This is the third post in a series chronicling my firsthand experience with the power of mindfulness in moments of personal upheaval.

I freely admit that acceptance can be one of the hardest things for me to practice. I also know that, just as there’s a time and place for it, there’s also a time and a place for questioning and discernment. I can attest, however, that acceptance applied properly can bring a true sense of peace, serenity, and purposeful living.

This ongoing series is written from my firsthand experience with the power of mindfulness in moments of personal upheaval.

The interval [between diagnosis and treatment of my breast cancer] was a lot longer than I thought it should have been…six long, hard weeks during which I could either allow fear to metastasize or face it mindfully. Because I’m an avid practitioner and teacher of mindfulness, I chose to face it. But because I’m human, that path wasn’t always perfectly smooth or straight.

This is the first in a series of blogs written from my firsthand experience with the power of mindfulness in moments of personal upheaval.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I’ve experienced what I have come to recognize as a progressive series of wake-up calls—perhaps more accurately re-awakenings—that have brought me closer than ever to my mindfulness practice...

In order to progress, we must shift our focus away from what makes us different and focus instead on what makes us similar.

In moments of stress or anxiety, it’s important to notice if we treat ourselves as an inner enemy or as an inner ally. Using self-compassion practices, we can turn inward, offer support to ourselves, and improve our resilience and well-being.

Our wish for you this holiday season is to lean into compassion for yourself and others by letting go of the notion that everything has to be perfect and accepting that maybe things are going to look a little different this year, but that’s okay.

We asked a few of our Inseus Team Members to share how they plug into gratitude and we encourage you to give one (or a few of these!) a try

Resilience can be learned and, through practice, become the default way we adapt to deal with challenge, change, and stress.

MBSR is one of the most meaningful and effective ways to change habits, realize potential, and heighten well-being… Today’s uncertainty and turbulence underscore the need for the kind of transformation MBSR can spark.

To show up as our most effective selves, and to succeed in reaching goals of all types, we must do the work of extending compassion to our inner selves.

In the face of these significant health, social, and political issues, I’ve set an intention for my summer: to be more actively engaged in my community. Mindfulness starts within, but also involves being aware of the myriad of human experiences, showing compassion for others, navigating difficult conversations, and intentionally building a more loving and equitable world.

Here’s how I am leaning into my intention. I invite you to join me.

Recently, I co-hosted Inseus’s first-ever all day silent retreat on Zoom. I’ve led silent retreats in person many times before, but this was the first fully online experience. People always comment on how much they take away from our silent retreats, but as it turns out, I probably gained more insight into the power of mindfulness at this particular retreat than any of the other participants.

For our upcoming Virtual Silent Vipassanā Meditation Retreat, I’m thrilled to be leading alongside four other certified mindfulness teachers—Amanda Ryznar, Anuka Gazara, Stefanie Harris, & Stephanie Kaczynski. I’ve asked each of them to share a bit of insight into their experience with silent retreats and the importance of meditation in their own lives. And I’ve shared my own as well.

Our ongoing blog series, Mindful Leadership: Lessons from Life, is back! Check out the latest installment based on lessons Ashley learned during her 25 years of experience as a corporate leader.

One of my favorite, go-to mindfulness practices that builds resilience and decreases reactivity is called S.TO.P.