Rick Hanson, author of the “Buddha’s Brain” states that the brain is like Velcro for negative experiences, but Teflon for positive ones.  Therefore, until we train the mind, it might actually be more natural to NOT see the good.  Keep reading to find out what 3 tools he recommends and a personal experience of my own with seeing the good.

In your own mind, what do you usually think about at the end of the day? The fifty things that went right, or the one that went wrong? Like the guy who cut you off in traffic, what you wish you had said differently to a co-worker, or the one thing on your To Do list that didn’t get done . . .

How would you like to start seeing and taking more of the good in NOW?

1.  Look for good facts, and turn them into good experiences.

Good facts include positive events – like the taste of good coffee or getting an unexpected compliment – and positive aspects of the world and yourself. When you notice something good, let yourself feel good about it.

Try to do this at least a half dozen times a day. There are lots of opportunities to notice good events, and you can always recognize good things about the world and yourself. Each time takes just 30 seconds or so. It’s private; no one needs to know you are taking in the good. You can do it on the fly in daily life, or at special times of reflection, like just before falling asleep (when the brain is especially receptive to new learning).

2.  Really enjoy the experience.

Most of the time, a good experience is pretty mild, and that’s fine. But try to stay with it for 20 or 30 seconds in a row – instead of getting distracted by something else.

3. Intend and sense that the good experience is sinking into you.

People do this in different ways. Some feel it in their body like a warm glow spreading through their chest like the warmth of a cup of hot cocoa on a cold wintry day. Others visualize things like a golden syrup sinking down inside, bringing good feelings and soothing old places of hurt, filling in old holes of loss or yearning.  And some might simply know conceptually, that while this good experience is held in awareness, its neurons are firing busily away, and gradually wiring together.

My own story of seeing the good….

In the last few years, I have made a commitment to spend a few weeks a year in silence.  I find this a wonderful practice to gain more insight into my mind and heart.  As I teach mindfulness to many people, I also find it helps me to become a better teacher and deepens my own practice more and more.
This July I spent a week of retreat at Spirit Rock, which is located in Woodacre, CA.  Spirit Rock is unique as a meditation center because you can’t be there and not be surrounded by nature, mountains, and the many creatures that inhabit the grounds.  At the base of Spirit Rock there is a horse stable, with 4 enlightened horses .

It is always a highlight during a walking meditation period or after a meal to visit the horses. If I am lucky, the horses will usually come over and let me pet them and we have a mindful moment together of connection.

I decided this particular morning of the retreat to come to visit the horses bringing an apple with me from my recent breakfast.  Both horses came over to me not having seen my apple yet, and it was a treat to be able to get to vist with each of them.  It was a definite boost to my day.  Unfortunately, I only had one apple.
On my way back up to the meditation center from the horses, I saw the turkey vultures, which are infamous visitors at Spirit Rock.  I stopped and watched a small gathering of 3 vultures away from me.  I decided to mimmick the pace of the vultures and walk with them.  I slowed my pace to theirs and all 4 of us were walking along very mindful and very slowly.  I teach walking meditation, but had never done it this way (the turkey way).

It was such a delightful morning and it made me think that I had the intention of bringing an apple to the horses and just by having the intention to give or be friendly, a whole world of gifts came back to me.
It is just another reminder that if we incline our minds toward the good and kind we may even have more awareness of what is good and kind.
Oh what a morning!

www.intuitivelywell.com

Screen Invasion is the phenomenon of us always being plugged into something whether its a phone, TV, or computer.  Research indicates that we take in 3x the amount of information that we did in the 60’s and we check about 40 websites a day, switch programs about 36 times in an hour, and are bombarded with information all day long.  It’s nice to be in the know, but what are the repercussions for us being too plugged in, are we also then tuned out?

I have become increasingly curious about this subject as a practicing meditator and nature lover.  In my business, Intuitive Wellness I work as a wellness consultant with individuals, groups, and organizations.  In this role, I facilitate workshops and programs in teaching people how to tune back into themselves.  I am great believer in using our body in movement and mindfulness as tools to create balance in our lives.

In the rest of this blog, I will share with you what I have learned about the ramifications of information overload and some steps that can bring some peace and balance back into your life.

So is all this multi-tasking helpful?

Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information.

While many people say multitasking makes them more productive, research shows otherwise. Heavy multi-taskers actually have more trouble focusing and shutting out irrelevant information, scientists say, and they experience more stress.

Additionally, scientists are discovering that even after the multitasking ends, fractured thinking and lack of focus often persists. In other words, this is also your brain off computers.

Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse and one of the world’s leading brain scientists says, “The technology is rewiring our brains.”

Do you ever wonder why you might be so drawn to checking your email or Iphone while you are in the pleasant company of someone?

The constant messages we receive via email or our phones play to a primitive impulse to respond to immediate opportunities and threats. The stimulation provokes excitement — a dopamine squirt — that researchers say can be addictive. In its absence, people feel bored.  In other words, we check our phones and emails all the time because we never know when something really great is going to happen.  Its a term, psychologists call- intermittent reinforcement.  We may get lots of unsatisfactory emails, but every once in awhile you get one thats really great and so you keep checking in hopes you will get another great one soon.  Interesting, huh?

However, all technology is not bad.  The use of technology is being found to allow us to be more efficient at finding information. And players of some video games develop better visual acuity.

The important question is what can we do to unplug?

Basically, we need to take more breaks.

Scientists have found that we can only take in one stream of information at a time.  If we are experiencing stress while we are plugged in, this releases cortisol into the brain and this can overtime lessen your ability to remember.  In summary, the more data we take in, the less creative, productive, and the more stressed we become.

Three Simple Steps to Unplug

1.  Take 5 Mindful Breaths

We know we need to take more breaks during the day right?  Breathing is incredibly powerful and allows us to reconnect to our bodies and the present moment.  When we slow down into our breathing, we move out of our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight or better known as our stressful state) and into our more relaxed state activating the parasympathetic nervous system.  To take 5 mindful breaths, notice that you need to take a break, and slow down your breathing by taking a deep inhale through your belly and a deep exhale through your nose our mouth.  As I am writing this blog, I am in fact practicing this exact technique.  Ahhh, I feel so much better already

2.  Incorporate non-doing activities

Our culture was founded on the work hard ethic and we are often rewarded for being productive.  However, as stated before, without breaks we are actually less creative and less productive.  Taking some time to “be” in nature, or be in your body or be with yourself is wonderful self care.  Some ways to cultivate this “being mode”

• Take a walk in nature and do a scan of everything you see, feel, and hear while you are walking.  Really be in the moment.
• Experiment with yoga, where you can slow down and be in your body.  Even if you are new to yoga, there are many gentle and restorative classes that can you get started in an easy manner.
• Practice meditation- Refer to this past blog I have written on how to get started- http://www.intuitivelywell.com/blog/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=87
• Find something artistic to try.  Being creative is another “being” activity.

3) Take a vacation from your device

Taking time where you are not plugged in is a great tool.  These may be some supportive ideas for how to start.

• Choose not to check your phone in the presence of your family.
• Take a vacation where you don’t have access to your screens.  That is what a group of 5 researchers did who were trying to understand how the heavy use of digital devices and other technology changes how we think and behave.  They took a retreat into the nature of UT.

What they found?

Mr. Strayer, the trip leader, argues that nature can refresh the brain. “Our senses change. They kind of recalibrate — you notice sounds, like these crickets chirping; you hear the river, the sounds, the smells, you become more connected to the physical environment, the earth, rather than the artificial environment.”

The 3rd day syndrome was a term used by the scientists to express that it took them about 3 days to settle into their environment of peace and calm.

This is a similar term used on silent meditation retreats.  It is often stated that it takes 3 days to really settle into your mind and new environment.  Having done many silent retreats, I can attest personally to this statement.  In silent meditation, we are trying to let go of all the past stimulation and taks and simply be where we are.

The solution to finding the balance we are always striving to create in our lives is to pay attention to what is most important.  The lure of emails and various stimulation from screens may actually be taking us away from what really matters.  If we can focus on what is most important and what has most priority to us, we can all find the path to balance.

Thank you for your kind attention.

www.intuitivelywell.com

I work as wellness consultant and specialize in helping clients integrate qualities of mindfulness to bring more balance into their lives.   I find that nature is a wonderful tool to bring us back to the present moment and to be with what is here and now.  In order for me to be an expert in these areas, I have to engage in these practices myself.  This summer, I packed my bag with a few athleta bikinis, skirts, running shorts, and of course running shoes.  Then away I went for a week in the beautiful caribbean  islands of Turks and Caicos.

I have been to many of the caribbean islands since I was a child living in FL.  It was an easy escape for my family vacations back then.  Now that I live in the bay area, it’s a little more of a jump for me, but completely worth it.  The islands of Turks and Caicos had the most amazing blue green waters and this was something you can even see from 20,000 feet high in the air.  The months of July- October are apparently the least visited time of the year due to the humidity and you could feel it, but who’s complaining I am on vacation.

Upon arriving on the northwest side of the island, I scoped out my new home to find out where I could go swimming and running nearby.  I am truly an outdoor enthusiast  and on vacation I like to spend as much time being outside and active.   Running or swimming in a new territory feels like an adventure all to itself.  I love being able to explore new trails and vistas that I have never seen.  Additionally, I set up a snorkeling trip so that I could introduce myself to the marine life in the area.   I took a 5 hour snorkeling trip on one of the most calm days on the island.  The wind was so minimal that as I laid on the roof of our boat, the ocean water looked like a mirror, not a ripple in site.  Amazing!  You could see the flap of eagle rays from above the water as they swam happily below.

I found while on vacation that there were many opportunities to be fully present in my experience.  I have many clients who tell me that they are busy from morning til night and they ask me how they can cultivate more peace and quiet in their lives.

Peace I find is something that comes from your heart, not from outside.  Peace doesn’t mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you are not disturbed from the inside.  If you’re truly at peace, then no matter what situation you find yourself in you can enjoy the silence.  There are moments when we think we are silent and all around is silent, but we are constantly planning or talking inside our heads.  The practice of finding more balance in our lives is to cultivate a deep sense of peace in all the activities that you do.  We can start by simply noticing what is around us.  With this practice,  you will not strive to be anywhere other than where you are.  This is peace.

While we can cultivate this feeling at any moment, sometimes being in a more relaxed setting such as on vacation is a perfect place to start.  I found I could practice presence while swimming in the ocean, running on the beach, eating amazing mango, listening to the waves, walking barefoot in the sand, and lastly gazing at the stars.

After a relaxing day, try star gazing and you can choose to connect more with what is here.  The sky might seem quiet, but there is always something going on.  On any night, away from the bright lights you can see a few “shooting stars” per hour.  Shooting or falling stars are not really starts at all, but usually pebble sized bits of rock burning up as they race through the Earth’s atmosphere some 50 miles over your head.

July/ August

Meteor Showers

Best time to see meteors is between midnight and dawn.

July 28th-29th- Delta Aquarids- An average of 20 per hour

August 12-13th- Perseids- An average of. 60 per hour

October 21-22nd- Orionids- An average. 20 an hour

*The nights of Oct. 20-22nd, Comet Hartley 2, best to view east before sunrise.

May you enjoy the long days of summer with presence and peace no matter where you venture.

www.intuitivelywell.com

One of the biggest sources of toxins in the summer is unbelievably our sunscreen.  Most people are using toxic sun blocks and don’t even know it.  These harmful products with oxybenzone and octyl salicylate block the UVB rays, but not the more harmful UVA rays.  To safely block the sun this summer, try a product with zinc oxide as the active ingredient.  Zinc is a mineral that safely blocks both UVA and UVB rays.  It’s white and may take some effort to rub in, but it’s worth it.  To find great deals on safe sunscreens for the whole family try pharmaca, an integrative pharmacy with many safe and natural health care products. You can visit them at www.pharmaca.com.  Also to learn more about safe sunscreens go to http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

Here are a few recommendations for skin safe sunscreens:

1.  MyChelle Sun Shield, SPF 28- Mychelle’s line features dermaceutical-grade and bioactive ingredients that offer powerful but gentle protection. Zinc and titanium oxide offer full-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, along with soothing aloe and fortifying soybean oil.

2. Badger Sunscreen for Face and Body, in SPF 15 and 30
Badger’s SPF formulas are water resistant, safe for children of all ages, block both UVA and UVB rays with zinc oxide, and thoroughly moisturize while they protect your skin.

3.  LaRoche Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream For long-lasting, high-SPF protection, turn to expert sunscreens from La Roche-Posay, one of Europe’s best-selling skin care lines. Anthelios is water resistant and protects skin on both face and body.

Mexoryl™ SX 3% protects against short UVA rays and is photostable on its own Octocrylene 10% protects against UVB rays Avobenzone 2% protects against long UVA rays and is stabilized by Octocrylene Titanium Dioxide 5% provides enhanced overall UVA and UVB protection

4.  Goddess Garden Facial Natural Sunscreen SPF 30+
Protect and repair with sheer UV-blocking ZinClear and 70 percent certified organic ingredients! Goddess Garden’s latest creation includes skin-healing aloe and green tea to repair skin from the sun’s damaging rays.

5.  Sunscreen for Kids- California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion
Trust the protection of your little ones’ skin to this allergy-tested line of sun care made with organic and sustainably grown ingredients.

In parting, have fun this summer, enjoy the sun, but do it safely with the right protection for your face and body.

www.intuitivelywell.com

Environmental wellness can be thought of as having access to clean water, shelter, access to health care, and healthy and safe food to name a few.  Many of these things are basic human rights, but when contamination to the environment builds, these rights and resources become harder to preserve.

We live in the year 2010 and global warming became a public term and concept in the last few years with Al Gores publicity of an Inconvenient Truth.  We  can feel the ramifications of  global warming and realize that it is not just a warning, but a reality.   In the last few months we have become very aware of the precious existence of our oceans and marine life, and access to safe seafood with the BP oil spill in the Gulf.   We can take the oil spill as a sign that our need for more is getting in the way of living more simply, hence our non-dependence on oil.

There is more and more awareness growing about the human impact on the environment and I  encourage you to take an interest.  These next two talks are inspiring and motivating, I hope you will listen to them.

In the talk “Let’s talk Trash”, Chris Moore points out that we use 2 million plastic bottles every 5 minutes in the US.  To listen to this talk please click here- http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/470.

Chris Jordan who depicts many photos of modern America life shares statistics that in the US we use 4 million plastic cups a day on airline flights and we use 40 million paper cups for hot beverage consumption everyday.  To listen to this talk please click here- http://www.ted.com/talks/chris_jordan_pictures_some_shocking_stats.html

In the US, we have a reputation as consumers, but this consumption is impacting our personal and environmental wellness.  We can take the messages that are threatening our environmental wellness as a sign to change behaviors or we can remain the same, but not without consequences.  Change takes time, but each of us has the ability to make an impact in what we consume and what products we choose to buy.  Gandhi’s very popular quote, ” Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

We can all choose to have more integrity and ask ourselves how do we want to change?

Here is what you can do:

• STOP drinking bottled water. Get a large bottle delivered to you work or home place instead of buying 24 packs.
• USE a refillable water bottle. Refill it with tap or filtered water.  Remember that plastic bottles contain chemicals that leach into your water if contained in plastic.
• STOP using plastic shopping bags. Do your grocery shopping with large reusable bags instead of using a dozen plastic bags each time. Most stores sell you reusable bags for under a $.
• Recycle the extra bags/ bottles etc. that somehow cling to you form somewhere
• STOP getting your coffee/ soda in plastic disposable cups. Keep your coffee mug in your car, work, etc.
• STOP getting your lunch in disposable boxes, especially at work where you can keep a lunch box/ container and ask the restaurant to pack your food in it.

“When you are living in contentment, you automatically start to have a lighter footprint, a lighter use of resources.  You don’t have to keep adding more and more to your life.  In fact, it feels really good to want what you have, to take care of it, and to be aware that everything you’re using is a representation of energy.” ~Catherine Ingram

Thank you for your kind attention.  If this information was meaningful to you please pass it on and/or encourage others to make these changes too.

www.intuitivelywell.com

I have probably always known that I had a high gluten intolerance and as I got older and more and more interested in nutrition I started cutting it out of my diet more and more.  I just felt better, my digestion was better, and my energy and skin reacted better when I ate more fruits and vegetables and less processed carbohydrates.  About 8 months ago, I completely took myself off of gluten and in 2 weeks felt very different.  I then went to a GI doctor to really get it tested through blood and stool samples.  Guess what?  Highly intolerant to gluten.  It’s always amazing what happens when you listen to your body right?

There are many symptoms associated with gluten intolerance such as: chronic fatigue, sinus infections, unwanted weight loss, bloating, stomach pain, skin rashes, etc.  If you or a family suffers from these side effects, it might be helpful for you to talk to your physician about taking a blood test and testing for celiac disease and also checking your antibodies for gluten to check out how tolerant your body is to gluten.

I have become a gluten expert so to say in the last several months and I thought I would impart some helpful tips to help you navigate what is gluten free and what is not.  More and more sellers and grocers are coming out with “gluten free” items, but we know marketing campaigns and labels are not always accurate.

4 tips for eating gluten free:

- Products labeled “gluten free” aren’t always good for you.  Choose items with few added sweeteners and are made from brown rice, millet, and other whole grains and not processed carbohydrates such as white flour.

- Gluten free is: brown rice, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, rice, potatoes, quinoa, and corn.  These are the basic starches that you can eat, but anything else not on this list probably has gluten.

- The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide may be a great resource and is available at triumphdining.com

- There are many ready- made gluten free breads and muffins out there, but to save cash you can make your own.  Try “Alison’s Gluten- Free Baking Mix” recipe is on deliciousliving.com.

www.intuitivelywell.com

While it’s wonderful that the benefits of wellness programs and services are on the rise in this country, many work-sites don’t have access to these programs and services.  Therefore, here are some helpful tips you can implement into your work day to help put your health and wellness at the top of the list.

1. Manage your Time

Many  of us will start the day off by going right to the computer or blackberry before really setting our intention of what would be best for us that day.  We spend so much time on our computers everyday and often don’t give ourselves time to write down or organize what has priority.  Allow yourself to center in on your breath and then take 5 minutes writing out what would feel really good to get accomplished this day.

2.  Relax

Our eyes are open most of the day at work focusing on some work task, but our eyes often need a rest.  Take your hands together and rub them together generating heat.  Then invite the eyes to close and place your cupped hands over your eyes.  While your eyes are closed, take 10 deep breaths in and out and allow your body to relax.  You can do this practice as much as you need to throughout the day.

3.  Focus on the Present

In times like these when the impermanence our of our world feels quite pressing we can slow down and just breathe.  In our country,  we are battling job losses and now hoping for the best with an extreme oil spill that will affect many peoples quality of life and occupations.  These types of events can often have us spin into worrying about the future.  However, if we can remember to breathe even in these times of instability, we can find solace in our breath.  The breath is a connection to ourselves, our bodies, and the strength we can derive by being grounded in what is.   If we are to make healthy decisions and actions about our future, we first need to be grounded in what is and react from a conscious place of intention.

In addition, to using our breath to help us balance our minds we can also cultivate a gratitude practice.  When life is hard, we may not think there is anything to feel grateful for, but often in that same moment if we look a little further we can often find just as many things that we do appreciate.

Intuitive Wellness offers an integrative model of health and wellness solutions for the for individuals, small groups, and organizations.  For more information on services to aid in your or your organizations health and well-being, please visit us at www.intuitivelywell.com.

Here are 8 tips to help you stay successful while on vacation.

1. Stay active.  Bring your workout clothes and running or walking shoes and find and plan ways to be active.  For me, I woke up and  practiced yoga every morning, found a nearby beach to walk and ran  or hiked most days. For strength training, I did push ups, dips, crunches, squats and lunges a few days during the week.

2. Eat smaller meals throughout the day and don’t skip breakfast.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. When I was in Costa Rica, I was able to try a lot of fresh fruit such as mango, papaya, pineapple, and get salads.  I tried to stay away from too much juice and fruit punch since it has more sugar and calories. However, fresh fruit is a great choice.

4. Eat healthy snacks. Start before you even get on the plane, by  bringing some healthy snacks for the plane ride.  You can also bring healthy snacks for your trip  or pick up healthy snacks once you get to your local destination.  When I got to Costa Rica, we frequented the local supermarket and bought some light yogurts, dried fruit, almonds, and apples as staples for the week.  The 5-7 servings a day rule is always a good goal to aim for.

5. Eat when you’re hungry. A good guideline whether you are on vacation or not is to match your food intake with your activity expenditure,.  You will find that you will usually be hungrier if you do more activity and less hungry if you do less activity.  You might ask yourself, “Am I really hungry?”

6. Exercise portion and indulgence control. Just because you are in a place that offers exquisite desserts, special cuisines, or alcohol doesn’t mean you have to partake in it all everyday.  You are on vacation, but you are still exercising good decisions around your health and meals.  A great practice might be too choose a few days that you will indulge a little more and really enjoy it and then eat healthily the rest of the days.

7. Rest and Relaxation. Sometimes when we go on vacation we can often feel like we need a vacation from our vacation. One way to schedule some R&R is to book a massage during your trip.  A way that I did this was to book my massage the last night before my trip home.  It was such a wonderful way to end the trip and made sure my muscles would be well rested before the long plane ride home.

8. Gratitude. Often our vacations can feel like they are going by so fast.  One way to prolong our enjoyment is to practice gratitude.  For me, my practice was waking up every morning and taking time to relish my natural surroundings.  For the last 10 years, I have begun my day with a short yoga practice.  While in Costa Rica, I brought my attention in this practice to the beauty around me, I was thankful for the quiet and spaciousness, and appreciative of the new adventures that I would get to experience that day.

To help get yourself in shape for summer and your next healthy vacation, check out IW’s outdoor fitness classes, starting up again this April.  For more information click here: http://www.intuitivelywell.com/body.html#outdoor

www.intuitivelywell.com

The desire for balance is healthy and natural.  Our bodies perform best when we have a sense of homeostasis and equilbrium.  Just as our bodies enjoy balance so do we in our external environments.  We perform best and feel most satisfied when there is a sense of work, personal life, and family/community balance.  What this work life balance looks like is unique to each of us.  One of the ways, that we can create more of this balance is by giving ourselves more time and peace.

There are ways that we can do this while at work and out of work.  Sometimes these simple moments where we confidently open to difficult circumstances rather than feel rushed, inconvenienced, or anxious— can make all the difference in the world.

At work, there are many distasteful experiences that we tend to resist.   But the art of sitting still teaches us that when we resist—when we hold on and tense up and hold in—we only make matters worse.  We do have a choice in how we react and sometimes that choice is just opening up and letting go.  Letting go and opening to our workplace, with all its rewards, difficulties, and challenges, is the sane and confident thing to do.  By opening to our experience and even looking for what we can appreciate in that moment—we can create a more joyful workplace.

At home, your practice might be as simple as turning off the radio, the phone, the computer, and/or the TV; sit comfortably in a quiet place, relaxing the body and mind; mindfully breathe in, mindfully breathe out. As you do this successfully for several moments in a row, you will find the mind gradually becoming more tranquil, more focused, more clear, and more powerful. The Buddha might have said: “I know of no single thing healthier than doing one thing at a time.”
The openness and confidence we cultivate in meditation allows us to be available in our work and home life.  We don’t rush through firing someone because we are uncomfortable; we don’t throw a tantrum because our BlackBerry is on the fritz and won’t display our favorite icons. We don’t ignore inconvenient business facts so that we can recklessly present an upbeat public relations picture or feel overburdened by the needs of families or friends.  By taking more time for ourselves and grounding ourselves in meditation, we can react to many aspects of our lives with more calmness and openness.  We can be realistic about our lives— receptive to anything and everything that occurs.

Some ways we can create a deeper awareness and balance in our lives is to engage in mindfulness based classes, personal practice, sangha, or find a mindfulness based coach who can teach you how to create mindfulness strategies that work for your  everyday life.

Intuitive Wellness offers walking meditation for groups, mindful weight management, and mindfulness based coaching to support you in your desire for more work life balance.

www.intuitivelywell.com

Now onto the story…Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is a Tibetan lama who has been declared to be the happiest man in the world.  He was not born into wealth and comfort. He spent his earliest years in a remote Himalayan village lacking even the most basic amenities. Nor was he a lucky winner in the genetic lottery for moods. In his book, Joyful Wisdom he recounts being extremely anxious as a child in Nepal, having had what a Manhattan psychiatrist would likely diagnose as panic attacks, and how he cured himself of this chronic anxiety by making his fears the focus of his meditation. He has had to earn his happiness.

Rinpoche seems eclectic in studying paths to well-being, including Western recipes. A few years ago, he attended a five-day meeting at the Mind & Life Institute that brought together a group of neuroscientists and the Dalai Lama to discuss ways to overcome destructive emotions. He found that the Western scientific findings on emotions had much in common with his own approach to cultivating well-being.

But when it comes to his own pursuit of happiness, Buddhist theory and practice are Rinpoche’s chosen tools. He has done several years-long meditation retreats, in the privilege of some of the most renowned Tibetan masters.  However, what do we mean by happiness and how is this defined.  Is happiness supreme joy or states of equanimity?

Richard Davidson who heads the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin, has found one distinct brain profile for happiness. As Davidson’s laboratory has reported, when we are in distress, the brain shows high activation levels in the right prefrontal area and the amygdala. But when we are in an upbeat mood, the right side quiets and the left prefrontal area stirs. When showing this brain pattern, people report feeling, as Davidson put it to me, “positively engaged, goal-directed, enthusiastic, and energetic.”

Mingyur Rinpoche came to Davidson’s lab as one of a dozen or so meditation adepts, each of whom had put in anywhere between 10,000 and 50,000 lifetime hours of meditation. Research on expertise in any skill shows that world-class champs have put in at least 10,000 hours of practice; these were Olympic-level meditators.  One of the first findings from the research showed that when these adepts meditated on compassion, activity in key brain areas increased up to 100 percent, notably more than was the case in a control group who were taught the same meditation practice. The more lifetime hours of practice, the greater the increases tended to be. All this seems to confirm the idea that in the realm of positive moods, as in nearly every endeavor, worldly or spiritual, practice matters.

So can we all get a taste of Rinpoche’s bliss? Davidson worked with Jon Kabat-Zinn, a teacher of mindfulness meditation from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, to see how a group of novices might gain from these methods. Kabat-Zinn, who has pioneered this contemplative method with medical patients to ease their symptoms, taught mindfulness at a high-stress biotech company; these beginners meditated for 30 minutes a day for eight weeks. Davidson’s measures showed that after the eight weeks they had begun to activate that left prefrontal zone more strongly — and were saying that instead of feeling overwhelmed and hassled, they were enjoying their work. So while the Calvinist strain in American culture may look askance at someone sitting quietly in meditation, this kind of “doing nothing” seems to do something remarkable after all.

Of course, there’s no guarantee of greater happiness from meditation, but the East has given us a promising path for its pursuit.

If you are interested in starting a regular meditation practice, the Intuitive Walking program will be starting in April outdoors in a beautiful natural setting in San Francsico.  To learn more about the class and to register, click here- http://www.intuitivelywell.com/walking_class.html

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