Dr. Nicole Libin is a mindfulness educator, meditation coach, and author who helps people develop practical tools for seeing what their minds and bodies are actually doing and finding a less adversarial way to be with what they find. Many of us are in a pretty antagonistic relationship with ourselves, constantly second-guessing, pushing away discomfort, or trying to force ourselves to be different. Simply put, we can't beat ourselves into becoming better people. Mindfulness isn't about getting rid of thoughts. It's about seeing what's already happening and relating to it in a more compassionate, curious, and helpful way. Her work focuses on helping people notice the stories and "shoulds" layered on top of their experience, stay with what's there, and respond more intentionally, rather than reacting automatically. With a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Nicole brings deep scholarly grounding in contemplative traditions from across cultures. She teaches from a secular foundation while remaining fluent in the spiritual and religious frameworks people carry with them, drawing on those perspectives when it serves the work. She also teaches at Mount Royal University and is the author of four books on mindfulness, including Sticky Brains, a mindfulness and brain science picture book for children.