Bethany Butzer, Ph.D.
Author ● Speaker ● Researcher ● Yoga Teacher

There's much talk these days about finding your calling. Many people in the self-help world (myself included) sell books, products, and advice on how to do what you're meant to do with your life. Many of us have a sense that we are meant to be doing something important - but we can't seem to figure out exactly what.

This can lead to feelings of failure. A sense that if you haven't found your calling by age 25, you're done. It's like the dharma gods are going to come down fr...

There are a lot of things I like about Lissa Rankin. Not only is she honest and vulnerable in her mission to help others heal their bodies, but she is also extremely knowledgeable and backs up her opinions with solid research. As an M.D., she spent years working in a broken health care system. Now she's devoted her life to empowering people to take charge of their health.

Lissa's new book,

Have you ever experienced an eerie coincidence? Maybe your friend called you right when you were thinking about her, or you just happened to be in the right place at the right time for something amazing to happen. Over the past few years, I've noticed an increasing number of these types of situations popping up in my life. It's like I'm experiencing some sort of Moore's Law in which my chance encounters and opportunities...

If you're a living, breathing human being, chances are you've been hurt at some point in your life. Maybe someone broke your heart, crushed your dreams, or led you down the wrong path. Even worse, you might have experienced a brutal tragedy like rape, war or abuse. Regardless of what hurt you, a single fact remains:

If you carry resentment in your heart, you are continuing the cycle.

When I was 7 years old, my parents separated. I reme...

It's Sunday morning. My alarm is off. The sun is peeking through the blinds, but instead of getting up, I roll over into my husband's arms and fall back asleep. I don't get out of bed until I feel like it. Later, I put on some great music, make french toast, and enjoy a lovely brunch. The rest of the day unfolds without a to do list or any feelings of obligation to anyone.

Why can't every day be like this?

At first, my logical mind jumps in with the s...

It's been a long time since I've recorded a video blog! Today I thought I'd share a huge misconception that I think many people have when it comes to following their dharma or life's purpose. This misconception can get in the way of doing what you're truly meant to do. 

Press "play" below to learn more!

Some of you might think I'm new age. Out there. Woo woo. Spewing self-help jargon from behind a computer screen. To be honest, I've often struggled with this image of myself. On the one hand, I think I am a hippie at heart. I've become deeply embedded in the self-help movement catalyzed by people like Louise Hay. I've looked into a mirror and said affirmations to myself. I've participated in story-telling rituals at women's retreats. I'v...

Lately I've been feeling extremely blessed. I moved to an amazing city, I have a great job, and I've been traveling to sunny beaches and yoga retreat centers. But something didn't seem right. There was a feeling inside of me - a sort of guilt - that kept popping up every time I thought about the gifts I'm being given at this time.

I realized the feeling had a voice. A barely audible, gnawing, anxious voice left over from somewhere long past. Every time I experienced a momen...

I tend to err on the side of serious. I think I came out of the womb with a serious look on my face, impatient about when I would get onto the next step of my life. My baby brain was probably already wondering, "Can't we just get to the walking and talking part already? I have important things to do!"

For much of my life, I've treated my journey as a series of goals, mostly related to academic success. Valedictorian? Check. Scholarships? Check. PhD? Check. Harvard? Check.

As many of you know, author and speaker Gabrielle Bernstein is one of my greatest mentors. Last year I worked with Gabby one-on-one as part of her 6-month private coaching program, and the results literally changed my life. I've made huge shifts over the past year, and manifested remarkable events (including my dream j...

We spend a lot of time focusing on other people's faults. "I wish she wasn't so negative," "I wish he wouldn't eat meat," "I wish my boss would get off my back." Sometimes we try to force these people to change. We'll inundate them with positive affirmations, or animal cruelty brochures, or employee productivity data, when the truth is that no matter how hard you try, you cannot change other people.

Instead, I encourage you to follow Gandhi's advice in my all-time fav...

In this video blog I share 3 tips to help you let go of anything you need to release from your life:

Watch the Burn, Bury & Throw ritual here. Get Gabby Bernstein's Cord Cut...

In my last blog I mentioned that choosing comfortable over self-growth always leads to regret. I've been thinking about this concept a lot lately, so I've decide to expand on it in today's blog.

My thoughts? Many people today are using comfort as a crutch.

I've come to believe that there are two kinds of comfort: authentic and inauthentic. Authentic comfort comes from a true place. Maybe you're laying on the beach with your family, or enjoy...

I took a lot of things into consideration when deciding whether or not to pick up my life and move 600 miles away.  I thought about my friends, my family, my house. I considered the "brain drain" phenomenon, access to quality health care, and the pride and gratitude that I feel for being Canadian. I listed pros and cons.

The decision felt scary. It was (and is) scary.

After some deep introspection, I realized that while I was scared to uproot my life,...

In this video blog I share the #1 yoga posture that I use to lower my stress after a long day. What's your favorite pose? Post your comments below!