I was first directed to the VIA Character Strengths Survey in the course of taking Dr. Laurie Santos’ class, The Science of Well-Being, which is the most popular course ever offered in Yale‘s 300-year history. As part of an initial happiness assessment, Professor Santos directed us to this character strengths test as part of a […]
Cool Ideas
The 8 Best Places to Get Birthday Cake in Chicago
Chicago is increasingly regarded as one of the best culinary cities in America when it comes to bakeries– and birthday cake in particular. It used to be that New York and LA were the only major cities putting cake artists on the map, but the advent of the TV series Cake Wars, social media, and […]
5 Beautiful Affirmation Decks For Those Seeking More Peace
Affirmation cards, or affirmation decks, are thoughtful first-person statements that encourage positive thinking, calm, and confidence. They help you ponder ideas that leave you with a feeling of more peace, calm, and clarity than before. When either read aloud or recited silently in your mind, they encourage a positive shift in mood, energy, and intention. […]
The 9 Best Birthday Cake Bakeries in San Antonio, Texas
Whether you’re looking for a delicious, artistic birthday cake or a bespoke-themed celebration cake, the best birthday cake bakeries in San Antonio, Texas, can do it all. From franchised Food Network-approved bakeries to small Mom & Pop bakeshops, the people making birthday cakes in the fine city of San Antonio each bring their own unique […]
Understanding Ho’oponopono: A Beautiful Hawaiian Teaching About Forgiveness
People who struggle with the concept of forgiveness– both for themselves and for others– often find comfort in a deeply healing age-old practice that comes from Hawai’i. The beautiful Hawaiian teaching for Forgiveness is called “Ho’oponopono” (pronounced HO-oh-Po-no-Po-no), and it’s lovely. This ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness functions as both a communication concept for reconciliation […]
11 Helpful Tips for Optimizing Postpartum Nutrition, Recovery, and Healing
The postpartum period is one of life’s most truly challenging phases. Postpartum nutrition– aka nutrition during the first 40 days after delivering a baby– plays a huge role in how well new moms heal and prepare their bodies for this next critical phase of nurturing and developing along with their baby. Thus, it’s worth paying […]
15 Delightful Gifts for Yoga-Lovers (Eco-Friendly + Stylish Props)
I know I know: you don’t need another gift guide. But sustainable yoga gear is all the rage among today’s yoga lovers. This gift guide for eco-friendly yogis spotlights all the latest, coolest gifts for yogis that make the practice more fun. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or trying to find some nice swag for […]
The 6 Best Birthday Cake Bakeries in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina is a charming little mountain town known for its wonderful food, which showcases the robust Appalachian tradition of using seasonal, local, heritage ingredients. This description may conjure images of Edenic farmers’ markets (which are indeed idyllic in Asheville), but this is also true when it comes to birthday cakes. Local bakeries here […]
The Incredible Science of Stress Granules (and How To Counteract Them)
Stress has been something of a human paradox since the dawn of human existence. On the one hand, humans need stress to identify danger in the environment around us. But on the other hand, if left unchecked, this unbridled stress response can lead to a host of inflammatory diseases that can cause poor health outcomes […]
7 Natural Face Moisturizers That Are Good for Mind, Body & Earth
There’s a renaissance happening with clean skincare, particularly with respect to all-natural face moisturizers. Not only do consumers want face moisturizers to be chemical-free, but they’d like them to honor the environment and the people who make them. To succeed in this increasingly conscientious consumer market, they also need to have beautiful packaging and a […]