They say you have to walk a mile in a person’s shoes to truly understand what her life is like. For me, it was six miles, barefoot, across irrigation ditches and rice fields in northeast Thailand. The people I hoped to understand were members of the Santi Asoke Buddhist Reform Movement—a fringe Buddhist group who
Understanding Sufficiency: 7 Ways to be Happy with Less
We’ve come to the T in the INTENT 365 project, which stands for Thrifty. Being thrifty, or not wasting money and resources, is a long-held American virtue that fosters material wellbeing. Material wellbeing starts with the ability to meet basic needs for food, water, shelter, and clothing, plus essential services like health and education. If you’re reading
7 Ways to Make a Difference with Global Community Support
Much of our day to day is spent taking care of what’s within reach. We take care of our work, our families, our neighbors and friends, our communities, and hopefully ourselves. But care often extends beyond our inner circle to those in our global community who are struggling as well as for the environment. If
Make Mutuality Mutually Supportive with These 5 Principles
Mutuality is all about treating each other with respect and consideration, even under conditions of asymmetric power (like parent/child). We definitely want mutuality for its own sake, but also because it sets a foundation for mutual support. Note that having a foundations doesn’t mean we have a house to live in. We have to build
8 Ways to Find Wellbeing in a Community Commons
The community commons plays a vital role in social wellbeing by knitting together the fabric of society and helping the interdependent individuals within it to thrive. Here are 8 ways to get the most out of commons-based relationships. Tip #101: Contemplate Communal Support Last week I wrote about how the concept of reciprocity improves current research
The Feeling’s Mutual: Energize Social Support through Give & Take
I have long romanticized living in a commune where people help each other freely, for the good of all. After living in an intentional community, I know that communal life is not all peace, love, and happiness. Nevertheless, I’m still drawn to the ideal. Especially when I think of all the people who are grappling
Sustainability & Social Activity: A Double Win for Wellbeing
Social activity can be all the more meaningful if we shape it with intention to help other people and the planet. But to balance out last week’s rather serious round up of meaningful social wellbeing tips, let’s have some fun. The following 8 examples of how to merge socializing with sustainability offer inspiration for when
Inclusion & Social Wellbeing: How to Aid those in Need
Inclusion and wellbeing go hand in hand. Human are inherently social and thrive in groups. That is, we have an innate need to belong, to be included. If you’ve ever felt a dent in your happiness and self-esteem when you weren’t invited to join a club or attend a party, you likely understand this. Now
“SOS: Save Our Social Skills” 6 Ways to Rescue Kids Now
After a year of pandemic-induced isolation, we’re all suffering socially — especially kids. If we’re totally honest, we’d have to admit that a lot of kids didn’t have the best social lives to begin with. They’re often over-scheduled and under-socialized, thanks to too much homework, resume-building extracurriculars, and screen time. Now, as schools are reopening,
How Good Friends Help Us to Be Better People
Good friends offer more than a fun night out or a shoulder to cry on. Good friends also share our values and goals and influence us positively. This is the prime reason an intentional community forms – like the Buddhist community in Thailand I studied. Community members explained that it’s much easier to follow their
Craving Connection? Learn These 5 Facts for Social Wellbeing
COVID-19 has had disastrous effects on our collective wellbeing. Beyond the illness and death, the social isolation meant to keep us safe has taken a serious toll on mental health. Humans are inherently social creatures who thrive in tribes and whither without them. So if you are craving connection, you are not alone. These 5
8 Environmental Exercise Examples that will Energize You
Living in an intentional Buddhist community in Thailand taught me about “right exercise.” For true physical wellbeing, exercise should be integrated into daily life and motivated by meaning. As Zen-inspired Buddhadasa Bhikkhu might say, “The broom sweeps the ground; the Dharma sweeps the heart.” And because most Thai Buddhists I know have an interdependent sense
7 Surprising Ways to Do Good While You Get Fit
Would it surprise you to know that people who have a stronger sense of purpose in life are more physically active? So say researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, who published study in the Journal of Health Psychology(2010). One of the co-authors, Stephanie A. Hooker explained in an interview with Time,“Reminding yourself what gives your life
Child’s Play: How To Boost Kids’ Physical Activity
The adults I know tend to be nostalgic about our childhood. We roamed freely around the neighborhood: riding bikes, playing tag, skating, climbing, and swinging until the streetlights came on. We lament how kids these days can’t or don’t get the same quality outdoor exercise. And it’s worse now that the pandemic has turned the