Personal Essays

First-person stories about what mindfulness looks like in real, messy, everyday life. These essays are honest, personal, and often funny - written by people who've found that paying attention changes everything.
illustration of person walking through colorful landscape
Getting Started
What Happens After Now? 

Being in the here and now is what mindfulness is all about. Yes and no, says Barry Boyce. It’s also about being aware of what’s inside and outside, past, present, and future. Once we steady our mind with mindfulness, our awareness shines a light on not just the present moment, but where we’ve come from and where we’re going. Read More 

  • Barry Boyce
  • April 8, 2016
A person holding a blue smartphone in their hands, viewed from above.
Magazine
The Joy of Missing Out 

Why it's important to leave some space for being alone—and how our tech gadgets get in the way. Read More 

  • Christopher Willard
  • April 7, 2016
A silhouetted figure holds an umbrella while walking along a beach at sunset.
Magazine
The Case for Not Trying So Hard 

Even leisure and relaxation can get tied up in seriousness, busyness, betterment. For Sallie Tisdale, the trick is to stop trying so hard. Read More 

  • Sallie Tisdale
  • March 24, 2016
A person in a yellow coat stands between two rainbows on a white wall.
Magazine
The Perks of Disappointment 

Being let down is a universal human experience. But whether you want something you can’t have or you’ve got no clue what you want, disappointment can also mark the best path forward. Read More 

  • Carolyn Gimian
  • March 19, 2016
Ad for a mindfulness app with meditations, articles, and a section sidebar, shown on a phone held in hand.