cults release saran gas on the subway. People in cults marry at the direction of their leader. That wasn’t me. How could it be a cult? Cults…