fact or fiction
Is it a fact or is it merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the lesser known truths in the health and wellness world of Longevity.
When the Mind Wanders: Returning Without Judgment
How Gentle Awareness Becomes the Heart of a Sustainable Meditation Practice It happens to everyone — even the most seasoned meditators. You sit, you breathe, and then… you're suddenly planning dinner, replaying a conversation, or mentally reorganizing your closet. The mind has wandered, again. And often, our first reaction isn’t just noticing — it’s judging. “I can’t even focus for five minutes. I’m doing this wrong. What’s the point?” But what if the wandering itself is not the problem? What if the real practice lies not in staying still, but in how we return?
By Victoria Marse6 months ago in Longevity
Witness, Not Warrior: Letting Go of the Fight with Yourself
For many of us, the inner world can feel like a battlefield. We argue with our thoughts, wrestle with our emotions, and critique ourselves with the precision of a well-trained warrior. We treat personal growth as a fight to be won — discipline over desire, control over chaos, logic over feeling. But what if healing doesn't come through struggle, but through surrender? What if we stop trying to win, and instead start to witness?
By Black Mark6 months ago in Longevity
Noticing the Pause: Mindfulness Between the Inhale and the Exhale
We’re often told to focus on the inhale. Breathe in energy, life, clarity. Then we’re told to savor the exhale — to let go, to release, to soften. But between the two is a sliver of space, easily missed. That slight suspension, that moment of nothing — not in, not out. Just a pause. And in that pause, we often find a stillness that speaks louder than any mantra.
By Marina Gomez6 months ago in Longevity
The Weight of Silence: Sitting with What We Avoid
In a world driven by noise — external and internal — silence can feel like a confrontation. When we turn down the volume of our environment, the sounds we’ve been suppressing begin to rise. Thoughts we didn’t want to think, emotions we’ve stuffed away, and memories we’d rather leave unexamined all find their way into the quiet. Meditation doesn’t promise comfort. But it does promise truth — and within that truth, healing.
By Black Mark6 months ago in Longevity
Breathing Through Resistance: Finding Calm in the Moments You Want to Escape
There are moments we all wish we could skip. The awkward conversation, the creeping anxiety before sleep, the heavy silence after disappointing news. These are the moments when the body tenses, the breath shortens, and the mind looks for the nearest exit. But what if, instead of fleeing discomfort, we breathed through it? What if calm wasn’t something we had to chase, but something waiting on the other side of resistance?
By Marina Gomez6 months ago in Longevity
Why I Believe in Thoughtful Heart Care by Andrew Rudin MD
When I first entered medicine, I imagined cardiology as a field of fast action—saving lives, opening blocked arteries, placing stents, rushing into the cath lab with urgency and purpose. And in many cases, that’s still true. There’s nothing more profound than restoring blood flow to a dying heart muscle during a heart attack. It never gets old. It never stops feeling miraculous.
By Dr. Andrew Rudin6 months ago in Longevity
The Threshold Moment: Using Meditation Before Big Life Changes
Life is a series of transitions—moments when one chapter closes and another begins. Whether it’s moving to a new city, starting a new job, ending a relationship, or welcoming a child, these threshold moments are charged with emotion, uncertainty, and opportunity. Meditation can be a powerful tool to navigate these pivotal times, helping us ground ourselves amid the chaos and step forward with clarity and calm.
By Victoria Marse6 months ago in Longevity
Meditation in Motion: From Walking to Washing Dishes
When we think of meditation, the image that often comes to mind is someone sitting still with eyes closed, focusing on their breath in silence. But what if mindfulness could be found not only in stillness but also in movement? For many people, especially those with restless minds or busy schedules, meditation in motion offers a powerful and practical alternative. Whether you’re taking a walk, folding laundry, or washing dishes, the simple act of bringing awareness to your body and surroundings can turn everyday tasks into moments of profound presence.
By Black Mark6 months ago in Longevity
When You Can’t “Let Go”: Meditating with Attachment Instead
We’ve all heard the advice: “Just let it go.” Whether it’s a painful relationship, a lingering resentment, or an old fear, the phrase is often used as a shorthand for moving on, clearing space, or cultivating peace. But what happens when letting go feels impossible? When the grip is too tight, the memory too raw, or the emotion too alive? Meditation, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t require us to force detachment. In fact, some of the deepest healing happens when we sit down with our attachments—not in spite of them.
By Marina Gomez6 months ago in Longevity
Body-Led Meditation: Trusting Sensation Over Thought
We often associate meditation with calming the mind, but what if the body knows the way before the mind catches up? Body-led meditation flips the usual approach: instead of trying to think your way into stillness, you follow physical sensations—tightness in the shoulders, warmth in the chest, or the gentle rhythm of your breath. This somatic approach grounds you in the here and now without requiring you to silence your thoughts completely. The focus shifts from what’s happening in the mind to what’s happening throughout your body.
By Victoria Marse6 months ago in Longevity
Meditation for the Overthinker: Quieting the Mental Loop
Overthinking feels like trying to put out a fire by fanning the flames. You analyze, reflect, plan, and re-plan — hoping for clarity but only getting more tangled. For overthinkers, silence isn’t peaceful; it’s suspicious. Stillness doesn’t soothe; it amplifies the noise. So how do you practice meditation when your mind won’t shut up?
By Black Mark6 months ago in Longevity
