Be More Present Daily, with John Kuypers
Meditation
Mental practice of focus on a particular object Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.[web 1][web 2] Meditation is practiced in numerous religious traditions. Etymology[edit] The English meditation is derived from Old French meditacioun, in turn from Latin meditatio from a verb meditari, meaning "to think, contemplate, devise, ponder".[12][13] In the Catholic tradition, the use of the term meditatio as part of a formal, stepwise process of meditation goes back to at least the 12th century monk Guigo II,[13][14] before which the Greek word Theoria was used for the same purpose. Definitions[edit] Meditation has proven difficult to define as it covers a wide range of dissimilar practices in different traditions. Dictionary definitions[edit] Scholarly definitions[edit] Islam[edit]
» A Simple Guide to Being Present for the Overworked and Overwhelmed
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson How often are you driving while talking on a cell phone, or thinking about work problems, or the errands you have to do? How often do you eat without thinking about the food you’re eating? How often do you drift off while doing other things, thinking about something you messed up on, or worrying about something that’s coming up? I would submit that most of us are elsewhere, much of the time, rather than in the here and now. If I could only give one word of advice to someone trying to find peace in an overwhelming and stressful and chaotic world, it would be this: simplify. I can’t claim to be perfect at being present. This article came from a suggestion from commenter Mark, after I wrote about ways to create a peaceful, relaxed workday. Focus On Now There are three things we can think about: The past. It is inevitable that we will think about all three. But why should we do that?
Meditation (disambiguation)
Meditation refers to any of a family of techniques that involve the self-induction of a mode of consciousness in order to realize some benefit. Meditation may also refer to: Meditation, an 1885 painting by William-Adolphe BouguereauMeditation, a 1918 painting by Alexej von Jawlensky Topics referred to by the same term
Binaural beats
Binaural beats To experience the binaural beats perception, it is best to listen to this file with headphones on moderate to weak volume – the sound should be easily heard, but not loud. Note that the sound appears to pulsate. The brain produces a phenomenon resulting in low-frequency pulsations in the amplitude and sound localization of a perceived sound when two tones at slightly different frequencies are presented separately, one to each of a subject's ears, using stereo headphones. Binaural beats reportedly influence the brain in more subtle ways through the entrainment of brainwaves[3][8][9] and provide other health benefits such as control over pain.[10][11] Acoustical background[edit] Interaural time differences (ITD) of binaural beats For sound localization, the human auditory system analyses interaural time differences between both ears inside small frequency ranges, called critical bands. History[edit] Unverified claims[edit] Physiology[edit] Overview[edit] Brain waves[edit]
Tai chi
Chinese martial art Tai chi (simplified Chinese: 太极; traditional Chinese: 太極; pinyin: Tàijí), short for T'ai chi ch'üan or Tàijíquán (太極拳), sometimes also known as "Shadowboxing",[1][2][3] is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for defense training, health benefits, and meditation. Tai chi has practitioners worldwide. Yang Shaohou, Yang Chengfu, Wu Chien-ch'üan and Sun Lutang promoted the art for its health benefits beginning in the early 20th century.[4] Its global following may be attributed to overall benefit to personal health.[5] Yin and yang[edit] . Taijiquan is a complete martial art system with a full range of bare-hand movement set and weapon forms as in the Taiji sword and Taiji spear based on the dynamic relationship between Yin and Yang. Internal vs external[edit] Some martial arts require students to wear a uniform during practice. Practice[edit] Tai chi training involves five elements: Etymology[edit] Tai Chi was known as "大恒" during the Warring States period. History[edit]
» How to be Insanely Productive and Still Keep Smiling
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Mary Jaksch of Goodlife ZEN. Do you want to be more productive? Maybe you do, but I’m sure you don’t want to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or unhappy – which happens to many super-productive people. You can be insanely productive – and still smell the freesias, savor a Pinot Noir, or enjoy a languid hug. A few weeks ago Leo Babauta said to me, “Mary – you’re one of the most productive people I know. Most stuff I’ve read about productivity is about doing things differently. High productivity isn’t about doing, it’s about being. If you want to be highly productive – and still enjoy life – you need to look at how you live, and how you use your mind. Make peace within. Finally, a key question you need to ask … If you want to be productive and still enjoy life, there is a key question you need to answer: why be productive? I mean, why not just chill out on the couch, eat potato crisps, and watch TV reruns? You don’t have to be a super-hero.
Qigong
Chinese system of coordinated posture and movement, breathing, and meditation Qigong (),[1] qi gong, chi kung, chi 'ung, or chi gung (simplified Chinese: 气功; traditional Chinese: 氣功; pinyin: qìgōng; Wade–Giles: ch‘i kung; lit. 'life-energy cultivation') is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation[2] used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial-arts training.[3] With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is traditionally viewed by the Chinese and throughout Asia as a practice to cultivate and balance qi (pronounced approximately as "chi" or "chee"), translated as "life energy".[4] Qigong practice typically involves moving meditation, coordinating slow-flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm meditative state of mind. Etymology[edit] Qigong (Pinyin), ch'i kung (Wade-Giles), and chi gung (Yale) are Romanized words for two Chinese characters: qì (气／氣) and gōng (功). History and origins[edit] Overview[edit]
How to hack the beliefs that are holding you back
We all have beliefs that are holding us back. Sometimes we're aware of them, sometimes not. One entrepreneur I know, who shall remain nameless, admitted (after quite a lot of wine) that he has a block around sending invoices. He was perhaps exaggerating when he said that before he could send an invoice he had to down a bottle of wine and get drunk so he could hit the send button, but even so, it was clear that he had a serious block around asking people to pay him. As an entrepreneur, that's obviously a deadly flaw. Myself, I have - or used to have - similar blocks. Another would-be entrepreneur I spoke to recently was afraid to quit his job. Now, perhaps the beliefs holding you back are of a different nature, but even if the "money thing" or the "quitting thing" don't apply to you, don't disregard this article. So, if you're aware of such a belief and want to "fix" it, what can you do to hack your brain? 1. Three things will happen from this. This is an extremely effective method. 2. 3.
