“Complaints are prayers for more of that which we say we don’t want…read that twice! What you focus on expands. #thoughtscreate #louisehay #affirmations” Oh Hayyyy no. Yes, there is the irritating bemoaning-our-plight-as-entertainment while doing nothing about it. And yes, some of us do that some of the time. And yes, it’s important to…

At 3:20 a.m. on Monday, it felt like the bed was shaking. At first, I thought it was my husband turning around, but then I realized it wasn’t him. Could it be an earthquake? “No way,” I had thought. I’m almost 34 and I’ve never experienced an earthquake in Lebanon. During my Buddhist studies in Dharamshala, India, we were warned about earthquakes…

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness.” ~ The Dalai Lama In August 2015, I saw His Holiness — the 14th Dalai Lama — in India. I have also seen several short films about him. If there’s one thing that I can say about the Dalai Lama it’s that he’s a happy man. …

Relationships are similar to a burning fire: If you don’t keep on kindling them, they will go out. Despite acknowledging this truth, we take our relationships for granted. When we lose our partners, we often look back and yearn to rebuild what has been destroyed. Relationships aren’t heaven, and things are never completely perfect. They may feel perfect at the beginning, but after a while conflicts begin, feelings…

Of all the things I’ve learned about Black history over the years, I’d say only about 5 percent of it was learned during my public school education. We were taught about the obvious things: slavery (a small portion of the actual story), Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Brown v. Board of Education, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s (again, a small portion of the actual story). …

Most of us slip into bad habits all the time. I know I do. I’m not perfect, and my actions aren’t always aligned. Although I try my best to keep my mental health in check, sometimes I do things that negatively impact my well-being without even realizing it. These toxic habits often slow me down and decrease my mental and…

There’s a difference between being “in love” and being “in need.” We verbally claim our love for our partner and believe to feel this emotion deeply. However, when it comes down to discerning actions, we’d be shocked to realize we only need them. I needed someone in the past, and truth be told, there was something missing in both me and…

The truth behind the lies our favorite Influencers & TV stars tell. Yes, she’s lying to you on IG. Yes, he’s lying to you on TV. ~ Waylon It could be a full-time job, calling out BS and outright bought-and-paid-for hucksterism on Instagram and TV and in movies. In fact, it is my full-time job, or a part of it. Luckily, I…

For more jokes: 10 Funny Zen Buddhist Jokes, 0 Punchlines. We’re always so serious when it comes to Buddhism, right? Well, truthfully, Buddhist monks aren’t as serious as we are. Having lived with some in India, I can say that monks are the funniest people one can ever meet. I remember once watching a football game with five monks in…