The muscles used to make a smile actually send a biochemical message to our nervous system that it is safe to relax the flight of freeze response.

Stories about ourselves and about the world continually arise in our minds and shape our beliefs about reality.

If [kids] get into loving relationships, they're afraid they'll be found wanting, won't have the looks or body shape our culture deems worthy. Many of us feel we're falling short and if we start feeling close to another person, that we'll be found out and rejected.

The two wings of mindfulness and kindness will begin to open the heart to more connection with our world.

Buddhist practices offer a way of saying, 'Hey, come back over here, reconnect.' The only way that you'll actually wake up and have some freedom is if you have the capacity and courage to stay with the vulnerability and the discomfort.

Mindfulness is a pause - the space between stimulus and response: that's where choice lies.

There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.