Joy is a Choice: Cultivating Joy & Savoring the Good Despite the divisive times we find ourselves in, I believe there is one thing nearly all of us can agree on. Our nervous systems are getting more than their fair share of wear and tear these days. With an apparent oversupply of unpleasantness, these times are an easy set-up for negative emotional feedback loops that lead to escalating levels of anxiety and stress. It is a natural human tendency to avoid or resist the unpleasant, to run away from our fears. We raid the cookie jar, or much worse, which just adds fuel to the fire. What we resist, persists. This isn't good for our mental or physical health and, as a nurse practitioner and meditation teacher, I have found that many of us--myself included --become easily drained. We can't drink from an empty cup. Yet as caregivers, we keep on giving....With all this, there is good news. Antidotes exist that help us break out of our negativity bias. In times like these, I am reminded of how deeply grateful I am for my meditation practice. November 27, 2020By Jennifer Jordan family, teachings
Books and Resources for Children, Teens and Parents Books, articles and meditation apps for children and parents. . August 13, 2020By Jennifer Jordan family, resources
Lessons from Comet Neowise Recently, I was fortunate to be in a location where I could view Comet Neowise with the naked eye. It was food for my soul to take this pause, lean back, shift my vantage point, and take in the majestic heavens, the Milky Way, and this stunning comet -- particularly given the difficult times we find ourselves in. With the help of binoculars, my father and I witnessed the comet's ball and tail grow and shrink. While observing, we suddenly beheld the International Space Station passing right by the comet. Witnessing this modern marvel of human invention cross the path of an ancient remain of our solar system took my breath away.... August 6, 2020By Jennifer Jordan family, teachings
The Next Right Thing: Lessons From Princess Anna Last week, my daughter Lily and I needed to spice up quarantine, as life was beginning to taste a bit bland. Thanks to Lily, I’ve now had a number of unexpected firsts. I danced in my first TikTok video. I made my first scar wax with Lily, a budding special-effects make-up artist (did you know that vaseline and flour make an amazing skin-like paste from which you can create the most frighteningly-real wounds?). And Lily gave my tresses their first encounter with Manic Panic vegan hair dye. No surprise, red-purple-green hair is not so becoming on me. Sigh -- it only lasts six weeks.... May 12, 2020By Jennifer Jordan COVID-19, family, teachings
Building Bridges in Underserved Communities Since July 2019, IMCW’s Family Program has been building bridges and connections with a number of non-profits in Washington, DC that work in underserved communities. We are honored... April 21, 2020By Jennifer Jordan EngagedBuddhism, family, SocialJustice