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Articles from Maya Frost | Selfgrowth.com
- Hate to Meditate? Start Playing With Mindfulness Instead! - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2007 from Maya FrostIn a culture that embraces Adderall, paying attention has become the most sought-after skill for those looking for a competitive edge. From blurry-eyed college applicants to top executives, the ability to focus on what matters most is the key to coping—and competing—despite the stresses of ...
Views: 1123 - Mindfulness and Conversation: Northwest Earth Institute Plants Powerful Seeds - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2006 from Maya FrostA few years ago, I was the national outreach coordinator for theNorthwest Earth Institute in Portland,Oregon. It was a very cool job. All day long,I talked to people across the countrywho were interested in gathering oncea week with a few friends, neighbors or co-workers in order to discover ...
Views: 1129 - Mindfulness and Clarity: What's In Your Pot? - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2006 from Maya FrostNo matter how enthusiastically we embrace theconcept of simplifying our lives, things have a way of getting complicated. Perfect example: My family sold nearly everything and moved to Mazatlan, Mexico to explore living with less stuff and more fun. And it's been working beautifully. It's ...
Views: 975 - Mindfulness and Tango: Passion and Possibilities - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2006 from Maya FrostMy husband and I went to see a production of "Forever Tango!" presented at the Angela Peralta Theater just two blocks from our home here in Mazatlan. After all, since we're moving to Argentina in July, we need to learn more about tango, which was born in Buenos Aires back in the late 1800s. ...
Views: 1917 - Mindfulness and Stress: Unwrapping Your Package - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2006 from Maya FrostWhat triggers stress for you? Most people think they know exactly what pushes their buttons, but they're going for the low-hanging fruit. It's the stuff that's hanging in the hard-to-reach branches that tends to multiply our feelings of frustration, exhaustion and disconnection. One ...
Views: 1051 - Mindfulness and Contemplation: New Ways to Navel Gaze - by Submitted on Nov 17, 2005 from Maya FrostThere's been a lot of talk about navels in our house lately. You see, my youngest daughter is asking to get hers pierced, and we are saying no--for now. So, naturally, I have been noticing navels more than usual. The term "navel-gazing" means indulgent contemplation, and that's an interesting ...
Views: 1041 - Mindfulness and Empathy: Using The News - by Submitted on Sep 08, 2005 from Maya FrostAs we watch the news about the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, it is easy to become much more caught up in the horror and anguish part of the disaster instead of the opportunity to deepen our own ability to feel empathy and act purposefully. Ironically, just prior to the hurricane ...
Views: 947 - Mindfulness and Flirting: Seizing The Moment - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2005 from Maya FrostHave you ever been called a flirt? Good for you! You see, flirting is an excellent indication that you are Paying Attention. In fact, it is impossible to flirt without being mindful. You can’t be all wrapped up in your thoughts, or distracted by worries about tomorrow. You are Right ...
Views: 1859 - Mindfulness and Eating: Divine Desk Dining - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2005 from Maya FrostAre you stuck eating lunch at your desk again? Lucky you. You see, staying put can be surprisingly soothing compared to making a mad dash to the cafe for a sandwich and running back to your office, all the while worried that you’ll miss an important call. If you feel chained to your ...
Views: 1305(1 vote) - Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2005 from Maya Frost“It’s a free country,” they say. “Celebrate our independence,” I hear. Well, I’m all for having a party, but it strikes me that you don’t have to be an American to appreciate freedom, and doing what I’m told isn’t the best way to exercise independence. So, let’s expand that notion of freedom ...
Views: 1125 - Mindfulness and Perspective: Getting Hip - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2005 from Maya FrostDiane is one of my favorite clients. A warm and engaging woman, she is a loving grandmother and a talented painter. We worked—I think of it as playing, really—together a while back to help her reignite her creative energy after a major move. Diane was scheduled for hip replacement surgery ...
Views: 1027 - Mindfulness and Education: Teachers, Make It Fun - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2005 from Maya FrostAs a mindfulness trainer, I’m a big fan of promoting greater mindfulness in the classroom. However, it’s interesting to me that those who seem to be the most thoughtful and passionate proponents of mindfulness in education are the ones most likely to be trapped by their limited thinking. Now, ...
Views: 1187 - Mindfulness and Poetry: Delicious Word Awareness - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2005 from Maya FrostEveryone's a poet. Of course, everyone's a critic, too! This means that there are plenty of opportunities to heighten our awareness of words and how we use them. Words create pictures, and just as a painter uses a combination of colors and strokes to express a concept, we offer an artistic ...
Views: 1297 - Mindfulness and Music: Things That Go "Hmmm" - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2005 from Maya FrostShhh…can you hear it? One of the most powerful forms of mindfulness is awareness of sound. We tend to tune out the noise of our lives in order to concentrate on the tasks at hand. In fact, we may get so used to a particular sound that we don’t notice it until it’s gone—like a television ...
Views: 2703 - Mindfulness and Mystery: Sleuthing Toward Interpersonal Awareness - by Submitted on May 26, 2005 from Maya FrostWe love mysteries. We enjoy using our minds to gather clues and solve problems of all kinds. Whether it's the latest crime show on television, a news story, your company's top-secret product launch, or where you left your glasses, you are captivated by questions that have significance for you. ...
Views: 1067 - Playing With Mindfulness: Sneaking In The Back Door - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2005 from Maya FrostI often meet people who say things like, "I've been working with mindfulness for over twenty years." My response is always this: "Oh, you poor thing! Have you tried *playing* with mindfulness? It's very effective, and much more fun!" They tend to look at me like I'm some kind of kook, and ...
Views: 1044 - Seeing Purple: On Pens and Paying Attention - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2004 from Maya FrostIt's back-to-school time once again, and purple is IN. I'm not talking about fashion trends--though the September issues of most magazines are singing the praises of plum and berry shades. No, I'm referring to the hottest item at Office Depot, Staples, and other school supply meccas. Purple ...
Views: 1237(1 vote) - Ch-Ch-Chain of Hearts: Cranking Up Compassion - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2004 from Maya FrostCan you hear your compassion? It's time to crank it up. One of the most difficult challenges we face in our quest to be compassionate is dealing with conflict. Those we love most tend to be the ones most likely to engage us in sparring that cuts the deepest. Why do we allow ourselves to use ...
Views: 1216 - Savoring Moments Through Mindful Eating - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2004 from Maya FrostWe all eat. But how mindful are we of every bite we take? Your mother always told you to slow down and taste your food. That’s great advice, especially when we find ourselves grabbing a quick snack on the run or eating a meal while driving. How we eat says as much about us as what we choose to ...
Views: 1166 - Big Wave Mindfulness: Surfing For A Connection - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2004 from Maya FrostSurfing is mindfulness in action. Riding the biggest waves is an all-out, fully-present-or-die-trying proposition. Thanks to a persistent case of aquaphobia, I've never tried surfing. However, I've done my share of snowboarding, and I am trying to imagine what it would be like to carve the ...
Views: 1145 - Leaning Toward Lean: Clear Thinking For Better Health(Care) - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2004 from Maya FrostMindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can be accomplished when mindfulness is applied to systems that need all the attention they can get. If there's an industry that needs some CPR and TLC, it's healthcare. Cindy Jimmerson is a 30-year trauma nurse who is passionate ...
Views: 2674 - Becoming Radiant: Mind Mapping For Creativity - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2004 from Maya FrostI don't take notes anymore. Instead, I create one wildly colorful, creative and inspiring page whenever I need to make a decision, prepare a presentation, or plan an event. That whole two-column plus and minus approach? Gone. Bring on the Mind Maps! I read Tony Buzan's first book on Mind ...
Views: 1454 - Wireless Meditation: Top Five Tips for Wherever-Whenever Mindfulness - by Submitted on Jun 21, 2004 from Maya FrostThe problem with meditation is attachment. We get inthe habit of needing our altar, favorite cushion,incense, CD, certain time of day, necessary length oftime, or particular style of sitting. If we can’t doit the “right” way, we tend to skip it altogether. Weget so attached to the trappings ...
Views: 1663 - Movin' On: Taking Transhumanism in Stride - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2004 from Maya FrostBack in the seventies, we watched "The Six Million Dollar Man", a popular television show about a trained agent who was critically injured and given the gift of technology--bionic legs and super vision. Lee Majors portrayed a man capable of leaping tall buildings and scanning the landscape at ...
Views: 1254(1 vote) - Don't Ask Your Doctor - by Submitted on May 22, 2004 from Maya FrostPerhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a drug to take to combat frustration from seeing so many drug ads. You know the ones I'm talking about. They always start out with a list of questions. Then they tell you that a new drug might be just the thing for you--all you have to do is ask your ...
Views: 813 - Don't Ask Your Doctor - by Submitted on May 22, 2004 from Maya FrostPerhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a drug to take to combat frustration from seeing so many drug ads. You know the ones I'm talking about. They always start out with a list of questions. Then they tell you that a new drug might be just the thing for you--all you have to do is ask your ...
Views: 1004 - Don't Ask Your Doctor - by Submitted on May 22, 2004 from Maya FrostPerhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a drug to take to combat frustration from seeing so many drug ads. You know the ones I'm talking about. They always start out with a list of questions. Then they tell you that a new drug might be just the thing for you--all you have to do is ask your ...
Views: 830 - Don't Ask Your Doctor - by Submitted on May 22, 2004 from Maya FrostPerhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a drug to take to combat frustration from seeing so many drug ads. You know the ones I'm talking about. They always start out with a list of questions. Then they tell you that a new drug might be just the thing for you--all you have to do is ask your ...
Views: 702 - It's a Quantum Thing - by Submitted on May 04, 2004 from Maya FrostWe don't need to understand quantum physicsentirely in order to appreciate it. Even those who have devoted their lives to thestudy of the universe and its atomic structurewill admit that many mysteries remain. Well, I love mysteries, so let's set the scene for this one... There's a Big Bang. ...
Views: 1181(1 vote) - It's a Quantum Thing - by Submitted on May 04, 2004 from Maya FrostWe don't need to understand quantum physicsentirely in order to appreciate it. Even those who have devoted their lives to thestudy of the universe and its atomic structurewill admit that many mysteries remain. Well, I love mysteries, so let's set the scene for this one... There's a Big Bang. ...
Views: 1256(2 votes) - It's a Quantum Thing - by Submitted on May 04, 2004 from Maya FrostWe don't need to understand quantum physicsentirely in order to appreciate it. Even those who have devoted their lives to thestudy of the universe and its atomic structurewill admit that many mysteries remain. Well, I love mysteries, so let's set the scene for this one... There's a Big Bang. ...
Views: 996(1 vote) - Survival Tips for Office Heroes - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2004 from Maya FrostThis one goes out to all you administrative professionals out there. That’s right. YOU. Not your boss. Not the guy down the hall who demands everyone’s attention. No. This is YOUR thing. You work hard, and all of your energy goes into making things run smoothly and helping your employer ...
Views: 1484(1 vote) - Triggering Intention: How To Remember To Remember - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2004 from Maya FrostYou've got a lot to store in that brain of yours. Sometimes you need to remind yourself to remember something. The most effective way to remember is to choose your triggers wisely. Post-its work great, but I'm all for simplifying things even further. By choosing to make a certain behavior a ...
Views: 1262(1 vote) - Surfing Your Adrenalin Wave: How to Dissolve--Not Disguise--Anger - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2004 from Maya FrostFeel that rising tide of anger? Surf's up! Start paddling. Whenever we feel angry or frustrated, we get a blast of adrenalin coursing through our bloodstream. In the fight or flight response to stress, our bodies rely on our appendages. We need to hit, kick, jump or run away, and our ...
Views: 1499(1 vote) - Straddling the Science/Magic Line: A Look At Magnetic Therapy - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2004 from Maya FrostWhat's the difference between science and magic? It's our understanding of what makes something happen. If magic is hocus-pocus, science is simply wellunderstood hocus-pocus. Fire? Solar eclipse? Volcanic eruption? Earthquake? Once we can explain it, it becomes science. But sometimes ...
Views: 1385(1 vote) - A Sweep of Vanity: How To Burst Your Own Bubble - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2004 from Maya Frost"Hoy-day! What a sweep of vanity comes this way!" William Shakespeare, "The Life of Timon of Athens" If there's one characteristic we hope we don't have, it's vanity. We'd rather be considered aggressive, driven, petty, even mean than have others feel that we think too much of ourselves. ...
Views: 1094 - A Mindful Road Trip: The Ultimate No-Goal Vacation - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2004 from Maya FrostIt's the beginning of spring break, and we're heading south. That's all we know. Our family is greatly anticipating what may be our last road trip for a long, long time. There's a lot of excitement in our house right now as we are shifting into a whole new phase for each of us. My husband is ...
Views: 1279 - Why You Must Stop Setting Goals - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2004 from Maya FrostMy goal in life is to have no goals. They get in the way of true progress. Plenty of successful people swear by goal setting. They're praising the wrong behavior. Brain research tells us that the goals don't matter--it's the intention that gets us where we want to go. Intentions and ...
Views: 1019(1 vote) - Evangelical Skepticism: Pursuing Your Right To Be Wrong - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2004 from Maya FrostMichael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an evangelist, so it's not too surprising to learn that he used to be one. What is surprising is that he has made a 180-degree turn in his approach to belief. As a college student at Pepperdine University, he knocked on doors to spread the ...
Views: 1260(1 vote) - Socrates, Politics and Axe Murder: A Look At Gay Marriage - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2004 from Maya FrostThis week, I attended a reading by Christopher Phillips. He is the author of Socrates Café: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy, and has been described as the "Johnny Appleseed of philosophy" because of his penchant for starting meaningful dialogues with groups around the world. He was there to ...
Views: 1182(1 vote) - Mastering Mindfulness: A Thinker's Ode to Meditation - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2004 from Maya FrostI'm lucky. When I was fifteen, I was the sole survivor in one of those horrific car accidents involving a bunch of teens, lots of alcohol, and late-night fast driving. While the driver and other passengers were killed instantly when our car hit a tree on a drizzly summer night, I had the most ...
Views: 1496(1 vote) - An Amazingly Simple Way to Change Your Brain Waves - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2004 from Maya FrostYou've seen the ads. "Transform yourself!" "Get motivated while you sleep!" "Revolutionary sound techniques will power up your mind!" But under the profit-motivated copy is a whole lot of fascinating science. Can you change your subconscious thoughts by changing what you're listening to? ...
Views: 12612(3 votes) - Open, Full and Imperfect: What You Must Know About Your Heart - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2004 from Maya FrostLast Friday was National Wear Red Day, an intentional opportunity to wear a red dress as a symbol of awareness of the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. I didn't wear a red dress, but I did get my very first electrocardiogram. I wish I could say that I had ...
Views: 1162(1 vote) - Dancing On Your Brain: The Cha-Cha Effect - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2004 from Maya FrostMy grandmother used to say that the secret to living a good life is maintaining a flexible spine and a flexible mind. Whether we’re talking about joints or brains, there’s just no room for rigidity. Mark Twain once made a comment that illustrates my grandmother’s idea perfectly. He said: ...
Views: 2235(1 vote) - Laughing Toward Truth: Six Tips for Lighthearted Thinkers - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2004 from Maya FrostDo you believe in the power of your convictions? It's time to lighten up. People love attaching themselves to ideas. We can get pretty feisty when one of our beloved beliefs is challenged. We're too busy defending to spend our time analyzing. Truth has a tendency to get in the way of ...
Views: 1189 - Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain - by Submitted on Jan 15, 2004 from Maya FrostCan you draw? Your answer to that question reveals a surprising amount about your brain and the way you integrate your right and left hemispheres. (In this article, the left side will be referred to as the dominant one, which is by far the most likely scenario.) You see, the left ...
Views: 2919(1 vote) - Becoming Excellent: Outsmarting Racism - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2004 from Maya FrostThinkers know better than to be racist. It's generallyunderstood that racists are, well, not thinkers. It'snot that racists are necessarily stupid--it's that theyare ignorant. We like to think that racists are choosing to hang onto their bias because they don't know any better. Thoseof us who ...
Views: 2206(1 vote) - Going Seamless: Dissolving the Brain Divide - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2004 from Maya FrostAre you a right-brainer or a left-brainer? The greatest thinkers are at a loss when it comes to answering that question. Just as we admire athletes who are able to hit a tennis ball or throw a javelin with either arm, we should emulate thinkers who engage fully in all kinds of activities ...
Views: 1248(1 vote) - Top Three Secrets To Becoming A Better Thinker - by Submitted on Jan 01, 2004 from Maya FrostWe all know there are ways to become a better thinker. We should read more books. We ought to go to lectures and concerts. We need to visit exhibits and appreciate art. We can take classes and expand our horizons through travel. Blah, blah, blah. Those are the easy answers. If we ...
Views: 4541(1 vote) - Doing Dinner: Confessions Of A Radical Mother - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2003 from Maya FrostI love slow living. It's peaceful, meaningful and downright radical in a go-go world. According to a recent article in (appropriately enough)Time magazine, groups of harried parents across the USA are joining a wave of slow living advocates by doing something really revolutionary--having ...
Views: 1256(1 vote)