Well, it’s officially here: The start of the holiday season! While some people eagerly wait for 365 entire days to finally break out the Mariah Carey Christmas album, the holiday season can be complicated for many. While it can inspire a spirit of charity and kinship with other human beings, it can simultaneously magnify any perceived deficiencies in our lives: Our loneliness
“I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” Â-Vincent Van Gogh It’s easy to spout off phrases and quotes about the importance of love – for others, for oneself, for our environment, for children, for family, for those in need, for anyone or anything. It’s a little harder to show love toward those that make
“What you love is a sign from your higher self of what you are to do.” -Sanaya Roman Here’s a fun exercise: Set a timer for 15 minutes. Take out a sheet of paper and a pen. Write down all of the things that give you joy, until the timer stops. Try not to think too much – just write
“Surrender to Grace. The ocean cares for each wave until it reaches the shore. You are given more help than you will ever know.” -Rumi The inopportune events that happen in our lives are there to teach us, care for us, mature us. They are not there to hold us back. They are there to re-direct us to a better
“If not now, when?” -Eckhart Tolle There are a million things in life that we put off. Some are obvious choices – boring chores, returning a call to someone you don’t really want to talk to (admit it, you’ve been there!) – but others are things we actually want to do, but we justify delaying them for some reason or another. We may
“You are the silence I turn to when everything else gets too loud. You are my moon in the middle of the day.” -Pavana What do you do to recharge, to get away, to come back to stability when life gets messy? Do you have a special room in your house that you’ve decorated with calming colors and warm lighting?
When we’re feeling tense, anxious, or generally off, we may feel at the mercy of our powerful emotions. However, with some practice and patience, you may find that you can counteract those uncomfortable feelings with slow, deep, controlled breathing. First, a note about breathing: Many of us practice shallow breathing in our day-to-day lives. In other words, when we inhale, our
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” -Thich Nhat Hanh Breathing seems so simple. We breathe without even thinking about it. When we are relaxed, our breath is effortless and barely noticeable. When we are stressed, however, the story changes a bit. Many of us are familiar with the “fight-or-flight” response of
