Most of us have been proud multitaskers at one point in our lives. The ability to do a few things at the same time can seem like a necessary skill, both at work and at home. We talk on the phone while driving, send texts when we’re talking with someone in person, and reply to [...]
Being judgmental has a negative connotation. People don’t want to be viewed this way, yet our brains are hardwired to categorize and generalize things so we can move through our day more efficiently and stay safe (e.g., a dog bearing its teeth is dangerous, and a cooing baby is not). Unfortunately, sometimes our brains make [...]
The idea of making a resolution for the New Year is a 4000-year-old practice believed to have begun with the ancient Babylonians. Yet, according to recent research, while as many as 45 percent of Americans say they usually make New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals.1 Considering most resolutions are [...]
Listening is something we all do every day, sometimes effectively and sometimes not. When we are “listening” to other people while multitasking, looking at something else, or thinking about what we are going to do later, the quality of the interaction is diminished. Leadership expert and author Susan Scott says that people often think the [...]
Having been a proponent of mindfulness for many years, I am often asked questions about my beliefs, such as: “If you are living in the present moment, how do you plan or have ambition for the future? How do you get stuff done? Doesn’t living in the moment mean you just go through life letting [...]
The first and often overlooked step to creating awareness is paying attention, stopping to notice what is happening right now in front of you, around you, and within you. Due to our natural preoccupation with things that have already happened and for fantasizing about what might happen in the future, you can go for long [...]
There are many daily tasks that become routine and don’t require much thought. Although it’s easy to think about the past or what might happen in the future, it’s good to be fully present with whatever you are doing at the moment. This awareness—or mindfulness—has a range of benefits including stress reduction, clearer thinking, and [...]
