Category: Health and wellness

Looking for Love? Two Very Good Reasons to Be Single

linda changLeave a comment

by Nanice Ellis

It is fairly easy to see that society defines us by our relationship status, with those being in committed relationships having more status than those who are single. Friends, family, culture, society, TV, and, even Facebook posts, all tell us that we should be part of a couple.

If I’m honest, I have to admit that I bought into this hook, line and sinker; from the age of fourteen on, there was always a guy in my life. Like most people, having a relationship was of utmost importance, and, as a result, I often compromised other areas of my life. If I wasn’t in some sort of relationship, I felt empty inside, which only reinforced the hunt for Mr. Right.


I was on a perpetual roller coaster ride of seeking, finding, questioning and ultimately, letting go. There was a great deal of heartache and pain on the downside of this endless relationship ride, resulting in two failed marriages, and I don’t know how many “dead-end” relationships.

Sacred Singlehood

Biologically, we need partnership in order to procreate and keep the species going, but with 7 billion people on the planet, I don’t believe this is still the motivation for “needing to be” in a relationship. If we are truthful, our drive to be in relationships is more about personal habit, societal pressure and, yes, the dreaded fear of being alone topping this list.

Many of us even stay in relationships, well past their expiration date, because we think that we won’t find someone “better” and because we are growing older, we are even more afraid to risk being alone.

About ten years ago, I did something I thought I would never do. After a tumultuous break-up, I made a conscious choice to be single. At first, it was quite difficult being single; my relationship-addicted mind still searched for potential partners, but the greater part of me said, “No, not now.” It took me about a year to make peace with being single but even longer to discover the treasures of what I have come to call “Sacred Singlehood.”

Now, this isn’t an advertisement to choose singlehood over couple-hood. I certainly don’t know what is best for anyone, other than myself, but, this is an invitation to give yourself permission to consider who you might be (or become) all by yourself – without a partner.

What if it was okay to be alone, and, at least, for a little while, you gave up the search?

Whether you are experiencing a break-up, thinking about ending a relationship, or searching for that new one, consider that the relationship that you most desire, and the one that can bring you the most joy and fulfillment is with yourself.

Maybe you want a good reason for being single; well, how about two?

Being Single: Reason #1

Become Empowered, Explore Opportunities and Create an Amazing Life!

If you go from being in a relationship to mourning the end of a relationship to looking for a new relationship, where is the time and space for self-exploration?

Having the courage to be single allows you to create sacred space where you get to know yourself and you become your own best friend; from this space of growing confidence and security, you can go past your comfort zone, explore new ideas, travel to interesting places, create masterpieces, develop spiritual connection, take care of your body and mind, and maybe, even heal or strengthen relationships with your children, siblings, parents or friends.

Imagine giving yourself the time and space for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual healing or alignment. This might mean healing beliefs that don’t support you, claiming your unconditional worth and stepping into your intrinsic power. How wise and powerful might you become on a solo journey?

I can’t tell you what would have unfolded in these past ten years, if I had been in a relationship, but, I can tell you that during these sacred years, I experienced tremendous personal growth, spiritual awakening and creative inspiration that resulted in the publishing of several books. As I uncovered who I really am, and I discovered my self-made place in the world, I fell in love with me. Equally as important, my relationship with each of children drastically improved; because there was no longer someone else in the mix trying to influence my radical parenting style, I was free to parent in my own unique way. For this reason alone, my choice to be single was phenomenal.

When you give yourself the gift of being single, it can be the most sacred experience of your life.

Being Single: Reason #2

Meet Your Soul Mate by becoming the perfect partner for your perfect partner.

What if you took the time to really get to know yourself in order to become the person who can attract your ideal mate? Consider that any partner that you attract before you grow into your best self is very different than the partner you will attract from your highest and best self. Mr. Right can’t show up, if you are not yet Ms. Right and vice versa.

Law of Attraction
Maybe we keep meeting the “wrong person” because we don’t measure up to our wants and desires in a partner. In other words, if you desire a partner who is open, honest and communicative, you must be open, honest and communicative. If you desire a partner who is in great shape, spontaneous and adventurous, you must be in great shape, spontaneous and adventurous.

In the quest for your perfect partner, you must be his/her perfect partner. This means that in order to attract your ideal mate, you must really know yourself and be true to your dreams and desires.

It is helpful to make a list of the qualities and attributes that you desire in a partner and rate yourself accordingly. If you don’t score high in each of those same qualities/attributes, according to the law of attraction, you are not yet a perfect match.

In order for the law of attraction to work in relationships, you must become that which you desire in another. Instead of jumping into a new relationship, imagine taking the time to develop these desired qualities and attributes, so that you can become the perfect partner for your perfect partner.

Heal Emotional Wounds
If you keep ending up in relationships where you feel abandoned, misunderstood or unappreciated, chances are, there are some emotional wounds that require healing. If you want to be in an emotionally healthy relationship, you must be emotionally healthy. Being single offers you the time and energy required to heal past wounds, allowing you to align with an emotionally healthy partner.

Afraid of Being Alone
I am going to guess that your perfect partner isn’t afraid of being alone, so, if you want to meet him/her, it is probably necessary to heal any fears of being alone – because, no doubt, you will attract potential partners who align with your fears. This means that if you are afraid of being alone, you will attract someone who is also afraid of being alone, or you will attract someone who will trigger your fear of being alone. If you do not want to attract a relationship based on this fear, it is essential that you fearlessly embrace singlehood.

Filling that Empty Space
Many of us desire a partner to fill the empty space, but it never works because the only one who can ever fill your empty space is you. Being single allows you the opportunity to find yourself and experience fulfillment. Once you fill that space with yourself, you will be a perfect match for a man/woman who is whole, conscious and empowered.

The Desire for Love
Okay, it’s normal to desire a relationship so that we feel loved, but, oftentimes, our relationships leave us feeling unloved. If you want to experience love in a relationship, it is important to take time alone in order to learn to love yourself unconditionally. Your unconditional self-love has the power to attract a partner who also loves him/herself unconditionally and together you can experience unconditional love for each other. This is the foundation for the loving relationship you seek.

Whether you are looking to find yourself or you are seeking a soul mate, being single may hold the answers.

The Point of Sacred Singlehood

The point of Sacred Singlehood is not to be single forever, unless that is what you choose, but, rather to become the highest version of you, who is emotionally secure, confident and free to express uninhibited authenticity, and, then, if you choose to share your life with another, you can attract your ideal partner, who is also consciously authentic, and together you can experience an enlightened paradigm of partnership that is truly amazing.

There is something so beautiful and transformative about being single, and, if I had missed it, I might have missed myself entirely. I am so grateful to my past self for making the courageous decision, and sticking to it.

Whatever your reasons to explore being single, Sacred Singlehood offers a Golden Opportunity where you can become the Real You and create the life you most desire.

About the Author:

As a Conscious Creation Coach since 1997, Nanice teaches mastery level manifestation skills, and, as a result, her powerful coaching style is often referred to as the “Nanice Effect.” Bridging the gap from imagination to realization, Nanice coaches people to live their true dreams. Nanice is the author of several inspirational books including, “Is There a White Elephant in Your Way? – a comprehensive guidebook to awakening and self-empowerment.” Sign up for Nanice’s Free 7 Part Awakening Series. To find out more, please visit www.Nanice.com.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/01/27/looking-for-love-two-very-good-reasons-to-be-single/

Source: https://www.beinghappybuddha.com/blogs/insights/looking-for-love-two-very-good-reasons-to-be-single

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior

linda changLeave a comment

On meeting conflict without losing ourselves

There are moments in life when, despite our best intentions and most sincere efforts, things still feel profoundly unfair. Right and wrong seem reversed. The ground beneath us shifts, and our inner balance begins to tilt toward chaos. In those moments, our first instinct is often to react—to defend, to argue, to strike back.

Before you do, pause.

Take a breath.
Return to your body.
Listen to what is happening beneath the noise.

When we step into conflict fueled by “righteous anger,” wounded pride, or a desire for revenge, we rarely restore balance. More often, we simply exchange one form of turmoil for another. Peace quietly slips away.

Holding onto resentment or remaining lodged in the role of the victim keeps us circling the same pain, replaying the same arguments, long after the moment has passed. Whether we choose to walk away with a clear conscience or feel called to stand up for what feels just, one truth remains: every action—and every silence—creates ripples. They shape who we are becoming and touch the lives of those around us.

At first glance, the phrase Peaceful Warrior seems contradictory. Yet a life rooted in peace and integrity demands precisely this paradox.

To be peaceful does not mean to be passive.
To be a warrior does not mean to be aggressive.

True strength lies in seeing beyond illusion and surface drama. It lies in choosing awareness over reflex, clarity over emotional momentum. A Peaceful Warrior does not drift from one reaction to the next; they choose their response with care.

Such a warrior knows how to step back and observe themselves in the heat of the moment. They are capable of decisive action, but their actions are guided by wisdom and oriented toward the greater good. Only genuine courage allows us to respond from the heart, rather than from outdated conditioning and habitual fear.

The next time you find yourself facing opposition, remember this: you can remain present. You can maintain your inner edge without surrendering to fear or hostility. You can stand firmly without hardening your heart.

You can be a Peaceful Warrior.

When life confronts us with injustice, it becomes a quiet test of our spiritual maturity. These reflections may help illuminate the path:

1. Discern Reaction from Response
A reaction is automatic—rooted in survival, memory, and past wounds. A response is conscious, grounded in the present moment. When you feel that surge of heat in your chest, pause and ask: Is this my deeper wisdom speaking, or is it my ego defending its image?

2. Release Attachment to Outcomes
The Bhagavad Gita teaches action without attachment to results. Spiritually, this means doing what is right not for victory or validation, but because it aligns with truth. When the need to “win” dissolves, a quieter, more enduring power emerges—one that cannot be taken from you.

3. Receive the Mirror
Those who unsettle us most often reveal where we are still tender or unhealed. This does not excuse harmful behavior, but it offers insight. Let the discomfort become a question: What within me is asking for strength, clarity, or compassion?

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2026/01/16/the-way-of-the-peaceful-warrior/

One Lollipop, One Forest, and the Quiet Power of Kindness

linda changLeave a comment

Recently, I watched a short video that stayed with me far longer than I expected.

The scene took place in a small shop in Pakistan. A robber walked in, grabbed money and a phone, and prepared to leave. Sitting beside the shop owner was a little girl. She looked at the robber calmly, without screaming or hiding, and gently offered him the lollipop she was holding.

For a brief moment, everything seemed to stop.

The robber froze. He looked at the child, then slowly put the money and phone back down. Before leaving, he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

I don’t know whether the girl acted out of fear, nervousness, or pure instinct. But her simple, innocent gesture touched something deeply human in him. Perhaps, in that fleeting moment, his life took a different turn.

What moved me most was this realization:
Even those who appear hardened or dangerous may still carry a seed of kindness within them.
And sometimes, it only takes the smallest act to awaken it.

A single lollipop opened a door in the human heart.

Lately, I’ve been noticing more and more of these quiet sparks of goodness appearing around the world.

In the United States, a group of Buddhist monks has been walking on foot, praying for peace. Without slogans or confrontation, they offer presence, humility, and sincerity. Their journey has inspired many people to reflect on peace in a deeper way, and countless strangers have stepped forward to support them.

https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2025/12/23/buddhist-monk-walk-for-peace-passes-through-montgomery/87897028007/

Guided by the teachings of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III, and with deep respect for the great mercy and loving-kindness through which Buddhas and Bodhisattvas benefit all living beings, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters (W.B.A.H.), Holy Miracles Temple (at Pasadena CA) and Sanger Mission sincerely to carry out Charitable Acts to Benefit Our Community Together: 2026 Food and Goods Drive, to collectively plant goodness. All donations will be sent to support local food banks, homeless shelters, and animal shelters in the Los Angeles area.

I also read about Jon Stewart, who announced an extraordinary donation of $116 million to help address homelessness across the United States—providing housing and dignity to people who have long been forgotten by society. It was a reminder that compassion, when paired with courage, can bring real and lasting change.

And then there is the story that expanded my sense of hope even further.

Johan Eliasch, a Swedish billionaire, acquired approximately 400,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest by purchasing the company that held its logging rights. Instead of continuing operations for profit, he immediately halted all logging activities.

Just like that, the chainsaws stopped.

That vast stretch of forest was allowed to remain intact—continuing to absorb carbon, protect biodiversity, and sustain one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. His action demonstrated something profound: that private ownership, when guided by conscience, can become a powerful force for environmental protection.

This act of kindness may not be immediately seen by everyone, yet it will have a profound impact on the Earth’s ecological balance—and it is, in its own quiet way, safeguarding a future our children and grandchildren will still be able to breathe in.

From a child offering a lollipop…
to a monk walking for peace…
to a philanthropist sheltering the homeless…
to a forest saved from destruction—

These acts may differ in scale, but they arise from the same source:
the human longing to protect, to heal, and to do what is right.

In Buddhist teachings, compassion is not passive emotion—it is action.
It is wisdom expressed through kindness.

As a new year begins, I sincerely hope we will witness more of these compassionate and righteous choices—choices that quietly warm the world.

May we walk together,
letting kindness extinguish the fires of war,
allowing love to dissolve hatred and conflict,
and using compassion to heal sorrow, fear, and pain.

The world does not change all at once.
But every gentle act—no matter how small—adds light.

And sometimes, that light begins with something as simple as a child’s open hand.

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2026/01/13/one-lollipop-one-forest-and-the-quiet-power-of-kindness/

Why You Feel Better After You Pray: The Science Behind the “Quiet Heart”

linda changLeave a comment

You might not realize it, but this is the true power of prayer—it’s not just asking for blessings; it is awakening an internal system within you that says, “I can keep going.”

Every sincere moment of prayer leaves an imprint on the mind. This is not spiritual poetry or wishful thinking; it is a pattern repeatedly observed through MRI scans, neuroimaging, and psychological research. Each second spent in focused, quiet prayer is an opportunity to “turn on a light” in the brain—helping us become steadier, clearer, and more resilient.

Scientists were once skeptical. But the evidence surprised them.

When a person enters a state of deep, focused prayer, activity in the prefrontal cortex increases. This is the part of the brain responsible for attention, judgment, emotional regulation, and self-control—the “driver’s seat” of the mind. Prayer helps us return to that seat, especially when life feels overwhelming.

At the same time, activity in the amygdala—the brain’s alarm system—tends to decrease. This region governs fear, anxiety, and the fight-or-flight response. When it is overstimulated, we feel tense, reactive, and out of control. Prayer appears to gently quiet this system, creating inner space to breathe, reflect, and choose more wisely.

This is not merely a mental effect—it is a physical response of the nervous system.

Research also suggests that heartfelt prayer—prayer infused with sincerity and emotion—is especially powerful. Compared to mechanical repetition, it more strongly activates brain regions associated with language, empathy, connection, and self-awareness, including the temporoparietal junction, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex. These areas shape how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to life itself.

In simple terms, honest prayer becomes a process of emotional clearing and inner reorganization.

When practiced regularly, these brain responses do something remarkable: they form new neural pathways. Like carving a well-worn trail through a forest, prayer creates a reliable inner path—a place of stability we can return to during moments of fear, grief, or confusion. The more often we walk this path, the easier it becomes to find our way back to calm.

Prayer is not the same as meditation. While both reduce stress and sharpen focus, prayer carries an added element: relationship. Prayer involves trust, dialogue, and the felt sense that we are not alone. This activates neural systems related to connection, attachment, and belonging—deep human needs that meditation alone does not always engage.

This may explain why, at the edge of emotional collapse, a simple, sincere prayer can sometimes bring someone back from the brink. The problem may not disappear—but the mind, heart, and body momentarily realign. A quiet strength returns. I can get through this.

What Prayer Does—Inside and Out

  • Activates the Prefrontal Cortex
    Strengthens clarity, emotional balance, and self-control.
  • Calms the Amygdala
    Lowers fear and stress responses, restoring inner quiet.
  • Builds Emotional Resilience
    Repeated prayer forms neural pathways that support stability over time.
  • Fosters Connection and Trust
    Engages social and emotional brain systems through relationship and sincerity.

Sincere prayer may be one of the most gentle, natural, and powerful “built-in reset systems” we possess.

So when was the last time you prayed—not out of habit, but from the heart?
Have you ever noticed how your body softened afterward, how tension quietly released?

That wasn’t imagination.
That was your mind and nervous system responding to something deeply human—and deeply real.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/01/09/why-you-feel-better-after-you-pray-the-science-behind-the-quiet-heart/

The Secret to Daily Happiness: Why Giving is the Ultimate Life Hack

linda changLeave a comment
Jacqueline Way and her son in 2010

We spend so much of our lives chasing happiness. We look for it in career promotions, new gadgets, or the perfect vacation. Yet the joy we seek often feels fleeting. What if the real secret sauce to a happy life isn’t something you buy or achieve—but something you give?

In her widely shared TEDx talk, “How to Be Happy Every Day: It Will Change the World,” Jacqueline Way offers a beautifully simple, yet world-altering insight: doing one small good deed each day can transform your brain, your life, and ultimately, the world.

The Science Behind the “Helper’s High”

Jacqueline’s message isn’t just uplifting—it’s grounded in science. When we perform acts of kindness, our bodies respond in powerful ways.

Giving triggers the release of a natural blend of “happiness chemicals”:

  • Dopamine, which creates feelings of reward and joy
  • Oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which reduces stress and supports heart health
  • Serotonin, which stabilizes mood and promotes a sense of calm and well-being

In other words, when you give, you’re not just helping someone else—you are literally rewiring your brain for happiness.

At the heart of Jacqueline Way’s message is a practice so simple it’s easy to overlook:

Do one little good thing every day.

It doesn’t need to be dramatic or time-consuming. A good deed might look like:

  • Offering a sincere smile or kind word
  • Helping a neighbor with a small task
  • Picking up litter along your path
  • Donating items you no longer use
  • Listening fully to someone who needs to be heard

What matters most is intention. When kindness becomes a daily habit rather than an occasional gesture, happiness stops being accidental—it becomes natural.

A single act of kindness never ends with the giver. It travels outward. One person’s generosity inspires another. Slowly and quietly, hearts soften, trust grows, and perspectives shift.

Jacqueline Way reminds us that changing the world doesn’t require grand gestures or heroic efforts. It begins with ordinary people choosing compassion in everyday moments. When kindness becomes a way of life, happiness expands—not only within us, but all around us.

How to Start Your Own Happiness Practice

If you’re longing for more joy and connection, you don’t have to wait for the “right” moment. You can begin today. Here are three simple ways to practice the daily give:

1. Look for the Micro-Give
Kindness doesn’t require money or planning. Hold the door open, write a thoughtful message, or leave a positive review for a local business.

2. Make It a Family Habit
Inspired by Jacqueline and her son, turn giving into a shared ritual. Ask at dinner, “What was your give today?” It nurtures empathy and helps everyone focus on the good.

3. Notice the Shift
Pause and observe how you feel after giving. That warmth in your chest? That quiet lift in your mood? That’s happiness growing in real time.

Jacqueline Way reminds us that we are not powerless in the face of the world’s challenges. Each of us carries the ability to make life kinder, lighter, and more meaningful—one day at a time.

When you choose to give, you stop chasing happiness and start creating it.

And when enough of us do that, every day, the world truly begins to change.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/01/02/the-secret-to-daily-happiness-why-giving-is-the-ultimate-life-hack/

Walking for Peace, Step by Step

linda changLeave a comment
The Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, who are undertaking a 2,300 mile pilgrimage of Walk for Peace, arrive for a welcome ceremony at Hong Kong City Mall in Houston Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images

In a world that often feels rushed, divided, and relentlessly loud, there is something quietly revolutionary about the act of walking.

Recently, a group of Buddhist monks began a long, demanding pilgrimage across the United States. Their mission is simple yet profound: to promote peace. Their journey began in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 26. Since then, they have faced the literal “wear and tear” of the road, including a harrowing incident where two monks were injured after a truck struck their escort vehicle.

Yet, they did not stop.

With perseverance and a calm, unshakable resolve, the group of two dozen monks has reached Georgia. They are still moving, one step at a time, toward their final destination in Washington, D.C. Their pace is slow, deliberate, and intentional—and that may be exactly what our world needs right now.

Buddhism has a long history of “engaged mindfulness”—the idea that compassion isn’t just felt in meditation, but lived in the world. These monks are not just praying for peace; they are embodying it.

As they navigate highways and back roads, they offer a living reminder that peace isn’t a destination we reach once and for all. It is a practice. It is something we choose moment by moment, breath by breath, step by step.

Watching their progress brings me back to a book I read nearly 30 years ago: Peace Pilgrim.

I remember being deeply moved by her story—how she walked across countries carrying almost nothing, guided by the conviction that peace begins within the individual. At the time, I wished I could have met her in person, just to thank her for the way her simplicity and courage planted a seed in my heart.

Though she is gone, her spirit feels remarkably present today. I see her legacy in the orange robes of these monks as they crest the hills of the American South.

Monks rest at Hong Kong City Mall in Houston Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Igniting Kindness, One Heart at a Time

There is something profoundly moving about a walking pilgrimage in the age of instant communication. There are no hashtags here. No viral outrage. Just human beings placing one foot in front of the other, trusting that their presence alone can soften the world.

And it works.

Along the way, the “ordinary” world reacts. Drivers slow down. Strangers stop to ask questions. People offer water, a meal, or a simple smile. In these small, unscripted exchanges, something gentle is awakened. We are reminded that beneath our political and social differences, we all share a basic human longing for safety, understanding, and harmony.

The monks may be the ones doing the walking, but the kindness they ignite along the way belongs to all of us. As they recently shared on their Facebook page:

“We do not walk alone. We walk together with every person whose heart has opened to peace, whose spirit has chosen kindness, whose daily life has become a garden where understanding grows.”

A group of Buddhist Monks and several hundred local community members take part in the Walk for Peace in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday December 23, 2025. The Monks are walking from Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote peace and compassion.

https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2025/12/23/buddhist-monk-walk-for-peace-passes-through-montgomery/87897028007/

https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2025/12/23/buddhist-monk-walk-for-peace-passes-through-montgomery/87897028007/

Most of us cannot drop everything to walk across a continent. But all of us can “walk for peace” in the geography of our own lives.

  • We can pause before we react in anger.
  • We can choose compassion over the reflex of judgment.
  • We can listen more deeply than we speak.

Watching these monks continue their journey despite injury and uncertainty reminds me that peace isn’t achieved through grand, sweeping gestures. It is built patiently through humility and love.

Step by step.

May their walk remind us to slow down, to soften our hearts, and to keep moving—together—toward a more peaceful world.

Photos from https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/buddhist-monks-peace-walk-thousands-follow-on-social-media/3962302/ and https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2025/12/23/buddhist-monk-walk-for-peace-passes-through-montgomery/87897028007/

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/01/01/walking-for-peace-step-by-step/

Your Brain Needs You to Take a Walk—Even More Than You Think

linda changLeave a comment

Did you know that your brain may need you to take a walk even more than your body does?

We often think of walking as something we do for physical fitness—burning calories, loosening stiff muscles. Yet neuroscience now confirms something ancient wisdom has always known: when the body moves gently and steadily, the mind awakens.

Regular walking—nothing intense, just consistent and mindful steps—nourishes the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. With increased blood flow and oxygen, this delicate region doesn’t merely function better; over time, it can actually grow stronger, softening the slow erosion of age.

Decades of MRI research reveal that people who engage in moderate movement—brisk walking, cycling, climbing stairs—experience measurable growth in the hippocampus. An average increase of just two percent may sound small, but in the language of the brain, it is profound. It can offset one to two years of natural cognitive aging.

In simple terms: thirty minutes of walking a day gently turns back the clock for the mind.

But beyond the science, something quieter is taking place.

When we walk, the brain relaxes its grip. A subtle nourishment—BDNF, often called the brain’s “fertilizer”—is released, protecting existing neural pathways and encouraging new connections to form. Thoughts become clearer. Memory steadies. Emotions settle into a more balanced rhythm.

This is why walking feels different from sitting.

As the body moves, the mind loosens.
As the breath finds its rhythm, thoughts begin to untangle.

Walking brings the brain into a rare state—awake, yet unforced.
It is here that insights arise without being pursued,
where worries soften and lose their sharp edges.

Many people sense this intuitively, without knowing the science. They think more clearly when they walk. They feel calmer. They see situations with greater perspective.

Stillness has its place.
But too much stillness, without movement, becomes stagnation.

Long hours of sitting dull not only the body, but also memory, emotional resilience, and mental clarity. The mind grows heavy, foggy, restless. Gentle movement restores what stillness alone cannot.

And the beauty of walking is its simplicity.

No gym.
No equipment.
No performance.

Just steps.

A short walk in the morning light.
A few mindful minutes between tasks.
A slow walk beneath trees.
Choosing stairs over elevators.
Sun on the face.
Breath in motion.

These small, ordinary moments—when repeated—quietly care for the brain and the heart.

Walking is not exercise in the usual sense.
It is a form of listening.

With each step, the mind is gently awakened.
With each step, inner noise softens.

You may not be going anywhere special.
Yet something within you becomes clearer, lighter, more alive.

So today, walk.

Not to achieve.
Not to improve.

Just to return—
to the simple intelligence of movement,
and to a mind that remembers how to be at ease.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/12/19/your-brain-needs-you-to-take-a-walk-even-more-than-you-think/

Healing in the Mountains: How Hiking and Forest Bathing Restore the Soul

linda changLeave a comment

I have always loved being close to nature, and one of my greatest joys is walking through the forest. Living in Santa Cruz, I am surrounded by beautiful woods and mountain trails. Each time I wander beneath the trees and along winding paths, I arrive at the end feeling lighter, calmer, and deeply refreshed—as if my body and mind have been fully recharged.

I once came across an interesting idea:
Mountains are places where we gain energy, which is why after hiking, we often feel alert and invigorated. Water, on the other hand, carries energy away. This may explain why spending long hours by the ocean or a lake can leave us feeling tired. Yet water also washes away emotional heaviness. When we feel sad, restless, or overwhelmed, a walk by the sea often brings a sense of release and ease.

Energy is constantly flowing through nature. We are simply quiet participants, allowing the natural world to gently adjust our inner frequency.

Discovering “Forest Bathing”

Recently, I was delighted to learn that the Japanese have a word that perfectly describes this healing experience: forest bathing.

In Japanese, it is called shinrin-yoku:

  • Shinrin means forest
  • Yoku means bathing

Together, shinrin-yoku means “bathing in the forest,” or allowing our entire being to absorb the atmosphere of the woods. As early as 1982, Japan officially incorporated forest bathing into its national public health program as a form of preventive and therapeutic care.

Suddenly, I realized that every breath I took in the forest had always been quietly nourishing me.

Japanese researchers have conducted extensive studies on forest bathing and found remarkable benefits for overall well-being. Research shows that forest bathing can:

  • Reduce stress
  • Strengthen the immune system
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Support recovery after illness or injury
  • Improve mood and concentration

For me personally, its most immediate effect is simple yet profound—it quickly lowers stress and brings my heart back to a place of calm.

Forest bathing is very different from running or brisk walking. It is not about exercise or distance; it is about presence. The key is to slow down and fully engage all your senses:

  • Touch the bark of trees—rough or smooth
  • Watch sunlight dance through layers of leaves
  • Breathe in the scent of earth and greenery
  • Listen to the wind moving through branches
  • Find a place to sit and feel your connection with the ground

In the past, most of my hikes were intense, goal-driven, almost like completing a task. Since practicing forest bathing, I now schedule at least one slow, mindful walk each week. By slowing down, I have discovered beauty I once overlooked—and I can’t help but smile at how much I missed before.

There is a subtle yet powerful presence in the forest. It does not announce itself, yet it gently soothes the heart.

Perhaps it is the oxygen released by the trees.
Perhaps it is the steady, unhurried rhythm of the forest.
Or perhaps it is simply that, among the trees, we can finally hear our own breath again.

When we walk in the forest, there is nothing we need to accomplish. Nothing to force. Nature naturally helps our hearts soften, open, and grow brighter.

If you feel tired, anxious, or lost in the busyness of everyday life, I invite you to find a nearby mountain trail and give yourself the gift of forest bathing.

Let nature, in its quiet way, remind you:
You are doing your best—and you deserve to be healed. 🌲

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/12/12/healing-in-the-mountains-how-hiking-and-forest-bathing-restore-the-soul/

Are you really listening to your body?

linda changLeave a comment

By Anita Barnes

Listening to your body can be something as simple as going to bed when you are tired, stop eating before you are overstuffed, or releasing a yoga posture when you’ve gone beyond your edge.  It can also involve more serious things, like preventing your stress levels from exploding into chest pain by saying no, averting an acute pain situation or chronic disease by knowing when to slow down, and respond to pain or discomfort in your body.  

For me, the essence of yoga is about listening to your body, mind and emotions and honouring where they are at, because this changes from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute.  This listening may involve noticing how your body feels in a particular pose-are your muscles tight, are you feeling a sense of release?  How is your breath-do you notice times when you are holding it or breathing faster than you should?  How are your emotions-what’s coming up for you; sadness, anger, impatience, or boredom?  

I learn so much about myself while on my yoga mat.  Through stillness, movement and breath, I have increased awareness of where I’m holding muscle tension and how my nervous system is doing.  This mindfulness helps me move through negative emotions, practice self-compassion and often find sweetness underneath the negativity.  

Our body and emotions are always communicating, and sometimes it’s very subtle, and unfortunately, we often ignore it.  This has happened to me twice in the last year, and honestly, I should have known better.  In the spring, during the first lockdown – (what # are we at now?) I continued with my weight workout because my gym was closed.  I used light weights and after a few weeks felt they were too light and increased the amount.  I started to notice an occasional throbbing pain in my left triceps.  I ignored this and continued to ignore it, not making the connection that the heavier weights were taxing my muscles.  One night I was awoken by the most excruciating pain, exactly where I felt the original throbbing pain, and it was radiating up to my neck and down to my wrist.   Luckily, I was able to see my physiotherapist and chiropractor for treatment, and they felt the pain was connected to an aggravated radial nerve.  My doctor prescribed me an anti-inflammatory, and I felt better after the first treatment; however, it took several months until I fully recovered. 

You think this would have been a massive wake up call for me to pay attention to subtle changes in my body-the whispers.  Nope.  Since the recent lockdown, state of emergency, whatever we’re at these days, I committed to going for a long walk or hike every single day because my spirit needed this connection to nature.  After a few longer hikes of 2-3 hours through a local conservation area, I noticed a pain in my right glute.  It wasn’t severe pain and didn’t last long, so it was easy to brush off.  However, it did happen at least 4-5 times, and I completely ignored it, and just over a week ago, I paid for this BIG TIME!!!!   

After an active day on January 15th, I noticed a pain in my right hip flexor, went to bed, but didn’t stay long because the pain became too intense.  By Saturday afternoon the pain had increased with a vengeance, and I didn’t sleep on Saturday night and woke my husband up at 3 am on Sunday informing him that he had to take me to emergency because I was in that much pain.  At the ER they ruled out a few things and thought that diagnosis was piriformis syndrome-irritation of the piriformis muscle.  They suggested rest, anti-inflammatories, extra-strength Tylenol and physiotherapy to get back on track.  The pain wasn’t being managed, and on Tuesday morning, I had to go to the ER once again because the pain became so severe that I couldn’t walk.  This time they focused on pain management and gave me morphine via IV and a script.  The pain subsided, and I was able to walk and go home.  

By this time, I hadn’t slept for 4 nights and saw my physiotherapist for the first time.  He performed a full assessment and didn’t think I had piriformis syndrome and felt that my joint and muscles were functioning well.  He thought that I might have overdone it with my hikes and aggravated some muscles and nerves.  

I continued with the pain management meds and physiotherapy, and last Saturday afternoon, I noticed that the pain had left entirely.  I haven’t had any pain since and still have no idea what caused it, but have some ideas.  I believe that my enthusiastic hikes irritated the muscles and nerves in my right hip, and I had plenty of warning that something was up.  

I’m so grateful to be pain-free and have the most profound compassion and empathy for anyone dealing with chronic pain.   I honestly don’t know how anyone deals with it. 

I don’t want to go through something like this again, and I’ve learned my lesson about the importance of listening to my body, not just on my yoga mat, but always.  

Our body, breath and emotions are always communicating to us and sending us messages.  They usually start as little whispers, and if you don’t pay attention, your body will yell at you loud and clear and force you to listen. 

Off the yoga mat, it’s essential to take time throughout your day to slow down, be still and tune in.  How does your body feel?  Do an emotional check-in.  Honour your body, and give it the attention and nurturing that it deserves.  Trust your body,  its’ wisdom and healing abilities.  

Be well.

Anita

Source: https://countyyogaloft.ca/blog/mijpjcfyqxydger4435o02oej6q2zl

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/12/05/are-you-really-listening-to-your-body/

One Page at a Time: Reclaiming Our Minds in the Age of Endless Screens

linda changLeave a comment

In today’s world, our phones are never more than an arm’s length away, and our minds rarely get a moment of true rest. We scroll without thinking, click without choosing, and consume without noticing. But deep inside, many of us feel the same quiet truth—we are losing ourselves in the noise. This post is a small reminder that peace, clarity, and spiritual nourishment are still possible, if we begin to consciously take back our attention.

Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook browsing—what starts as a quick check so easily becomes an hour of mindless scrolling. It’s almost frightening how fast time disappears. Even without TikTok, I can feel the pull of the algorithm shaping my habits, my attention, even my thoughts.

Of course, technology brings wonderful conveniences. We can speak with loved ones across the world instantly, save treasured memories, learn anything we want, and make life easier in countless ways. But lately, I’ve realized something important:

I’m exhausted. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

My attention span is scattered. Silence feels uncomfortable. I reach for my phone without thinking. And I’ve begun to wonder—is this what addiction feels like? Knowing you don’t need it, yet still reaching for it anyway?

We all know we’re on our screens too much.
But knowing doesn’t free us.
Conscious action does.

The Real Cost: What Screen Time Is Stealing From You

This isn’t just about an hour lost to Instagram; it’s about the erosion of the most vital parts of our lives. The time we spend staring into a screen is time actively taken away from meaningful, real-world engagement.

Screen time is truly troubling our lives right now:

  • We have less time to exercise. The energy required for a twenty-minute workout is often sacrificed for twenty minutes of passive scrolling on the couch.
  • We have less time to play with kids. Those precious, unrepeatable moments of building a fort or kicking a ball are missed because we’re “just checking” a notification.
  • We have less time to talk to our parents/partners. Authentic, present conversation is replaced by parallel consumption, sitting next to a loved one while both are immersed in separate digital worlds.
  • We have less time for deep, restorative sleep. The blue light, the stimulating content, and the mental chatter we absorb right before bed actively hijack our ability to rest.

A Spiritual Perspective: Why Screen Addiction Makes Us Unhappy

In Buddhism and many spiritual traditions, the mind is described as a lake.
When the surface is constantly stirred—by notifications, news, entertainment—it becomes muddy. We can no longer see clearly. Wisdom, compassion, and calmness all sink beneath the surface.

Excessive screen time:

  • scatters the mind through endless stimulation
  • drains our life-force through constant comparison and craving
  • steals the quiet moments where insight and peace are born
  • pulls us away from real presence—real people, real breath, real living

Spiritual masters remind us:
“Where your attention goes, your life goes.”
If our attention is constantly fragmented, our life becomes fragmented too.

Actionable Suggestions to Reduce Phone & Social Media Time:

StrategyHow It Works
The Friction FolderMove all tempting social media/entertainment apps into one folder on the very last page of your phone screen. This adds just enough friction to make you pause before opening.
Grayscale ModeSwitch your phone display to black and white. Color is a primary driver of attention and addiction; removing it makes the screen less stimulating and less fun to look at.
Set App LimitsUse your phone’s built-in Screen Time settings to put a hard limit (e.g., 30 minutes) on all social media apps. Once you hit it, the app locks for the day.
The “Phone Bed”Designate a charging spot outside your bedroom. Use a traditional alarm clock. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary for sleep and connection, not consumption.
The “Purpose-First” RuleBefore you unlock your phone, state out loud (or in your mind) what you are picking it up to do (“I am checking the weather,” “I am calling Mom”). Complete the task and immediately lock the screen.

Mindful Practices I’m Recommending:

These are small, spiritual steps to reclaim your mind:

  • Put the phone out of sight. What the eyes don’t see, the mind doesn’t crave.
  • Create “sacred screen-free hours.” Mornings or evenings where the mind can rest—like offering ourselves a daily meditation.
  • Return to the breath whenever the urge to scroll pops up. One breath. One pause. One moment of awareness.
  • Read again—slowly, intentionally. A physical book becomes a refuge, a temple for the mind.
  • Replace noise with mindfulness. Walk without headphones. Eat without a screen. Let silence become a friend again.
  • Remind yourself of impermanence. Every moment spent scrolling is a moment of life we never get back.

Little by little, I’m learning to soften the grip that screens have over me.
Not by force, but by nurturing something deeper—presence, clarity, and spiritual freedom.

Do One thing mindfully and intentionally at a time. It’s time to be truly alive again.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2025/12/04/one-page-at-a-time-reclaiming-our-minds-in-the-age-of-endless-screens/

Source: https://vocal.media/humans/call-of-the-child