Have you heard of mantras and wondered what they were or how to use them? They sound like a mysterious secret trick used by monks deep within their mountain retreats. This is partially true.

Mantras have been used by different traditions throughout the world, from shamans to Christianity to Buddhism. Some of the earliest mantras were recorded in Vedic Sanskrit in India.

In those times, not everyone had access to meditation as a tool to improve their lives. Now the secrets are easier to unlock. …

When I left my driveway, I was still a little frustrated about the chapter I was working on. I knew it wasn’t coming out right. It felt awkward, a bit lame, verging on stupid. I couldn’t figure out how to keep going. I was stuck going round and round but writing nothing.

Fortunately, it was time for a run. I put it out of my mind and got my gear on. It was a warm morning, the air still and calm. Traffic was light this Monday morning.

I got one foot in front of the other, and began. It didn’t…

My brother-in-law said something that maybe killed a kid. It happened at Thanksgiving in front of 10 children from 3 families. One sentence lodged in all their brains, and 14 years later, one of those children is no longer with us.

It was rare that we would all get together like that. Like many, we didn’t get along that well. But my wife loves her parents and thinks family is worth it, so we made the 500-mile journey of hell with three kids and two dogs to get to that dinner.

The in-law’s house was packed. All the children and…

Silicon Valley found a way to make money by marketing meditation as a quick fix. Give a quick shine to the soul, and push your problems aside. But is it going deep enough to do what is best for you, or is it just scratching the surface?

I bet someone told you meditation could help you get rid of stress. You probably read that it’s like “a gym for your mind.” Get in your mental workout and improve your life, in 15 minutes or less!

They dumbed it down for you into a technique or an app. All you need…

Relationships are hard. I look around and see that most of the couples I knew back in the day aren’t together anymore. Their marriages bit the dust.

It isn’t just one thing that doomed my friends to leave their partners. Sure, people break up because of affairs, or huge gambling problems, or depressions. But what about that middle group, the ones that didn’t have any big problems? The ones that just weren’t nice to each other.

Annoyance and hurt built up until the pressure was too great. Then the volcano blew, and they split up. Statistics tell us that over…

“I can’t go shopping for food this week,” she said. “I can’t take the stress.”

“Why, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“It’s the masks. It’s just getting worse. I have anxiety attacks in the store. I was trapped in Walmart and had to leave my cart and go back to the car last time.”

“I didn’t know that! Why?”

“Because I can’t see men’s faces, and I imagine they’re the guys from that night.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“It was the time I told you about. I was roofied and gang-raped, and I don’t know who did it. I’m…

Challenges work. They can give you an edge to grab, push your boundaries, and pull yourself out of your everyday life.

I’ve used them to rebuild myself from the ground up. With 90-day chunks of time, I learned quite a few new skills and habits.

I started with a 90-day yoga challenge. I’m not joking when I say yoga saved my back. After building a daily yoga habit to stretch out and build core strength, I don’t need weekly chiropractor visits or pills to make it through the day anymore. …

Have you ever had a family member cut you out and give you the silent treatment? My brother turned his back on me 12 years ago over a stupid argument. I haven’t talked with him once, even though we live less than a mile apart.

Sometimes I pass him on the road. He’s going to work, and I’m leaving my driveway. He makes sure he doesn’t even look at me.

The situation is a mess, and I blame myself. I started the argument that got us here. …