joy Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Ed and Deb Shapiro

Become Your Own Best Friend

September 8, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

It’s that time of year again when the holidays are over and life gets busy, your work load is picking up, kids are back at school, and autumn is beckoning. So how best to maintain your peace amidst the chaos of making school lunches and nagging lazy teenagers; how to nurture your latent talent and […]

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PEACE is not what you THINK

August 24, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Some time ago when Deb went to run a bath she found a spider in the tub. At that moment she was presented with a choice: flush the spider down the drain or take the time to get it out (bearing in mind that Deb is not very fond of spiders!). She also realized that whichever […]

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Loving Yourself Means Warts and All

July 6, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Did you ever think or say to yourself: “I’m worthless, I’ll never amount to anything.” We’re easily obsessed with with who we and how we appear to others, if we are even loveable; we constantly confront situations that test our sense of self worth and beset us with doubts. Then the thought creeps in: “How […]

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Making Friends With Change

June 22, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Change can be daunting. It can push all our buttons, fear and confusion can arise, doubt or insecurity as such a time is full of so many unknowns. We are personally dealing with big changes right now: selling our house, downsizing, finding the next place, getting the timing right, letting go of all that […]

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Staying Mindful in the Midst of Chaos

May 25, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Have you ever been in a crowded subway or busy street, lost in a marketplace in a foreign country, or caught up in an argument that was going nowhere? Does it make you lose your mindfulness and awareness so you end up overwhelmed and confused? Swami Satchidananda, one of our early meditation teachers, taught that […]

Does Wearing A Robe Make You More Spiritual?

May 10, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Many years ago Deb’s mother said to her: Just because someone’s wearing a robe doesn’t make him or her any more spiritual than you are. So what is it that makes us stand and bow our heads when we see a monk, priest, or any robed religious teacher? What makes us more polite, and pay […]

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5 Ways To Go Out Of Your Mind And Get Happy

April 13, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

You know what it’s like when you get stressed, as if you’re going out of your mind: “Oh no, I’m losing it, I’m going crazy, I can’t take any more.” And how the more thoughts you have like this the more you’re caught up in the madness and get further away from being peaceful or […]

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10 Great Ways Mindfulness Turns Fear Into An Ally

February 16, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

At first glance you might not put mindfulness and fear together, or think that one can counterbalance the other. But while mindfulness invites us to be present with fear rather than run from it, it also frees us from being stuck in fearful thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness allows fear to be, just as it, without […]

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4 Ways Mindfulness Can Transform Your Life

February 2, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

There’s an amazing epidemic sweeping America and it’s a healthy, vital and enriching one. In every walk of life people are hearing about the value and importance of mindfulness and meditation. Yoga is now available on every street corner and mindfulness is fast catching up. Ohio congressman Tim Ryan, author of A Mindful Nation, calls […]

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Meditation Awakens Your Inner Joy

January 20, 2014 by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Within you is a fountain of joy, within you is an ocean of bliss! Swami Sivananda While in Greece we were invited to a local village dance. It was to be held in a nearby field, and we were fascinated to discover it started very late, about 11pm, lasting until the early hours of the […]