This month I am hosting Thom Walters from Zen Commuter as the Featured Practitioner. Thom is a 40-year meditator and we discuss several ways that beginners can learn to meditate.

One key takeaway is, "Any and everybody can learn to meditate." He reminds us that time spent in meditation brings a kinder more loving person to the world.

Thom shares how he sets his intentions for the day with three words. I also set my in the morning before I even get out of bed.  It's a habit that includes my prayers, and three important thoughts for the day.

Setting your intentions gives you a clear mindset and sets your day up for success.

Thom interviewed me for the Zen Commuter podcast episodes 1693 (the interview) and 1692 (excerpts from Seven Mindful Questions).

Listen to my interview with Thom here on Zen Commuter.

Listen to him read an except of 7MQ also here on Zen Commuter.

Find Thom at www.Zencommuter.com or [email protected]

And FREE Bonus! Thom has a free newsletter that you are i...

I'm very thankful that I began my mindfulness journey quite some time ago. My book, "Grounded in Chaos" is my journey through a major upheaval in my life and will be published on May 4th. I'll be reaching out to get launch team members soon. But the point is that I lived through the biggest challenge of my life and came out on the other side changed, different, better. Much better. While you are in the middle of it, you can't make sense of all the changes, but meditation helped me keep perspective.

These are indeed strange times. So many people are stepping up to help in the way that they can. Staying balanced and centered when the whole world is changing, literally, is a challenge. I accept that and I am compelled to help.

I'm throwing my hat in the ring to lead meditations, and I have options for you.

Here is the link to join me in learning to meditate every Friday in April, at 8:00 am eastern.

Log in here with Password: 979016

For the next three Fridays, I'm teaching a live int...

If you like the truly American spectacle known as the SuperBowl, yesterday did not disappoint. Congratulations to Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. Well done.

I personally watch the Superbowl for the commercials and this year did not disappoint. I was blown away by the New York Life Commercial #LoveTakesAction Click here to watch. This short commercial shows love in action, which is the definition of Lovingkindness.

I'm writing a presentation on Lovingkindness for my Mindfulness Meditation Teacher's Certification Program that I have to give in two weeks. The fourth type of love described in the commercial, Agape love, is the unconditional love for all living things. Lovingkindness is a feeling and an action. It's moving through life with love.

To practice Lovingkindness is typically done by entering a quiet state and repeating  phrases such as "May I be healthy, May I be healthy, May all living beings be healthy, May all living beings be healthy." It comes out of an acceptance o...

One of my meditation colleagues sent me an article on listening that was published in the New York Times this week. The link is below and well worth the read. As I read it, I thought about the discussion I had with my son (33- a nursing executive) explaining personal presence. He said, “Mom is that even a thing?” I google personal presence and sent him a definition. (Old Mawm can still teach you something.)

 My definition of personal presence is how you show up in the world. Someone can tell if you aren’t paying attention to them or are distracted. Personal presence is a state of mindful awareness of everything that is important and allows you to focus on what matters. 

Most meditators have a crisis of confidence and lament, “Am I even doing this right or am I wasting my time?” It’s easy to understand that feeling. If you can concentrate you can meditate and with practice, selective attention begins insidiously to creep into your awareness. Listening to your inner self is great train...

No, not that pause. It’s Monday. And if you are like me, you are fully back to work today after the holidays. Even if you love your job, like I do, the work you put on hold is still there. I had lunch with my girlfriends on Saturday, and even though I don't work with them any longer, just mentioning the name of the same people who used to trigger me, still did. Hmm. I've done all this work on myself and yet there is more healing to be done. 

How about you? At the stroke of midnight last Wednesday, you vowed that this is your year. That this year will be different. But will it? Truthfully, how many years have you told yourself that.

As 2019 breathed its last, the person you were at 11:59 pm last Tuesday---Is that the same person today? For the most part, yes.

However, you have the power. You have the power to control how you react in difficult situations. You have the power to control how you react to people who push your buttons especially when they enjoy doing so.

Doing my best He...