You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Let go of the things that don’t serve you any longer.”

Sounds like a good plan, right?

But how the heck do you do that?

And how do you know what isn’t serving you?

Learning how to practice non-attachment is so much easier said than done.

We are addicted to striving and longing and wanting more or better.

It is human nature to get attached to things, and most of us define ourselves by these outside things instead of being in touch with our true selves.

Meditation can calm and relax your entire nervous system and provide you with deep insights into your life and the nature of reality.

Feeling relaxed, comfortable, and focused can make reaching deeper and more concentrated states of meditation easier.

Your meditation space and the smells you experience while meditating can significantly affect your state of mind, which is why incense, candles, and aromatherapy can have a profound and important impact on your meditation sessions.

You can enhance your meditation practice in several ways by using incense.

If you haven’t tried it, you may find it a game-changer – or at least a surprisingly nice addition.

Incense hit the historical scene about 6,000 years ago in Egypt, but most anthropologists believe humans on every continent spontaneously developed the sweet-smelling fire sticks at around the same time.

Back in BCE, people used incense for practical and spiritual purposes, and the Japanese took it one step further by developing kōdō — the “high art” of incense making.

Today, we’re looking at how to use incense stickswhen meditating and the ways you can incorporate incense into your practice.

For humans, the sense of smell triggers deep emotions and memories – some positive and some negative.

In fact, studies have revealed that scents can trigger more intense memories than images.

One of the five basic senses, smell, is vital for survival.

Humans and animalsuse scent to track food, find water, and communicate across great distances.

One study even showed that unpleasant smells warn us to danger through pain signals to the brain.

With such a powerful influence on our bodies and minds, it is no wonder that meditation uses scent to enhance the process and outcome.

Many people find meditation fruitful and calming.

However, others may find it challenging to quiet their racing thoughts and be fully present in the moment.

That is where guided meditation affirmations come in.

This practice — also called affirmation meditation — uses a simple, positive phrase to help focus your attention and guide your meditation.

Let’s discuss how meditation affirmations work and why some people find them helpful for their daily meditation practice.

Homo sapiens have communicated via symbols for over 200,000.

Practically speaking, symbols serve myriad purposes — from commerce signage to warning signals — and play a massive role in how people absorb and express their identities within a cultural framework.

Feminine symbols of strength and womanhood have long been a part of cultural traditions.

Before you dig into this collection of quotes by Pema Chödrön, you should know a little bit about the soul behind them.

She was born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in 1936.

She discovered Buddhism while exploring her spirituality to recover from two failed marriages.

She studied under Lama Chime Rinpoche in London and was ordained as a novice nun by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa in 1974.

We’re hoping you find a Pema Chödrön quote that fits your unique situation and lifts you up.

We’ve curated 58 of her sayings with that in mind.

You’ve probably heard of “mindfulness” — the art of living in the moment to maximize mental health and live a more productive, fulfilling life.

But do you know about mindfulness in sports?

Olympians, professional athletes, and individuals competing at the highest collegiate levels now use visualization, mindfulness, and meditation techniques as performance-enhancing tools.

So today, we’re exploring what it’s all about and how you can incorporate sport mindfulness into your life.

Mindfulness: “​​a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment,” according to the dictionary definition.

Sounds easy enough.

But give it a try, and you’ll soon discover that mindfulness is as elusive as a gnat buzzing around your head.

The second you think you’ve got it, it slips away.

Like most other worthwhile endeavors, mindfulness takes practice before it becomes habitual.

To that end, let’s look at developing sticky, mindful habits that will enhance your well-being and improve your cognitive function.

Are you thinking of giving meditation a try?

Good for you!

More than a new-age triviality, meditation is a proven brain exercise endorsed by the world’s top neurological researchers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and sociologists.

Meditation could be your path to glory if you want a calmer life and improved cognitive function.

Some studies suggest that people who meditate significantly slow down the aging process.

To that end, today, we’re exploring some of the most commonly asked meditation questions.