Mindfulness is defined as the awareness that arises when we pay attention in the present moment, on purpose, and non-judgmentally. To understand how mindfulness is involved in forming habits, let’s learn about two systems of the brain and how they impact your behavior.

At the beginning of the year, we make commitments to stop unhealthy habits and start healthy ones. However, no matter how committed we are, we need help maintaining new routines. Even after a few weeks we get off track. WHY do we do this and WHAT can we do about it?

As humans, we often think in binary terms such as “black and white” or “all or nothing”, rather than shades of gray. This tendency is called dichotomous thinking. When we are embarking on making behavior changes, we often fall into this trap. Here’s how to avoid it…

Research on happiness indicates that only 10% of happiness is accounted for by life circumstances, with genetic differences accounting for 50%, leaving us with 40% of happiness within our control. While a rewiring of our inner world may be much more daunting than cleaning our closets, it will be worth the effort. To help you get started on this critically important task, you can practice these four areas. Give them a try!