Sangha of Auspicious Companions

December 25, 2013

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A Christmas Wish From Beyond The Grave

This Des Moines radio station had run a “Christmas Wish” program for over 20 years, but nothing had prepared them for Brenda Schmitz’s request. The wife and mom of four lost her battle with ovarian cancer two years ago, at the age of 46. Then…”About a week and half ago we got [her] letter in the mail,” shares station brand manager Scott Allen. Brenda wanted the station to do something wonderful for her husband, David, and their children, after she was gone. And so, David was asked to come into the station to have a wish granted, but was told nothing further. As the stunned dad attempted to hold back his tears, the host started to read his wife’s letter…” { read more }

Be The Change

This holiday season stretch those kindness muscles! Practice giving unconditionally in ways you might not have thought of before.

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December 24, 2013

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How Sleep Makes You Smart

About one-third of our lives are spent in reverie, and yet little is known about how sleep is linked to intellectual and emotional intelligence. Researchers are unravelling this mystery and are finding that sleep – especially deep sleep – confers emotional balance, opens us to learning, cements memory, and strengthens our ability to make meaning of facts and experiences. Sleep, as it turns out, is just as essential as eating for humans and for many other species. This article shares some of the latest findings that’ll awaken you to the fascinating power of sleep. { read more }

Be The Change

Restore and rejeuvenate yourself by getting 7-8 hours of sleep tonight!

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December 23, 2013

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Six Life Lessons from Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, the author of literary epics such as ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Anna Karenina’, is most often thought of as one of the 19th century’s greatest novelists. However, “few are aware that he was also one of its most radical social and political thinkers. During a long life from 1828 to 1910, Tolstoy gradually rejected the received beliefs of his aristocratic background and embraced a startlingly unconventional worldview that shocked his peers. Tracing his personal transformation offers some wise — and surprising — lessons for how we should approach the art of living today.” { read more }

Be The Change

Take a lesson from Tolstoy to transform yourself, whether it’s pausing from your work or daily routine to help somebody, or listening to someone whose views differ from your own.

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December 22, 2013

Small Acts of Kindness

Featured Kindness Stories

	This girl’s answer to the question, “Do I have enough?” will shock you.
	Check out what happened to him when he was lost in the airport.
	The little red book on his bookshelf and a surprise message inside.

Idea of the Week

December 22, 2013

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How To Make Stress Your Friend

Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Health psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive. If you believe that your body is energized and preparing you to take action, your physical stress response changes, with no negative effect on your heart. Watch this TED talk, in which McGonigal reveals a surprising mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others. { read more }

Be The Change

Consider re-thinking a long-held belief. What is the best mistake you’ve ever made?

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December 21, 2013

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6 Boys, One Cop: A Story of Restorative Justice

In one of Frank Baum’s Oz books, Dorothy winds up in prison in Oz and is treated to luxury, kindness and warm cookies. When she asks why, the guard says, “Why would we treat people meanly when we want them to be kind?” The prison system in the US often runs counter to this notion of kindness and rehabilitation. This article focuses on a town in Longmont, Colorado where restorative justice that promotes rehabilitation and creative sentencing is closing the gap on racism, and needless incarceration. It shares an inspiring real-life example of how this approach works. { read more }

Be The Change

It’s easy to forget that there are prisons in your community, but take the time today to read up on the state of your local institution. Are there ways you can lend your voice to advocate for restorative justice?

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December 20, 2013

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Are We Losing Our Focus?

Daniel Goleman, renowned author and psychologist, writes that the ability to focus on one task to the exclusion of others is a lost art for many. Yet the skill of focus is connected to greater happiness, better relationships, and increased productivity. He writes that balancing inner, other, and outer focus are keys to success. Inner focus involves paying attention to our values, intuition, and ways of responding, other focus translates to presence and empathy for others, and outer focus refers to being aware of systems and trends in society. One key to finding that balance is understanding how our minds and hearts work. This article shares more. { read more }

Be The Change

As you go through your day today, make an extra effort to focus on the activity of the present moment.

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December 19, 2013

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An Awesome Way To Help Kids Be Less Self-Absorbed

Malala Yousufzai, Craig Kielburger, and Ryan Hreljac are some of the many young people in the world who are trying to transform the world in positive ways. However, research suggests that a large percentage of youth are becoming less empathic and more disconnected from others. Getting children and young adults to be less self-absorbed has also been a subject of research, and as Dacher Keltner explains one particularly positive emotion may help inspire young ones: awe. Awe, it seems, helps people feel a sense of vastness that in turn, gives them a fresh perspective on the world and their place in it. This article from the Greater Good Science Center suggests how teachers, parents, and anybody who spends time with children can help nurture a sense of awe in their lives. { read more }

Be The Change

Expose yourself to an awe-some experience today and share it with a young person in your life.

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