Peace Out (er, I mean In!)

 I think we underestimate what it means to have peace in our lives!  We are so used to living in the fast pace our everyday existence that when we may have a moment to cultivate a little peace, it quickly gets pushed to the back burner along with our slowly deteriorating health and sanity! 

One of the words that come up when I ask people how they felt after our session is peace!  They experienced a deep sense of peace within themselves.  So I wanted to give you three practical things you can do, starting today, to allow more peace into your life!  I think you will be amazed at how cultivating a little more peace in your life can reap even bigger benefits for your overall health and happiness. 

1)    Be Present!  Many spiritual traditions call it mindfulness.  All this means is to BE PRESENT with what ever is in front of you.   If you are making coffee…BE with your coffee making.  If you are folding laundry, BE with your laundry!  If you working on a project, BE with your project!  We’ve developed a sense of “I’m going to miss out” thinking in our society because everything moves so quickly…I mean you can blink and the next version of iPhone has already discounted on Amazon!  But because we fail to slow down and actually give our full attention in the moment to our children, our cup of tea, our dinner, our work…we lose out on the potential and magic of the PRESENT.  And believe me, when you are able to make your days into a series of “present moments” you will not only begin to experience the limitless potential and magic of existence but a peace that surpasses all understanding! Mmmmmm……

2)    Breathe!   Simple, yes!  So simple that it could be dismissed…but I think by now many of you have already heard the science behind the health benefits of conscious breathing or meditation.  But are you aware that breathing can also facilitate more peace in your life as well?  Try this: when you are feeling anxiety, stress or tension (or hell, go crazy and use this prior to feeling any physical or metal stressors in your body) J Put your hand over your heart, take a deep belly breath (yes puff out that tummy on the inhale) and hold it for 3 seconds.  Then exhale with your hand still over your heart…becoming aware of your breath leaving your body.  Do it again bringing even more awareness to your breath.  Breathe in peace….breathe out and smile!  You did it!  Now do it over and over.  Get it? Got it?  Enjoy it.

3)    Go inside!  You know those times when you are on overload but you may not be aware of it?  It looks something like this…you know you have a ton to do, things need to be getting done but you keep bouncing back and forth between your email and facebook account, thinking of what you need to get done, then, oh the laundry, you get up to do the laundry, then, crap, I need to call this person, wait, did I get a gift for…., online again, “tweet”, shit, I need to pick up the kids!  Or maybe you just “space out” at work and fall into habits of procrastination with anything that is a willing participant! J  Okay, maybe it’s not that bad but you get the point.  We all have time when we feel flustered, discombobulated, restless and just drained!  Common practice is to busy yourself so you FEEL like you’re getting something done…so you are being a good little productive busy bee, but in reality our body is telling us to GO INSIDE!  Not in the house, but inside yourself.  So stop.  Sit…bring your awareness back into your body (literally gather the pieces of yourself you’ve left strewn throughout your day back into your body using your imagination).  Sit down. Close your eyes.  Peace out…and peace in!