There it is. That word. A word that seems to strike fear in so many people. We have become so attuned to constant rumination, busyness, distraction, and the like, that the idea of sitting still, letting everything relax, and actually feeling our bodies and emotions deeply, is an incredibly frightening thought. Meditation is not to be feared–it is actually pure magic. There is no need to make it complicated, you can start to understand the benefits quite simply by just putting your focus on your breath. If you’d like to try a little more than that, I invite you to download my complimentary ebook, “The Secret to Boosting Your Mind Body Connection: Restore Present Moment Awareness and Peace in 6 Easy Steps,” in the box to the right of this post. Give it a try–it’s easy.

“I shut my eyes in order to see.” Paul Gaugin

What does it mean to see? For many years, involvement in art and design meant that I relied heavily on my eyes to see, and I still pride myself on my ability to visually discern the subtlest nuances in color, shape, form and balance. However, since the journey that began with my vocational switch from the visual arts to core based movement and the world of body, mind, and spirit, it’s become clear that seeing occurs on many levels, often most profoundly without the use of my eyesight at all. How has this idea shown up in your life? I would love to hear your thoughts.

We know that taking time to get out of our heads on a regular basis to just BE, leads to great changes in our lives. But, we also have to think. And, what we think on a regular basis really is a big deal. What you are thinking about a given circumstance, never the circumstance itself, leads to your feelings, your feelings lead to your actions, and those actions lead to the results you see in your life. I realize that this assertion can be a lot to swallow, so today, I’ll introduce you to just one idea to ponder…. You always find evidence for what you are thinking.

Where in your life might this apply? Feel free to share in the comments section below….

Many of us were brought up to distract ourselves when we had less than ideal thoughts or feelings. My own mother’s favorite line when I was feeling sad as a child? “Think about your birthday.” You know, cake, presents, fun—I certainly wouldn’t say that thinking of my birthday now would be a “good” distraction, but over the years I definitely developed some new ones. Everyone distracts from time to time—it’s normal. However, when we get into habitual patterns of not allowing our truth to come into our consciousness, the effects of that will inevitably show up—most often, physically. Seek ways to come to center and allow yourself to really know what’s going on with your emotions. It really is the lack of acceptance and acknowledgement that keeps us in a toxic and unsettled state.

Resistance is a funny thing.  Most of us realize on some level that we resist unpleasantness by either distracting ourselves or refusing to acknowledge certain circumstances, thoughts, or feelings.  But, are you aware of how much resistance you may be holding to even the more pleasant things in your life?  Many people have a decreased ability to receive, and this energy is held in the body and mind very similarly to the resistance we hold for unpleasantness.  Observe some of your thoughts and actions, and see how both sides of the resistance coin might be showing up in your life.  Begin to release this resistance by getting still and quiet, breathing deeply, and allowing the body to fully relax.  With each exhale, release more physical tension.  The mind and emotions will follow the cues of the body, and you will begin to notice that everything in your being is a little more open to allowance, rather than resistance.

For the last couple of years, instead of a resolution, I have chosen a word for the new year. This word has not been about things I want to do or have, but about a feeling state. Who do I want to be? What quality do I want to embody and have reflected in my life as much as possible? Get quiet and still, and let your inner wisdom guide you to your word for 2013. It will have a profound effect on your thoughts, feelings, actions, and results.

I used to live a constantly loud life. I was loud, the people I surrounded myself with were loud, the music was loud, and the chatter in my head was loud. Don’t get me wrong—loud can be good, and loud can be really, really fun. But, when no time is spent on the inverse of loud, things can get dicey. So, what is quiet? Quiet is the absence of exterior, but even more importantly, interior, noise which most of us have conditioned ourselves to not consciously notice. Take a moment to close your eyes and check on your interior noise. Then, ask yourself, “Am I still breathing?” What happens? The noise stops immediately as you check in with your breath. This is the first step to practicing the inner stillness that can change your life….

Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Walk as though you are kissing the earth with your feet.” Gratitude is thank you. Gratitude is thankfulness. But, it can also be a wordless feeling state of living in the moment, ever present to the life all around you–mindfulness, reverence, awe and grace. So, walk as though you are kissing the earth with your feet, as though you are kissing the sky with your eyes, and as though you were kissing your food with your taste buds. Take it all in, be awareness, and be gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving.

Clutter blocks the flow of energy. Physical clutter, toxic relationships, and emotional and mental clutter stop your vitality in its tracks. Practices that help you focus your mind and express and truly feel your emotions are cumulative and life changing. The focused movement of Pilates and various other meditative techniques will help you to open the space you need to stay healthy and happy. And, don’t discount the effects of clearing your physical space—this is often the first step in the process.

We have been conditioned to believe that the goal is doing, when so many shifts would occur if we could focus more on being—connecting with what is really going on inside of us. It’s as though we believe that we don’t have time to get quiet and listen, that our lives are better served by paying attention to completely useless information, or constant, busy movement. The irony is that this stuff begets more of this stuff. Getting quiet begets more overall calm, and this calm, this center of oneself, is where deep happiness is found.