 “As our internal and external environments become louder and louder, more people are beginning to seek out silence, whether through a practice of sitting quietly for 10 minutes every morning or heading off to a 10-day silent retreat. Inspired to go find some peace and quiet? Here are four science-backed ways that silence is good for your brain — and how making time for it can make you feel less stressed, more focused and more creative.” Read More >>
20,343 reads, 1,683 shares 
 “Although people tell me all the time they like feeling busy–perhaps because it makes them feel important and significant– I’m not buying it. Would you ever choose busyness over a more relaxed form of productivity? When life starts to feel hectic, here are a few ways to dial back the overwhelm.” This article shares three tips for achieving relaxed productivity (and also shares information on why you can’t afford to ignore them). Read More >>
15,747 reads, 669 shares
 “We are not all privileged or all oppressed. We are complex people with complex identities that intersect in complex ways. Therefore, we all show up in problematic ways with our privilege. I own that my background is from the higher education setting, but I think the points below can be useful for all folks interested in creating dynamic change in the communities around them.” This article shares ten counterproductive behaviors to be mindful of in the midst of all our well-intentioned efforts to help create a better world. Read More >>
15,053 reads, 940 shares
 “Often in life, you may find yourself trying to help other people change. Whether you’re acting as a mentor, a parent, or a well-meaning spouse, you hope to exert a positive influence and assist someone in reaching their goals. What’s the best way to do this?” Read on for six scientifically-backed tips. Read More >>
13,002 reads, 343 shares
 “”People have been discussing their profound experiences in nature for the last several 100 years — from Thoreau to John Muir to many other writers,” says researcher David Strayer, of the University of Utah. “Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally more healthy when we are interacting with nature.” While he and other scientists may believe nature benefits our well-being, we live in a society where people spend more and more time indoors and online — especially children. Findings on how nature improves our brains brings added legitimacy to the call for preserving natural spaces — both urban and wild — and for spending more time in nature in order to lead healthier, happier, and more creative lives. Here are some of the ways that science is showing how being in nature affects our brains and bodies.” Read More >>
11,811 reads, 1,059 shares
 Sindhutai Sapkal’s life story encompasses both heart-wrenching tragedy and radiant transformation. She started life as an unwanted child, was married to an abusive husband, and then abandoned when she was nine-months pregnant. She refused to let any of this close down her heart or stifle her spirit. Read on to learn how this extraordinary woman went from being a beggar on the streets to the adopted mother of over 1400 homeless children in India. Read More >>
11,185 reads, 417 shares
 Ellen Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard, defines mindfulness as the simple act of actively noticing things, which can bring increased health, competence, and happiness. Her provocative, unconventional studies prove that it’s possible to become physiologically younger through a changed frame of mind. She has suggested for decades what neuroscience is pointing to now: that our experience of everything is formed by the words and ideas we attach to them. Read More >>
10,802 reads, 208 shares |
In This Issue
Also This Month …
Awakin Reading
 The Capacity for Successful Solitude, by Sherry Turkle
(8 comments)
KarmaTube Video
 The Unexpected Joy of a Copenhagen Metro Commute
(22877 views)
 Awakin Call
A dialogue with Jacob Needleman: Money and the Meaning of Life
KindSpring Story
Submitted by paolagast: Chance Encounter Brings Joy
ServiceSpace Blogs
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Editor’s note: Dear Friends, What does it take to make someone’s day? It seems like it’s not always the grand gestures but the small moments tucked around in the corners of each day. This week’s stories highlight simple acts by everyday heroes, that reinforce our faith in others. It is those moments where we feel most cared for. And when given the chance to be there for another human being, it is those moments where we feel most alive.
Sangha of Auspicious Companions 