The gifts of stillness and peace for yourself and the New Year
by heidi_behr | Dec 20, 2016 | How to Feel Peace Now, Self-care Practices
The holidays are upon us. For many of us, this means hurried last minute shopping and making sure we have menus planned and ready to go. Here’s who I hope you consider this season: YOU. Include yourself on your list – give yourself these gifts: stillness and peace.
Most of us move so quickly, in a world full of distraction, that even the suggestion to take time for stillness is scoffed at, let alone not attempted. I am here as your advocate, your encourager, to BE KIND to yourself and take even just one moment to bring yourself to calm, to peace.
How can you get even a moment of peace? It all comes down to focusing on the breath. It’s the one thing you CAN control, when you put your mind to it. Truthfully, you are already good at focusing. C’mon– you know you are– you spend LOTS of time focusing on things like Facebook, Instagram, funny animal videos, or even on icky news stories (notice how some of that makes you feel good and some of it doesn’t?) You really are good at focusing— I just want you to use your powers for GOOD, not evil. 😉
Stillness and Peace
You’ve heard you can get to stillness and peace via meditation. Perhaps you are a little intimidated to try meditation on your own, or maybe you think you can’t do it. My best advice: use Insight Timer – my FAVorite app! I love it. It’s easy to use, it’s free and it helps you with meditation via GUIDED meditations and music. You can even use it with your friends and see what guided meditations they like and listen to. I saw my friend Jen was listening to 20/20 Meditate for Peace by Michelle Zarrin, so I gave it a whirl (here is the link via Insight Timer and here is the version on Michelle Zarrin’s website).
20/20 Meditate for Peace is “rooted in the understanding that only love and internal peace can cast out darkness.” This 20-day course builds one minute of meditation time each day, so at the end you have meditated for 20 days and on the last day for 20 minutes! Today was Day 9 for me. I almost missed it because my morning routine was interrupted. Thankfully, I had some free time mid-day and I just finished the 9 minutes of meditation before working on this post. Yup- NINE MINUTES. It was so lovely, truthfully- like taking a yoga savasana nap almost. Luckily I was sitting upright, so I didn’t fall asleep, yet my body and mind got very calmed.
This is for YOU
Stillness and Peace already reside deep inside you. There is a part of your mind that is connected to Divine Light, Truth, Love, Source. A Course in Miracles reminds us that this part of your mind is what you are seeking to tune in to. Take some time over the next week or two, allowing yourself even a few moments of this stillness and peace. You can even use an app to help track & guide your meditation, and if you do, tell me how it goes. When you do, you will be able to cultivate deeper love and compassion for yourself and the world. Those truly are the best gifts for you, the world around you and the new year.
Until we meet again in 2017, may you be safe, happy, healthy and live with ease. Happy Holidays and New Year! Namaste <3
