What Daydreaming Does to Your Mind

Science suggests that mind-wandering freely to more pleasant and playful thoughts may improve our mood and foster creativity.   I’m a big believer in daydreaming now and then—especially when I’m out hiking. There’s something about being in nature that helps me let go of daily cares and allows my mind to wander where it will,[…]

The Benefits of Being Open-Minded

Open-mindedness is a characteristic that involves being receptive to a wide variety of ideas, arguments, and information. Being open-minded is generally considered a positive quality. It is a necessary ability in order to think critically and rationally.   If you are not open to other ideas and perspectives, it is difficult to see all of[…]

How to Practice Music Meditation

Music has many wonderful benefits for stress management and overall health. It can help you calm your physiology without making a conscious effort, and that can alleviate stress from your mind. Music can also lift your mood, slow your breathing, and create other stress-inducing changes.   Meditation is also one of the most popular stress management[…]

5 Ways to Cope With Emotional Stress

Emotional stress can be particularly painful and be challenging to deal with, can take more of a toll that many other forms of stress. Part of the reason is that thinking about a solution, or discussing solutions with a good friend—coping behaviors that are often useful and effective in solving problems—can easily deteriorate into rumination[…]

How Our Brains Can Find Peace in a Crisis

Psychologist Rick Hanson discusses how to strengthen our capacity for wisdom, peace, and enlightenment.   During this stressful time, it can be hard to manage the emotional challenges of sheltering in place and facing an uncertain future. We can’t rely on some of our usual ways of coping, like going out on the town with[…]