A number of schools are introducing mindfulness programs as a way to address anxiety, social conflict, and attention problems. One elementary school has kids practice once a week for 10 to 12 weeks. Mindfulness practice for kids (much as with adults) includes maintaining a gentle awareness of their bodies and their surroundings. "[It's] really about teaching kids how to be in a state of attention, where they can perceive thoughts, physical sensations, and emotions without judgment and with curiosity and an open state of mind" says educator Susan Kaiser.

The article reviews positive research results, though more detailed studies are needed. One classroom in a research study in Vancouver public schools, after only two to three weeks of instruction, went from being the worst in regard to behavior problems resulting in kids going to the principal's office, to having no trips to the principal's office. The article also mentioned Goldie Hawn's Bright Lights Foundation (now called the Goldie Hawn Institute) whose charter is to bring mindfulness programs to children.

We are approaching a time when it is safe to conclude that any serious attempt at emotional well being should include a meditative or mindfulness component. We have research showing that mindfulness helps Borderline Personality Disorder, addictions, depression, anxiety, behavioral problems by children, attention deficit problems, and more.

I am a mindfulness expert with 10 years of practical experience, including several forms of advanced training.  Contact me for more information about how working with me to build mindfulness skill can assist you with building a peaceful and happy life.

Although a definition of "verbal abuse" was not provided until half-way through the article, and although the definition feels incomplete, here it is: verbal abuse is an attempt by one person to define you, usually in negative terms, and in an angry or demeaning tone. Categories include the "you do not exist" invalidation of withholding (silent treatments, and so on), accusing and blaming that define you as guilty, name calling, and so on.

Here is an interesting point made by the author: "Men who decide to change their behavior generally work very hard at changing, and some of them successfully change. On the other hand, I have never seen a woman really change, who verbally abused her partner."

Regarding responding to verbal abuse, the author recommends leaving the relationship, if possible and if the severity merits such action. If physical violence is part of the picture, working with a domestic violence group is recommended. For less severe abuse, the author recommends this technique: first respond by saying, "Umm, what did you say?" (as if you were distracted and didn't hear); and, if the person says it again, respond by saying, "Ah ha! That's what I thought you said!" with an air of great satisfaction. This approach often confuses and stops the abuser. The author also recommends various verbal approaches for making it clear that the abuser cannot read your mind, doesn't know your motives, and cannot define you.

In my work as a Life Consultant, helping my clients to communicate effectively with difficult people can have a positive effect on various life-enhancement topics, such as career, life partners, relatives, friends, and so on.  Contact me  for more information about how I help clients to manage the negative emotions involved with managing difficult people.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences issued a report stating that fatigue stemming from lack of sleep costs U.S. businesses $150 billion annually in absenteeism. Related to that, a recent poll at McGraw-Hill Companies asked employees what they would do if they had more time in a given day (work, sleep, socialize, or play). They responded that they want more sleep.

The article reports that, one way to address this is to use the good, old nap. The Medical Journal of Australia recently touted the benefits of a 10-minute power nap, and SIESTA (Society for the Introduction of Extra Sleeping Time in the Afternoon) cites the work of the Adelaide Institute of Sleep Health on the mental and physical benefits of the nap.

Approximately once a year I'll be working with a client who will attempt to convince me that sleeping is a "waste of time." I inform them as best I can that lack of sleep is unhealthy in a myriad of ways, including improper functioning of the part of your immune system that "cleans things up" on a cellular level (for example, correcting cancerous growth). Also, a ten minute meditation is more physiologically restorative than a nap, and it reduces the kinds of negative thinking that cause stress and disturb sleep.  Contact me for more information about my skills I teach to reduce stress and improve sleep.

The article begins by noting that self confidence is "believing that you can [do something]." It recommends the following two methods for building this belief:

This article misses a few important tasks involved with building self confidence. First, research, mentorship, and guidance can greatly facilitate the process of breaking goals into manageable steps and successfully performing those steps. Second, although I help clients to set goals, work toward them, and reach then, more than half of my effort is spent helping them to manage negative thinking and emotions that interrupt daily progress and interfere with believing positive affirmations. Contact me to discuss my techniques for moving from negative thinking, toward realistic, peaceful, and significant confidence.

In the early eighties, when I worked for a Fortune 500 computer manufacturer, the entire company had to adjust to the increased use of email. We even came up with terms for new behaviors we were seeing (for example, inappropriately angry responses were called "flaming").

As a Life Consultant, when working with clients on career issues, mundane details such as email etiquette can make a significant difference in how much you enjoy your work.  Contact me for more information about how I assist with both mundane workplace strategies and "big picture" issues, such as career transitions or managing a difficult manager.