Heartmanity's Blog

Is the concept of minimalism a limiting framework? To me, minimalism appeared simply to be the denial of our desires. Since our brains are built on the premise of more, better, and always transcending yesterday, the concept seemed like a trendy girdle to hold back the grand expressions of self-expression. At the very least, I viewed a minimalist life as boring because of my love affair with abundance, flow, variety, and beauty.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, so many of us have been longing to go back to normal. However, what would be more helpful is examining which parts of “normal” are worth going back to.

Now is the perfect time to examine what parts of our lives are no longer serving us—and create a reality that supports our goals, visions, and dreams.

If you’re learning about mindfulness, perhaps you’re curious whether mindful living will improve the quality of your life. So why is mindfulness important, and does it make a difference? There still may be many misconceptions about mindfulness, such as it’s a Buddhist practice, or it requires sitting in a lotus position for hours. Regardless, it is becoming more widely accepted—and for good reason.

Our brains have about a hundred billion neurons with neuropathways longer than the earth's distance to the moon. That's a lot of pathways needing construction if we want to break bad habits!

Recently, road construction sparked a greater awareness of how our brain's neural pathways work. I was driving home across the Bozeman Pass on Interstate 90, and there was a string of construction signs for several miles. Initially, the signs signaled to reduce speed to 55. Next, the right lane would be closed in a half mile; then, another speed reduction. All of the cars in front of me obediently [...]

Do you know what motivates you? Does it ever seem like some people are more motivated than others? And what's the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation anyway? 

Whether you're trying to motivate yourself to write a term paper, to lose weight, or you're an employer endeavoring to motivate an employee, it's critical knowing what turns on the green light in the brain. And motivation is unique depending on temperament, values, past experience, and goals.

There's no avoiding the unprecedented event of COVID-19 and the havoc that the virus is creating in our lives, businesses, and the world. It is disrupting our routines, leveling our way of life, depleting our financial well-being, and challenging us in ways we've never known before.

One moment we may think we're doing pretty good (no matter how fleeting); maybe we even feel at times confident that we'll make it through okay. Then the next minute, we're anxious, watching the unfoldment of a viral tsunami that no one understands entirely nor has a clue as to where it will take us.

With an international crisis upon us, many are grasping to regain a sense of control—or at least feel hopeful that this pandemic shall pass sooner rather than later. Although the enormous impact of the coronavirus continues to grow and will be felt for months ahead, there are things that we can control in these times of uncertainty and increased anxiousness.

The first and biggest one is our response. We can choose to quiet our fearful thoughts and emotions. This act alone may seem small, especially when you may be cooped up, have a business whose doors have closed, or you're watching [...]

There is no denying that the Coronavirus at our doorstep has disrupted our lives, and many are feeling powerless. When considering how I could best support people, I decided to offer practical tools to help ground you into a sense of well-being despite this stressful time. These tips and skills can assist you in dealing effectively with uncertainty, negative thoughts, and the uncomfortable emotions of worry, anxiety, and fear.

Have you ever been in a situation where another person's behavior really set you off? Perhaps your co-worker took credit for one of your ideas, or your spouse talked over you and quickly dismissed your feelings, or maybe a good friend betrayed your confidence. You can’t contain your emotional reaction and feel justified in lashing out because of what someone else did.

Life appears to happen to us. It’s easy to feel like our quality of life is determined by things out of our control. But what if that's not true? What if the things that happen to us, and how we react to them, are simply a [...]

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about minimalism and how to live minimally. As my client base gets fuller and my life and relationship more precious, I find myself pining for simplicity and time in the mountains.

However, what has always puzzled me about minimalism is the immense abundance of nature. As I strive to make a dent in my positive impact on the environment by recycling or being mindful of purchases, a part of me simultaneously seeks MORE... more mastery, more health, more fun, and lavish abundance. Did you know that our brains are wired for more?