Fruits of Now blog entries

Enneagram – help in parenting

Why are some kids easier to figure out while others give us a lot of headaches? How can I discover my kid’s strengths and get them come to terms with their blind spots, in a compassionate way? What lurks behind my kid’s actions and where can I find a user’s manual to manage stressful situations?

The Fight or Flight Response

In case we perceive serious danger, a whole range of physiological actions are instantly triggered in our body. While all of these changes are happening for good reasons, they can be really harmful to our health if the stressors stay with us for long and we lack a successful coping strategy.

The Enneagram – what it means to me

When I finally sorted out what type I am, it made me feel really uncomfortable and embarrassed. The Enneagram described me in the most accurate and profound way to myself – and this struck me real hard.

How to get the best out of your mind?

Even wondered what happens in your brain when you tune in to yourself? Why should you do it more often? Neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author Rick Hanson Ph.D. explains it in simple terms.

Routine – a source of excellence OR absent-mindedness?

Routine activities are supposed to make our life easy but there are times when they work against us. A routine action is like a coin: it has two sides. It can be your friend or foe.

On meditation postures

Carving out some time each day for a formal session will deepen your meditation practice. But what is a good posture which supports an attentive state for deep meditation? Check out how your body can help focus your attention.

Two Arrows – how we end up making things worse

Although this site is not about Buddhist teachings but the metaphor on the Two Arrows is so tangible and easy-to-remember that I like to use it as an analogy when explaining the subject of pain to kids.

10 signs that your life lacks mindfulness

Mindfulness may open up completely new dimensions for you in case you can detect these signs within or around you.

Meditation – how to do it? Why do it?

Five common excuses why people choose not to meditate and five strong reasons why you should give meditation a try anyway.

The 3-Minute Breathing Space (3MBS)

Simple and short at it is, this exercise allows for a refreshing break even from a most hectic day – if practiced on a regular basis. It can be done in almost any posture: sitting, standing or lying – another reason why I refer to it so often.

The frozen moment

Have you ever felt the irresistible urge to push the PAUSE button on God’s time machine to be able to freeze time and step into a particular moment? What an extraordinary experience it would be, wouldn’t it? This simple mindfulness exercise allows you just that.

Quick fix in times of stress

Deadlines approaching? Feeling under pressure to perform at your best? Try this three minute stress buster for a quick relaxation to disengage from worrisome thoughts and concerns.

When the world is against us

No matter what your goals are, building mental strength is the key to reaching your greatest potential. The three basic factors of mental strength by Ami Morin.

How to find time for mindfulness

Mindfulness seems to be our time’s panacea. Named after Panakeia, the Greek goddess of universal remedy, panacea is the synonym of a cure-all medicine. But does mindfulness really cure everything? Certainly not but it can turn your life upside down. Read on to find out how.

A most precious gift you can give to your child

Undivided attention is the most tangible expression of love one can give to their kids. At the same time, it is also an excellent habit to pass on to get them prepared for a rewarding family life.

Do we have time for beauty?

Imagine that you are in a hurry getting to work in the middle of the morning rush-hour. Still sleepy after last night’s partying and a little nervous about your upcoming presentation to potential business clients you walk into the metro station with a cup of coffee in your hand and a cellphone at your ear.

Happiness – where does it come from ?

People have been debating the causes of happiness for thousands of years. Even though objective conditions of life in most developed countries have improved tremendously over the past few decades, we do not seem to have gotten any happier. No wonder the notion of happiness itself has become the focal point of an increasing number of research projects.

A Buddhist Zen Story

Once upon a time, two monks were traveling together. They encountered a young lady as they were about to cross a shallow river. It was obvious that the lady wanted to traverse the river but did not want to get wet…..

Creativity and mindfulness

„Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.”

Mind-chatter – what can you do about it?

Endless stream of restless self-talk or inner dialogue. Is it ok to have a constant commentary in my head?

Mindfulness-based approaches

Mindfulness-based approaches are a synergy of certain awareness practices, which have their roots in ancient Buddhism, and some of the findings of modern-day psychology. The primary aim of these approaches is to offer practical skills to cope with life’s challenges in a practical and pragmatical way, and to tackle physical and psychological health problems.