Mindfulness

Mindfulness

A few years ago, I caught myself doing something that made no sense. It was late evening, my kids were asleep, the house finally quiet. I'd been counting down to this moment all day-dreaming of sinking into the couch, wrapping myself in a blanket, maybe even reading a book without distractions. But when I lay down and closed my eyes, something inside me lurched.

A man in his mid-50s with a spine bent in half from multiple bullet wounds, Darryl is practically skipping from cell to cell, rousing the other detainees and encouraging them to join us for class in the makeshift studio-an otherwise unused basketball court with no nets. The gray space is windowless and aggressively lit overhead, yet free of all distractions. If you close your eyes and take a deep, deeply vulnerable breath, ignoring the security guard with a taser on his hip hovering at the door, you can imagine this is a cement sanctuary for silent contemplation, maybe even healing.

You've heard the stories about the young genius who starts a billion-dollar company in their garage. Or the dramatic video of someone quitting their job to "finally follow their passion." The world can't get enough of these tales of people breaking molds, chasing dreams, and shaking up entire industries. We've been taught to aim for loud success and take big leaps. Change the world or go home.

Happy October! This month kicks off in the thick of Libra season, which is an ideal time to bring balance to your wallet and working relationships alike. Plus, the equilibrium-steadying energy of this zodiac sign is much-needed after the chaos of September's eclipses - and the astrology of October brings some big opportunities to make some serious moves. You'll want to know exactly what's on the agenda for your October money horoscope.

The late James Doty, a neurosurgeon and professor at Stanford University, wrote in his 2024 book "Mind Magic" about how meditation paired with repetition of messages can change a person's subconscious. This could look like closing your eyes before bed to relax, meditating and visualizing an intention like earning a new job title or mastering piano. Afterward, write the intention on a piece of paper and keep it nearby, reading it often.

This problem is urgent because I have seen too many colleagues and friends suffer serious health consequences in the name of productivity. A new research study in the UK and Australia reports that our behaviors are driven by habits and not conscious intention 65% of the time. We all understand that sustaining peak performance over time requires regular maintenance rests, but forming new habits and disrupting old habits will require intentionality, artistic vision, and a combination of diverse tools.

Golfers know it. Musicians know it. And anyone who's ever overprepared for a conversation knows it: Tension gets in the way of flow. When golfers try to control every variable, they often tighten up and slice the shot. But when they swing easily, trusting their preparation and instincts, the ball flies straighter and farther. In a world that glorifies the hustle and bustle, the idea of doing less to achieve more feels almost rebellious.

I want to be the slowest sitarist on the planet, Rishab Sharma says. Everyone is trying their gimmicks and playing as fast as they can but I want to provide a sense of comfort and peace when we're so busy and full of anxiety. The youngest of Ravi Shankar's sitar disciples, 27-year-old Sharma has spent the past five years transforming the ancient Indian classical instrument into a tool for wellbeing.

Happy Birthday: Put your to-do list together, and pick up the pace. Eliminate what's not necessary. Get organized and ready to turn the page and move on to the next chapter in your life. Letting go is never easy, but it is necessary if you want to explore the possibilities. A lifestyle change will present a learning curve but also ignite your imagination. Embrace what excites you most. Your numbers are 6, 18, 22, 27, 33, 42, 48.

Looking ahead for myself, all I could see were broken shards, glomming and splintering, far from the awed and vibrant colors and geometric shapes that reform with the twist of the kaleidoscope in transition. I was early in my career as a counselor. More by dumb luck than prescient insight, somewhere deep within me I knew that I was vulnerable and at risk to make really bad choices. I was hurting and needed to feel better.

Thankfully, processing your feelings with maturity will be easier by lunchtime. The moon enlists support from sturdy Saturn retrograde, which inspires clarity and emotional control. Later, the moon enters adventurous Sagittarius, making it a great night to explore new horizons. A spark of creative inspiration could lead to deeper, philosophical considerations once the moon harmonizes with mystical Neptune retrograde. Share your vision with anyone who will listen.

In my thousands of hours of conversations with leaders, I discovered that we share a common belief: that our confidence will arrive once we receive a certain title or status. We think we will finally "feel" successful. But it doesn't happen that way. Self-doubt is always waiting at the edges of our capabilities. When we attempt to push doubt aside and ignore it, we reduce our ability to remain curious and respond most effectively.

My two cents is that I try to look as inward as I'm looking outward. When I'm anxious or scared, I try to cut back on the caffeine and other stuff. Understand that going straightedge and sober is a weapon and shield in the fight for reality. It's an assertion of independence and responsibility for the health of the community.

Unlike most scooter and motorcycle riders, summer has always been the season I ride the least. I've blamed the heat. Or the laziness I feel whenever the temperature rises into the upper 70s. Whatever it is I seem to come back to life when I can step outside in the morning with the temperature at 50. This summer was no different. But a few things were stirred into the mix

The principle of non-harming, ahimsa, is the very first of the , or social and ethical restraints, outlined in Patañjali's Yoga Sutras. While we often think of ahimsa as how we treat others, its deepest invitation is to turn that same gentleness inward. When we give ourselves the same tenderness we would extend to a loved one or a dear friend, the nervous system softens, the mind quiets, and space opens for healing.

As autumn turns toward winter, the fire begins to cool. What once burned bright softens into embers, and the long nights invite us toward stillness. Fire & Flow is a 7-week journey to meet resistance with rhythm, not force. Each week we'll move through the body's clenches, freezes, and sparks of fire... until they begin to shift, release, and guide us back to center. By the final week, we arrive at the Winter Solstice - dancing with stillness, presence, and the deep rest of the season.

In psychology, this is called experiential avoidance. Trouble is, this experiential avoidance may seem helpful in the moment, but research shows that continuous avoidance of uncomfortable or upsetting thoughts can actually increase our anxiety and distress. Indeed, Dr. Russ Harris outlined in his book The Happiness Trap that experiential avoidance contributes to anxiety, depression, and numerous other mental health challenges; the harder one tries to avoid the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, the "more bad feelings we create."

This experience taught me that letting go isn't about weakness, failure, or loss. It's about creating space-for ease, clarity, and the next chapter of our lives. In fact, it was my own transition to my next chapter that enabled me to finish the book. I learned to release outdated beliefs, soften my self-judgment, and eliminate roles that no longer fit.

You've seen it on T-shirts, Instagram captions, and coffee mugs: "Good vibes only." But is it just a trendy phrase or is there real science behind the power of positive thinking? As it turns out, there is. Neuroscience shows what many of us instinctively feel: staying optimistic, practicing gratitude, and spreading kindness can do more than just lift your mood. They can actually change how your brain works, and even influence your long-term health. Let's take a closer look at how positivity affects the brain, and how you can train your mind to be more resilient, optimistic, and happier.

Our final eclipse of the season and of the year takes place on September 21, 2025. Eclipses are moments of transformation, whether the details make themselves known in the moment or reveal themselves at a later time. The solar eclipse in Virgo helps release old patterns from our bodies as well as old stories from our thoughts, especially those related to not being enough and feeling separate from the sacredness of life.

Auto-Sensory Meridian Response is everywhere right now: SNL skits, Grammy-nominated indie albums, and celebrity performances. ASMR is a phenomenon in which audio or visual triggers, like delicate tapping sounds or soft whispers, create a pleasurable tingling feeling called paresthesia. Medical role-play videos are among the most popular ASMR content, with "doctors" staring into the camera and leaving spaces in the dialogue to "listen" to the viewer's imagined responses.

Big energetic shifts are in the air, as September not only coincides with the powerful magic of eclipse season, but it also heralds in the autumnal equinox, which is the first official day of fall here in the Northern hemisphere. In 2025, this celestial event takes place on Sept. 22, and it serves as the exact midpoint between the summer and winter solstices.