Live Archives - Minds Valley

What You Need to Know to Live a Spiritual Life

mindsvalley99 — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:28:55 +0000

Today, more and more people recognize that we are spiritual beings, that we can only obtain the ultimate happiness if we learn how to live an inner life. How can…

The post What You Need to Know to Live a Spiritual Life appeared first on BahaiTeachings.org.

Source link

The post What You Need to Know to Live a Spiritual Life appeared first on Minds Valley.

Why Should I Forgive? So I Can Live

mindsvalley99 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:37:31 +0000

People hurt each other with their words and actions—should we forgive them? If someone hurts us deliberately, how is it possible to forgive? Basically, when we’re hurt, we have two…

The post Why Should I Forgive? So I Can Live appeared first on BahaiTeachings.org.

Source link

The post Why Should I Forgive? So I Can Live appeared first on Minds Valley.

If We’re Spiritual Beings, Why Do We Live in a Physical World?

mindsvalley99 — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 14:16:49 +0000

During my half-century as a university professor and publishing scholar, I devoted a good deal of time to an obvious but puzzling question: If we presume an omnipotent Creator exists, why did He decide to give a physical dimension to His creation?

Or, stated in more personal terms, if the creation of human beings lies at the heart of the purpose of physical reality—as most religions suppose—then why did the Creator decide that we would benefit from waking up in an environment where we think we are physical beings, when we really aren’t; where we think we own stuff, when we actually don’t; and where we seem to constantly worry about dying, when our conscious self together with all our essential human powers will endure forever as properties of our eternal soul?

My first attempt to get to the heart of this question, a book entitled The Metaphorical Nature of Physical Reality, discussed the premise that physical reality is a poetic or metaphorical expression of abstract virtues and, as such, provides a foundational methodology for human beings to become introduced to a higher, nobler, and more permanent spiritual reality.

In this work, I applied the terms and techniques of literary studies, which describe how metaphor works, to demonstrate that analogical processes provide a useful means for the human mind to be introduced to, acquire, and understand ephemeral or metaphysical realities—making it possible for us to approach the entire physical part of our lives as a dramatic teaching device.

My next book-length study of this subject, The Purpose of Physical Reality: The Kingdom of Names, dealt with the way in which physical reality and our experience in it might correctly be described as a classroom where we prepare for the continuation of personal development after the dissociation of our selves—our soul with all its complement of powers and faculties—from our physical body.

This work concludes by observing that one of the really useful devices this classroom offers us as preparation for that transition—we might think of it as a workshop or “breakout” session—is aging, an ingeniously devised experience in which we gradually watch our skin become wrinkled, feel our joints falter, our organs failing, and the whole organic physical construct become incrementally more dysfunctional until it dies, decomposes, and, according to Walt Whitman, becomes “leaves of grass,” or, in my own case, a bit of crab grass.

The next stage in my study of physical reality as an expression of a coherent and logically structured expression of a divine plan for human education was The Arc of Ascent: The Purpose of Physical Reality II. The central thesis of this book—that individual spiritual development in the context of the physical classroom is inextricably linked to our reality as inherently social beings—led me to the conclusion that all individual virtue is largely theoretical until practiced and developed in the context of human relationships.

For example, a hermit dwelling in a mountain cave may consider himself to be extremely mystical and spiritual, completely kind and selfless, but neither he nor we can be sure he has acquired such virtues unless and until he emerges from his seclusion to help somebody, not once, but enough times that his theoretical virtues become habituated and thus integral attributes of his character.

The thesis of the series of essays you’re reading now came from ideas developed in my third assault on this endlessly fascinating question, entitled Close Connections: The Bridge between Spiritual and Physical Reality. As the title implies, this lengthy and complex discourse analyzes how the gap between the metaphysical and physical aspects of reality is bridged constantly and bi-directionally on both the cosmic and the individual level. Stated axiomatically, this work compares the theory that an essentially unknowable metaphysical being—the Creator—runs physical reality, with the parallel theory that an essentially knowable metaphysical being—the human soul—operates the human body.

As Abdu’l-Baha so clearly pointed out in a talk he gave in Paris, God employs His messengers as intermediaries between Himself and physical reality, even as we employ our brains as intermediaries between our “essential self” and our bodies:

Like the animal, man possesses the faculties of the senses, is subject to heat, cold, hunger, thirst, etc.; unlike the animal, man has a rational soul, the human intelligence, whereby he can think abstractly, or meditate and reflect on philosophical or theological questions.

This intelligence of man is the intermediary between his body and his spirit.

When man allows the spirit, through his soul, to enlighten his understanding, then does he contain all Creation; because man, being the culmination of all that went before and thus superior to all previous evolutions, contains all the lower world within himself. Illumined by the spirit through the instrumentality of the soul, man’s radiant intelligence makes him the crowning-point of Creation.

If this thesis is correct, even as you at this moment read this essay, you and I are conversing soul-to-soul by means of a series of intermediaries.

The written expression of ideas emanated from my conscious mind through the intermediary of my brain. It was then published here at BahaiTeachings.org, and is at this moment being translated by your senses into abstract concepts through the capacity of your brain, which then transforms the complex of symbols that constitute human language into meaning.

Your conscious mind then considers these ideas, and either rejects them as unworthy of being retained or stores them in the repository of your memory and the convictions of your inner being.

So, to put it in terms that contemporary physics might find appealing: how can we defend the thesis that essentially metaphysical beings—and therefore, for the majority of contemporary scientists, nonexistent beings—think themselves capable of operating heavy machinery without hurting anyone?

In Close Connections I discuss critical questions related to evolution, particle physics, astrophysics, history, cosmology, anthropology, medicine, physiology, psychiatry, and all sorts of other fields directly affected by the assertions that metaphysical reality exists and, more important, that there is a strategic and systematic interplay between the metaphysical and physical aspects of reality. Most important in this study is the consideration that these relationships are at the heart of any understanding about how reality works at every level of existence.

My overall objective in Close Connections is to demonstrate an integrative view of reality provided in and corroborated by authoritative Baha’i texts. But since I cannot in a single series of essays discuss all the support for a thesis wrought over ten years, several books, and hundreds of pages of research, I have decided to focus here on one of the fundamental themes in that study: the relationship between the religious axiom that the human purpose is to love God, and the decision of the Creator to make the method by which we can attain this love relationship subtle, indirect, initially physical, poetic, and, consequently, largely hidden and concealed from intuitive knowledge.

In other words, how do we love God when we cannot possibly know the essential reality of God?

This represents a supremely difficult challenge—unless, of course, we are first led out of the cave of ignorance by mentors, and set on the path of willed, self-sustained progress, a process that translates well the Latin verb educare (to lead out) into the English cognate “to educate.”

Coupled with this idea is another equally enigmatic concept: love. Since, according to the Baha’i teachings, the human purpose is to learn to know and to worship God, or to love and to express that love in action, then it is crucial that we understand how both processes work, as neither learning nor loving can be coerced, even by God, because both require us to employ our free will, and our will cannot be free if it is coerced.

So please follow along in this series of essays as we explore what the Baha’i teachings recommend when they ask us to kindle the fire of divine love in our hearts and souls.

This series of essays is adapted from John Hatcher’s address to the 2005 Association for Baha’i Studies Conference titled The Huri of Love, which comprised the 23rd Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture.

Source link

The post If We’re Spiritual Beings, Why Do We Live in a Physical World? appeared first on Minds Valley.

How To Stop Overthinking and Live Your Life

mindsvalley99 — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 18:46:16 +0000

Source: Khosro/Shutterstock

Most of us have felt stuck in our heads, replaying certain situations or interactions in our minds, wondering about what we should do, and weighing all the options. This is called overthinking. When working with clients who engage in overthinking, clinicians commonly use the term “rumination.” This refers to the practice of spinning thoughts in our head repeatedly, without ever coming to a conclusion. But whether we like to call it overthinking, rumination, or obsessive thinking, it’s not productive, and it can affect our mental health. Although many researchers have studied overthinking, and clinicians assist clients in attempting to overcome this challenge, it continues to plague millions of people, because when we are in the midst of it, stopping seems impossible.

Cognitive behavioral therapists tend to agree that strategies such as distraction are only a temporary solution. We can shift our focus from the topic on which we are ruminating, but inevitably our mind gravitates back to it later. Therefore, this is not a long-term solution for breaking the cycle of overthinking. Contemporary research and clinical practice emphasize the importance of mindfulness, which actually changes the way that we think about our thoughts. That’s right, we can think about the way we think, and in doing so, we will think less about thoughts that result in emotional distress and prevent the constant spin cycle that our brain creates when we overthink.

Mindfulness is the process of acknowledging thoughts, allowing them to exist in our brains, and letting them go. Often, when people think of mindfulness, they are thinking about mindfulness meditation, which is a wonderful practice, but is a specific example of how to incorporate mindful practices. We can engage in mindful thinking whenever thoughts come to us and we are tempted to run with them and imagine all sorts of scenarios.

For example, if we are thinking about the way we interacted with someone recently, we may start a ruminative pattern of wondering whether we did or said the right thing, what they thought about us, and how we should have behaved differently. This thought pattern may lead to hours of deliberation over what we did wrong. The end result may be feelings of guilt, sadness, or frustration. In contrast, the mindful approach to responding to thoughts about how we behaved would allow the negative or critical thoughts to exist rather than trying to push them out with responses such as “there’s no way for you to know whether you did the right thing,” or “don’t worry about it, it was fine.” This type of reassurance often leads to even more rumination and the need for more reassurance. The mindful approach would not directly respond to specific thoughts, but it would instead acknowledge the thoughts and recognize that they are just thoughts. They cannot be proven or disproven in this case. Not every thought is of equal value. Thoughts alone are not facts. Therefore, we acknowledge that we have them, and then we let them go.

This is not a simple process, and it’s not easy to shift from overthinking to mindful thinking. But it can be freeing to remind ourselves that thoughts themselves do not have power. We only give them power when we believe they could be true and we need to do something about them. Sometimes, we can handle situations differently. But continuing to ruminate over how it was handled previously does not change anything. We don’t need to keep thinking the same thoughts repeatedly to remember them or to change our behavior in the future. Continuing to cycle through our thoughts produces anxiety, and often depression, if we begin to feel helpless as we ruminate and re-live our experiences.

I often tell clients that the first step to break the cycle of overthinking is to think about what a thought is. A thought is a message that our brain gives to us to provide information. Some thoughts are wise while others are ill-conceived out of fear or other negative emotions. We must ask ourselves if repeating negative thoughts, and drawing conclusions from them, provides us with something positive. Spending too much time in our heads, reviewing our thoughts and repeating them, ultimately makes us feel stuck. Our brain may shut down and be unable to solve problems or create more productive positive alternatives. Taking a break from thinking can be helpful, but remember that this is only a temporary solution. Ultimately, breaking free from overthinking involves a paradigm shift in the way that we engage our thoughts. They are not automatically true; they are hypotheses at best. Rehashing them prevents us from making decisions and moving forward.

The next time that you catch yourself overthinking, ask yourself these questions:

Are these thoughts helpful?
Will they change the outcome in some way?
Do I need to respond to them right now?
How am I feeling as I’m thinking about this?
Is there something I can do to resolve this dilemma?

Reflecting on our thought process is another way to engage in mindful thinking that can help break us free from rumination. Our goal in asking questions is to help us understand that continuing to repeatedly think the same things is not only counterproductive, but it can be harmful to our well-being.

Source link

The post How To Stop Overthinking and Live Your Life appeared first on Minds Valley.

How To Live a Long, Healthy Life

mindsvalley99 — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 13:22:09 +0000

Many of us aspire to live a long and healthy life, enjoying an active and independent lifestyle as we age. The good news is that longevity is not entirely out of your control. There are practical steps you can take to increase your chances of living longer and having a long healthspan.

Two of the most important factors for living a long, healthy life are getting restorative sleep and maintaining good mental health.

Restorative Sleep for a Longer Lifespan and Healthspan

Restorative sleep plays a crucial role in achieving optimal health and longevity. It involves progressing through the five sleep stages. These stages allow your body to repair itself and rebalance hormones. Adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Uninterrupted and deep sleep cycles within this time frame indicate that you’re reaping the rewards of restorative sleep.

Benefits of Restorative Sleep

Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: When you sleep, your body engages in repair and hormone balance. This leads to a decreased risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Sleep also aids in regulating blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Furthermore, quality sleep enhances immune function, making you less vulnerable to infectious illnesses.
Brain Health: Sleep is essential for brain health. During sleep, your brain eliminates toxins accumulated throughout the day. Inadequate sleep disrupts this cleansing process, resulting in toxin buildup. Over time, this accumulation could contribute to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Prioritizing quality sleep acts as a safeguard for your brain’s well-being as you age.
Enhanced Mood and Reduced Stress: Sleep has a big impact on how you feel because it controls chemicals and hormones in your brain. Restorative sleep helps make serotonin; a chemical that makes you feel good. It also helps control stress hormones like cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can make you feel anxious and irritable. Lack of sleep can contribute to mood disorders like depression, stress, and anxiety.
Boost Energy and Immunity: After a good night’s sleep, you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Getting enough sleep keeps your energy up and gives your immune system what it needs to function. Not getting enough sleep disrupts the body’s recovery process, leading to fatigue and a higher chance of getting sick.

Prioritizing restorative sleep is essential to fully enjoy the health benefits that sleep offers.

Mental Health’s Role in Longevity and Increased Healthspan

Conversations about lifespan and healthspan have traditionally centered on physical health. But the significance of mental well-being is now acknowledged as pivotal for extending life and enriching its quality. Mental health encompasses our emotions, thoughts, and how we interact with others. It affects our well-being, shaping how we live our lives. Experiencing depression, loneliness, and stress can shorten lifespans and diminish the quality of life. Taking care of our mental health is as important as looking after our physical health for a long and happy life.

Here’s how improving mental health influences longevity:

Decreases Risk of Physical Illness: Mental health disorders amplify chronic disease risk. For example, depression promotes inflammation and compromises immune function. This makes people more likely to develop illnesses like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Managing mental health reduces disease risk factors.
Improves Adherence to Medical Treatment: For people with mental health challenges, it can be tough to follow treatment plans. Symptoms like low motivation and energy make it hard to maintain medications and lifestyle changes. Good mental health helps you take care of your physical self.
Reduces Unhealthy Behaviors: Mental health issues often lead to risky and unhealthy habits. These habits, such as smoking, unhealthy eating, and lack of exercise, can harm your health and lifespan. Taking care of your mental health can help reduce these harmful behaviors.
Averts Social Isolation: Feeling alone and not having enough social connections are becoming bigger health concerns. Mental health issues can lead to isolation from others. This isolation can make mental health problems worse and also affect physical health. Having social connections is good for both your mind and body, helping you live longer and better.

There is a strong mind-body connection when it comes to longevity. Seeking help for depression, anxiety, loneliness, and other mental health issues can have profound positive effects on your healthspan and lifespan.

Sleep Strategies for a Long and Healthy Life

Polina Kovaleva/Pexels

Given the myriad benefits of sleep for longevity, achieving restorative sleep should be a priority.

Stick to a set sleep schedule, even on weekends. Keeping a consistent bedtime and wake time regulates your circadian rhythm for better rest.
Develop a relaxing pre-bed routine like reading or taking a bath to wind down each night. Calming activities cue the body that it’s time for sleep.
Limit exposure to screens before bed. The blue light emitted from electronics disrupts natural melatonin production.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, heavy meals, and exercise close to bedtime. These can interfere with sleep.
Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Block out excess light and noise for uninterrupted sleep.
Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows. The right sleep environment sets you up for restful sleep.

If you struggle with insomnia or sleep issues, speak with your doctor. They can assess for underlying causes and recommend treatment options. Establishing healthy sleep patterns may require consistent effort, but the long-term benefits for longevity are well worth it.

Ways To Improve Mental Health for Longevity and a Longer Healthspan

Here are effective, evidence-based strategies to nurture your mental health and extend your healthspan:

Stay Active: Engaging in aerobic exercise triggers neurotransmitters that elevate mood and ease stress. Aim for 20 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily.
Stay Social: Spend time with friends, family, and your community to fight off feeling lonely.
Relax: Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and tai chi are effective in managing stress and anxiety.
Get Outdoors: Being in nature, getting sunlight, and breathing fresh air can really help your mental health.
Challenge Your Mind: Activities like reading, puzzles, crafts, or playing musical instruments help keep your brain sharp as you get older.
Give Back: Volunteering and helping others can make you feel good and connected to your community.

Prioritizing emotional well-being will have major dividends when it comes to your longevity. A holistic approach is ideal—combine lifestyle strategies with professional treatment if necessary.

Conclusion

Optimizing sleep and mental health can significantly increase your healthspan and longevity. Luckily, there are many evidence-based ways to improve your sleep and strengthen your mental health. Start incorporating the tips in this article and you’ll be well on your way to your healthiest years ahead.

Source link

The post How To Live a Long, Healthy Life appeared first on Minds Valley.

Live Fully in the Present, Not in Your Head

mindsvalley99 — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 07:26:44 +0000

We are more distracted than ever.

Source: Anna Dzinbinska/Unsplash

Do you ever feel like you’re going through the motions without really being present? There is so much good advice out there on being present, yet it seems we are more distracted than ever.

Most of us struggle to slow down and really notice our thoughts and feelings. What is going on? And what can we do to help ourselves show up and fully inhabit our lives?

We are not the boss of very much

The difficult fact of life is that we are vulnerable. We are confronted with uncertainty and limits in small ways and large, on a daily basis. We long for things, but we have limits to our ability to control when or how they happen. When we tune into the moment, we feel the passage of time and become aware of forces that impinge on attaining our desires. We recognize we are not the ultimate boss of very much. And in that moment unrest stirs.

Unrest is our friend

Unrest is an attention-getter. It wants us to wake up to the optimal moment to pay inner attention, so we can feel alive fully. If we tune in to our inner experience, we will be aware that emotions are rising. Those emotions are adaptive, meant to help us come to terms with our limits and embrace the richness of our lives.

But we have a dilemma: Unrest signals us via the same quick pathway as fear, and we are wired to move away from things that we fear. We unconsciously misperceive vulnerability as danger and are ejected from the moment. We escape, distract, and busy ourselves. We worry and try to control things. We eat and drink and shop and scroll.

The paradox is we need to get out of our heads and into our experience in order to live our lives more fully, but when we slow down unrest stirs: We are prompted to escape what we feel. Rather than react to unrest like a threat, we need to do the opposite of how we are wired and see unrest as our friend.

Interoception is like a superpower

Paying inner attention to body sensations is a powerful form of mindful awareness, which is especially effective in soothing the nervous system. Interoception is the term for the inner sense that permits us to become aware of what is happening inside our bodies. Interoception is how you can experience yourself from the inside: heart rate, hunger, thirst, temperature, breathing, muscle tension, and fatigue, to name a few.

The body is our pathway to the present.

Source: Alexey Demidov

Interoception is like a superpower. When we deliberately bring warm interest without judgment to sensations, our bodies recognize our inner attention. Our bodies implicitly understand that there is no external danger at the moment. If there were an immediate threat to life and limb, we would not be capable of perceiving our inner state, as our fight-flight reflex would force us to be oriented outward.

We would be scanning the external environment for the source of the threat. Hence, our inner awareness of body sensations (when slow and precise and without judgment) is powerful evidence to the body that we are safe.

Unrest is uncomfortable but it is trying to help us wake up to the truth that we are not omnipotent. If we don’t notice and soothe unrest, we will be ejected from the moment and find ourselves avoiding our experience. And everything we do to not feel leads us to be more anxious and depressed. We will be shopping, exercising, eating, drinking, worrying, intellectualizing, ruminating, numbing, busying, and scrolling our precious lives away.

The body is our pathway to the moment

When we learn to tune in to the sensations of unrest and soothe our nervous systems, we can come home to the present moment. The body is our pathway into the present moment. And when we bring warm interest and non-judgment to what we feel in our bodies, we not only get to have a deeper, richer experience of our lives but we may also be surprised at the welcome home we receive from our grateful bodies.

Source link

The post Live Fully in the Present, Not in Your Head appeared first on Minds Valley.

7 frozen yogurt spots in Portland to help you cool down and live out your dreams of the ‘10s

mindsvalley99 — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 19:54:10 +0000

Can you feel nostalgia for a trend that peaked just a decade ago? Well, if you’re living in “post”-pandemic America and that trend is America’s early 2010′s obsession with self-serve frozen yogurt, the answer is yes.

Cast your mind back to a time when no one was the least bit concerned about salad bar-style self-service toppings. When sharing licks of ice cream with friends didn’t cause a shudder to go down your spine.

Compared to the dozens of frozen yogurt shops opened in Portland after the Pinkberry chain’s stratospheric success, you can count the number of local frozen yogurt shops that survived the pandemic on two hands. But if you visit one today, you can experience a throwback thrill, when you and you alone pulled the lever on the froyo machine, and the only limit on toppings was the rim of the cup.

Self-service frozen yogurt is a perfect summer treat. It’s ostensibly slightly healthier than ice cream, it gives you a chance to get creative, it’s delicious and it’s cold.

Here are seven places in Portland where you can still get your froyo fix.

— Lizzy Acker

EZ Freezy

Self-service frozen yogurt from EZ Freezy on Southeast Division Street.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian

If you’ve been sleeping on EZ Freezy, it’s time to wake up. At the strip mall location on Southeast Division Street near 112th Avenue — one of three Ez Freezys in Portland (and one in Keizer) — there are 12 flavors and an extensive bar of toppings, including classics like peanuts, sprinkles and magic shell, and less expected things like boba beads, kiwi and peach rings. Inside, it’s clean and sleek and a little 2010s futurist, just like a self-service froyo spot should be. I got the classic chocolate vanilla swirl option, with a hardshell, sprinkles, peanuts and brownie bits to share with my 3.5-year-old. We didn’t stop eating until we were scrapping the bottom of the cardboard bowl.

Cost per ounce: $.68

Details: EZ Freezy Frozen Yogurt, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, multiple locations (we visited 11904 S.E. Division St.), ezfreezyfroyo.com

— LA

Sunny’s Legendary Frozen Yogurt

Pineapple frozen yogurt with (non-kosher) candy toppings at Sunny’s Legendary Frozen Yogurt in Southwest Portland.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

Considering it sits directly across from Gabriel Park, home to Portland’s nicest outdoor playground and indoor swimming pool, I’m a little surprised I’ve never been to this charming Southwest Portland shop before, especially when you factor in my children’s bottomless love for all things ice cream (and ice cream-adjacent). But Sunny’s lives up to its “legendary” name — less than half an hour after opening on a recent weekday, the tree-shaded side patio was already filled with a dozen customers of all ages, while five more loaded up cups and bowls inside. Like most places on this list, the cake batter, original tart and other flavors come from Dannon’s YoCream brand, but the colorful chalkboard menu and retro diner-style tabletops give the place more personality than your average froyo outfit. Two young people sitting near me summed up the experience nicely: “They have every flavor you want, and it’s a cute space, too.” That the frozen yogurt, syrups and more than half the toppings are Oregon Kosher Certified is just a bonus. L’Chaim!

Prce per ounce: $.75

Details: Sunny’s Legendary Frozen Yogurt, 1 to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 4397 S.W. Vermont St., 971-271-8348, sunnysfrozenyogurt.com

— Michael Russell

TartBerry

Self-service frozen yogurt from TartBerry on Southwest 9th Avenue.Chiara Profenna/The Oregonian

One of the more uniquely decorated frozen yogurt locations in town, TartBerry meets all the nostalgic and sentimental requirements we’re looking for. The walls inside are plastered with sticky notes from customers declaring their love of frozen yogurt or each other. With an array of classic yogurt flavors and two separate displays worth of toppings, TartBerry is a froyo fantasy. I filled my cup with chocolate marshmallow and raspberry flavors, before promptly covering every inch with toppings – there are seriously so many options.

Price per ounce: $.79

Details: TartBerry, 12:30-10:30 p.m. daily, 915 S.W. Ninth Ave., tartberryinc.com

— Chiara Profenna

UU Yogurt

POG (Passion fruit-orange-guava) frozen yogurt with mango popping boba from UU in Raleigh Hills.Michael Russell | The Oregonian

According to the words stenciled above the frozen yogurt dispensers, the “UU” in the name stands for “u-serve it, u-top it.” But in, what I’m assuming was a pandemic-time casualty, toppings are now doled out by staff. The shop offers eight flavors from what I assume to be YoCream (I didn’t see a sign, but almost every Portland-area shop uses it), including a cookies n’ cream, a non-dairy POG (passionfruit-orange-guava) and tart, plus around two dozen of the usual toppings, including mango popping boba in a nod to Beaverton’s robust tea culture. UU feels like a far-flung outpost of a vanished chain from the post-Pinkberry froyo craze — before opening here, UU had a Lake Oswego location, but the Raleigh Hills shop carries on, thanks in large part to the support of nearby Jesuit High School just a long football’s throw away.

Price per ounce: $.75

Details: UU Yogurt, 1-10 p.m. daily, 8100 S.W. Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., 503-278-7191, uuyogurt.com

— MR

Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge

A trio of froyo cones at Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge on Northeast Fremont Street.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian

At Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge, you have options for your frozen yogurt container. You can pick the classic cardboard bowl in two sizes or you can get a waffle cone cup or even an ice cream cone. If there are children in your group, like there usually are in mine, an ice cream cone is sort of an amazing option, since it limits the amount of froyo you can get from the machine, and it requires 100% less spoon. In addition to its original Sellwood-Moreland location, Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge (not to be confused with Nectar, the local cannabis dispensary chain) recently opened a second location on Northeast Fremont Street, which is already a hit with local kids out of school for the summer. With 10 flavor choices, including on a tasty watermelon Dole Whip, and topping options including full caramels and mini bills wafers, Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge is a great frozen treat addition to an already treat-filled street.

Price per ounce: $.85

Details: Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge, noon-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, multiple locations (we visited 4335 N.E. Fremont St.), nectarfroyo.com

— LA

Sprinkle Divine

Frozen yogurt at Sprinkle Divine in Eastport Plaza.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian

Sprinkle Divine on Southeast 82nd Avenue is so much more than a self-serve yogurt shop. Despite the small Eastport Plaza space, the menu is massive, including everything from outlandish churro-based sundaes to smoothies to milk tea to flan. Still, if you choose to go with a simple froyo, you can choose from 12 flavors including pistachio, hazelnut and a pleasing purple taro. The topping bar doesn’t disappoint either. We opted for Fruity Pebbles cereal and raspberry sauce but we were thrilled to see Nerds candy as an option too, for the ‘90s kids. As a bonus, a small seating area on the side features a lovely little fish tank so you can eat your frozen yogurt and pretend you are the mermaid of Eastport Plaza.

Price per ounce: $.73

Details: Sprinkle Divine, noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 4328 S.E. 82nd Ave. Suite 1000

— LA

Also try: Eb & Bean

This froyo shop – although not a self-serve location – warrants a shout-out. With seasonal options like boysenberry and passion fruit caramel, it has the outside-of-the-box flavors you might be searching for. Eb & Bean also boasts a considerable plant-based yogurt collection. With three Portland locations to choose from, there shouldn’t be an Eb & Bean too far from reach. We tried the salty chocolate almond with a raw honey drizzle and lots of marshmallows.

Price: $4.75 for a regular + $0.95 for toppings

Details: Noon to 10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday and noon to 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, three Portland locations (we visited 645 N.W. 21st Ave.), ebandbean.com

— CP

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe

Source link

The post 7 frozen yogurt spots in Portland to help you cool down and live out your dreams of the ‘10s appeared first on Minds Valley.

Live Nation expands into meditation music app space with ‘Mindful Nation’

mindsvalley99 — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 01:55:10 +0000

The growth of audio streaming has led to an overlap between the music business and the practice of mindfulness and meditation which presents an opportunity that a growing number of businesses are seizing.

A few examples: Streaming service Deezer has launched Zen by Deezer, a wellbeing app that features music and sounds, guided Yoga sessions, breathing exercises and meditation classes. The company revealed earlier this year that it is using AI to generate music and sounds for the app.

Fruits Music, the label-turned-playlist company formerly known as Strange Fruits, announced plans last year to release an app for meditation sounds and bedtime stories, which it dubbed Sleep Fruits.

Plus, Universal Music Group (UMG) recently entered into “a first-of-its-kind strategic relationship” with generative AI sound wellness startup Endel to create what they call “AI-powered, artist-driven functional music”.

According to Endel, so-called functional music (e.g. music for sleep, running, relaxation etc) “represents one of the largest sub-categories of music listening worldwide, encompassing an estimated 15 billion streams a month across all music platforms”.

Even major musicians have gotten in on the act; in 2019, Moby gave meditation app Calm a month-long exclusive on his album Long Ambients 2.

Now Ticketmaster owner and live events promoter Live Nation has launched a mindfulness app Dubbed Mindful Nation, which it claims in a press release “seamlessly incorporates music into the practice of meditation”.

Live Nation, which casts the app as part of its commitment to supporting mental health and wellness across the music and entertainment industries, says Mindful Nation offers more than 1,000 classes with “special sonic beats” curated by prominent producers and independent artists such as Janax Pacha, Mose Musica and Chris IDH.

The app is available through the Apple Store, and the premium Mindful Nation Plus costs $4.99.

The classes are searchable by trainer, ‘vibe’ or class duration, and include daily and on-demand sessions for mind, sleep and “day-to-day life,” Live Nation says, as well as music playlists featuring artists from around the world and in a variety of genres.

British artist Noel Gallagher of Oasis has also given his support to the new meditation app.

“[W]riting music and albums is one kind of meditation, you have to go into a particular state to do it,” Gallagher is quoted in the press release is saying.

“Music is the gateway to finding that higher place of peace and this platform will allow for more people to access mediation in a way that makes sense to them. [Mindful Nation is] really cool.”

“Music is the gateway to finding that higher place of peace and this platform will allow for more people to access mediation in a way that makes sense to them.”

Noel Gallagher

Mindful Nation began primarily as a B2B platform that delivered live sessions in an effort to elevate corporate culture, and was developed by Niamh McCarthy, a former artist manager who worked for Madonna and U2’s management team at Maverick.

“After experiencing burnout on the road, she spent the next chapter of her life studying meditation, breathwork, and yoga,” Live Nation explained.

“McCarthy has made it her mission to bring mindfulness and meditation to the music business and now sees a massive breakthrough with the easy-to-use and intuitive Mindful Nation app.”

“The Mindful Nation app brings together meditation and music in a unique way.”

Michael Rapino, Live Nation

“Music is transcendent and has the power to connect and support,” McCarthy said in a statement. “The artists on Mindful Nation are vehicles to that higher source which we are bringing into people’s everyday lives through our meditation classes.”

She added: “We are all totally overstimulated by the extraordinary amount of data and connectivity that exists in today’s world that we are not equipped to deal with. The classes on the Mindful Nation app are like a timeless album, never out of date. Users can keep going back to these resources again and again to support themselves through the highs and lows of life.”

Live Nation President and CEO Michael Rapino is named in the press release as Mindful Nation’s principal investor, and Hamish Stephenson, Founder and Creative Director of sports and entertainment agency FALSE 9, is its Chief Creative Officer.

“The Mindful Nation app brings together meditation and music in a unique way,” Rapino said. “We first launched Mindful Nation as a program for our employees, and it’s great to see Niamh now bringing the benefits of mindfulness to touring artists and crew across our industry, as well as music fans.”

Another of the product’s boosters is magician and illusionist David Blaine.

“Niamh has created a wonderful way to be reminded daily of those simple things that are most important,” Blaine said.

“Music is transcendent and has the power to connect and support. The artists on Mindful Nation are vehicles to that higher source which we are bringing into people’s everyday lives through our meditation classes.”

Niamh McCarthy, Mindful Nation

The meditation market presents a large opportunity for business in the music and audio field.

According to a report released last Thursday (June 29) by The Business Research Company, the global meditation market is set to grow to be a $6.6-billion business in 2023, up from $5.4 billion in 2022. By 2027, it’s expected to be worth $14.6 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21%.

The market for meditation apps alone was worth $522.2 million in 2022, and is set to grow to $7.59 billion by 2031, according to InsightAce Analytic. That represents a CAGR of 31% over the next eight years.

“There has been a prominent increase in the usage of these mindfulness meditation apps by people of all ages and gender, which is, in turn, driving the growth of the global market for mindfulness meditation apps,” the business intelligence company said in a report.

“The growing trend among millennials toward a healthy lifestyle has increased the demand for mindfulness meditation apps.”

Music Business Worldwide

Source link

The post Live Nation expands into meditation music app space with ‘Mindful Nation’ appeared first on Minds Valley.

40-year-old pays $1,600/month to live in a tiny home by the beach—it’s smaller than a parking spot

mindsvalley99 — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 16:40:34 +0000

From 2020 to 2022, I split my time between two rentals: a one-bedroom apartment in New York City and a tiny home in Santa Monica, California.

But one day, I decided I needed a change. My stepfather had passed away, and I was going through a breakup. These losses shifted my perspective, and realigning my life to fit my values became a priority.

I realized that I didn’t need so many belongings, let alone two places to live. So in May 2022, I sold or donated most of my stuff. I put five boxes of winter items into a storage unit and left New York with two suitcases and a camera.

Now, at 40 years old, the 140-square-foot tiny home in Santa Monica is my primary home. I’m an eight-minute drive from the beach, and there are plenty of places to hike nearby.

Sung’s house is parked in the owner’s backyard, which is an 8-minute drive from the beach.

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make It

A look inside my tiny home

The house is smaller than the average size of a parking spot (which is roughly 150 square feet). But it’s designed in a way that doesn’t feel cramped.

I found the listing on HotPads, an online rental marketplace. The home was built by architects at Minarc Design Studio, and is parked in the backyard of a single-family home.

The main room functions as my living room, office, walk-in closet and kitchen. I added a few small aspects like hooks and accessories, but otherwise the place is exactly as it came.

Sung’s living area doubles as a walk-in closet. “I’m very particular about how I curate my wardrobe because I have such little space,” she says.

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make It

The glass door allows for plenty of natural light and really opens up the space. The indoor LED lighting has six adjustable settings. I use softer lights in the evening and only have lights on in the bathroom in the morning.

Since there’s no stovetop in the house, I keep a double propane burner outside. I’ve honed my Girl Scouts skills and now cook at home at least six days a week.

Since kitchen space is limited, Sung does most of her cooking outside on a propane gas stove.

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make It

The bedroom area is a little a cove that fully surrounds my mattress. I have a hidden drawer beneath the bed for additional storage. To keep things organized, I use soft dividers and zippered pouches.

Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards

Sung sleeps facing north, which she says is “great for feng shui.”

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make It

The only storage space in the bathroom is below the sink, which has a 2.5-foot frame and a small shelf to hold towels. One of my favorite features in the house is the sink face, which is made of recycled rubber, making it functional and easy to clean.

Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards

The sleek, minimalist bathroom has open storage space below the sink, where Sung keeps her towels.

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make It

Built to be energy efficient, the temperature is regulated by concrete panels. This means I don’t need air conditioning, and a portable heater is enough to keep me warm during wintertime.

I’ve learned what it really means to live with intention

Most days, I work from home running my children’s brand, Big Little Universe. Since I spend so much time here, meticulous organization isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity.

Living with intention in a tiny space has many benefits: I save time, energy and money (especially after getting rid of my $4,500-per-month New York apartment). It’s very serene and grounding. I only have one high-quality version of everything, and each item has its own place.

I’ve become more mindful with my social commitments, too. I only have one person over at a time. And I travel to visit family and friends in New York every few months.

Having easy access to the outdoors and being able to go on hikes has significantly improved her quality of life, says Sung.

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make It

With my new lifestyle, I’ve come to appreciate the art of slowing down. It helps keep me present and calm.

I see myself living in a tiny home forever, and I want to use my design experience to build a tiny home community of my own one day. But I’ll always cherish this pivotal space — and moment — in my life.

Sung Yoo is the founder of Big Little Universe, a children’s brand that brings minimalistic design to multi-purpose toys and products. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of Design. Her past clients include Birchbox, Dermalogica, L’Oreal Paris and Victoria’s Secret. Follow her on Instagram @biglittleuniverse and @sungsation, or on Tiktok @biglittleuniverse_co.

Don’t miss:

Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work and life? Sign up for our new newsletter!

Get CNBC’s free Warren Buffett Guide to Investing, which distills the billionaire’s No. 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do’s and don’ts and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook.

Source link

The post 40-year-old pays $1,600/month to live in a tiny home by the beach—it’s smaller than a parking spot appeared first on Minds Valley.

10 podcasts to help you be mindful, live slowly, and manage anxiety

mindsvalley99 — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 03:59:39 +0000

Here’s a list of short yet influential podcasts that gently help you slow down and ease your anxiety wherever and whenever.

Get up, scroll through social media to wake yourself up fully, freshen up as soon as possible, rush to work, meet deadlines, rush back home, and repeat. Work five days a week, and spend the other two days feeling guilty of not resting well. Life has become hectic and exhausting. It often feels like we rush from pillar to post but rarely get anything done. Our to-do lists keep lengthening while our days feel crunched into before work, work, and after work. It is no wonder that in a system that promotes hustling night and day, anxiety has become a debilitating problem. As per a Forbes report, 374 million people suffer from anxiety disorders worldwide. But all is not lost yet. There are numerous ways in which one can prevent anxiety. Guidance by a counselor can go a long way in overcoming anxiety and related disorders. Another source of advice on anxiety can be podcasts.

Various podcasts by psychologists and people struggling with anxiety teach us how to live slowly and reduce stress and anxiety. Be it social, work or relationship anxiety or simply overthinking, these podcasts address the many forms of anxiety that bother us in our day-to-day lives. We have curated a list of podcasts that are short and effective and provide you with guidance and mindfulness.

Also Read: 6 dad podcasts to listen to for tips on good parenting

Check them out!

Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast by Caroline Foran – Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In the words of author, Caroline Foran, “This practical and relaxed series explores everything from what anxiety is and why it happens to us, how our brains work and why it’s actually very normal to the various tools and techniques necessary for owning it.”

The Anxiety Dr. Podcast by Dr. Lisa Cortez – drlisacortez.com and Spotify

In her weekly podcast, psychotherapist Dr. Lisa Cortez talks about the various layers of anxiety and offers tips and tools to help reduce your anxiety one podcast at a time.

Disordered: Anxiety Help by Josh Fletcher and Drew Linsalata – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music

Josh Fletcher, a psychotherapist, and Drew Linsalata, a therapist-in-training, are both bestselling authors who have written about anxiety and mental health in general. Their podcast delivers “real, evidence-based, actionable talk about anxiety and anxiety recovery in a kind, compassionate, community-oriented environment.”

The Transforming Anxiety Podcast by Kelly McCormick – kellyhanlinmccormick.com, Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Via her podcast, certified Life Coach Kelly McCormick gives you specific and practical tools that help you relieve anxiety.

Hurry Slowly by Jocelyn K. Glei – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

Based on lived experiences, Jocelyn K. Glei talks about about “heart-centered productivity, intuitive connection, and tender discipline.”

The Anxiety Guy Podcast by Dennis Simsek- Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music

In the words of the host himself, “The Anxiety Guy Podcast is an inspirational weekly listen for people suffering from health anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and other emotional and mental health challenges. A relatable, fun-loving, and no sugar-coated approach to healing one powerful episode at a time.”

The Anxiety Chicks by Alison Seponara and Taylor Marae- Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify

Alison Seponara and Taylor Marae talk about anxiety, nutrition, and mental health. They use their expertise as healing professionals and guide us with tools and strategies one needs to heal an anxious mind.

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily by Major Jackson- Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music

Poet Major Jackson aims to guide us on the pathways to feel and understand our common journey – through poetry. The description of the podcast reads, “The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. Make us a part of your routine as you drink coffee in the morning, as you take a walk in nature, or as you wind down to go to sleep in the evening. With host Major Jackson, we collectively take a moment to calm, inspire, learn, and engage with the best emerging poets and established writers of our time and generations past, from Emily Dickinson to Danez Smith, from Amanda Gorman to Mary Oliver.”

Let’s Slow Down by Annemarie Stolting- Spotify, Apple Podcasts

In her podcast, Let’s Slow Down, host Annemarie Stolting provides us with “fun conversations that encourage listeners to ease up on the daily grind and adopt a gentler mindset that supports intentional living.”

The Minimalists by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus- Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify

The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn, and Ryan Nicodemus are well-known for their Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary. They are also New York Times–bestselling authors. Along with cohost T.K. Coleman, they guide people about how to live meaningful lives with less.

Which one do you plan to listen to? Tell us in the comments below!

Source link

The post 10 podcasts to help you be mindful, live slowly, and manage anxiety appeared first on Minds Valley.