“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Self Reliance

For years I have believed that tranquility is a state of acceptance and well-being and that I would arrive ‘there’ if I only worked hard enough, did more or changed myself in some way. After years of learning and growth, self-inquiry and finally embracing mindfulness practices as the key to being ‘here, now’, I have learned calm and ease are qualities available in any moment.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or uncertain and believe that a state of tranquility is out of reach, please consider the following tips for balancing your life. While a more in depth presentation may be valuable, a quick check list of tips to remember on a daily basis can be a life-saver.

1. Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes:

• Aerobic activity 4-5 times a week
• Strength training 2-3 times a week
• Yoga or moving mindfully

2. Enjoy healthy eating and drinking habits:

• Learn to eat intuitively
• Be mindful in choosing food and drink
• Limit alcohol and drink water

3. Practice good sleep hygiene:

• Give yourself plenty of sleep
• Learn to relax and be quiet before bedtime
• Finish your evening meal several hours before bed

4. Take time for yourself each day to meditate:

• Bring a focused awareness to each moment
• Suspend judgment, open to possibility
• Embrace your experience with kindness and compassion

5. Breathe fully and completely, slowing the breath mindfully:

• Take a few minutes each day to simply breathe
• Repeat breathing mindfully as many times as you wish

6. Learn to say “no” to demands on your time and energy:

• Develop clarity of your needs and wishes
• Saying “no” is really saying “yes” to you
• Be sure to notice inner callings that demand or instruct

7. Create order in your life:

• Eliminate clutter, live more simply
• Prioritize time, be realistic
• Plan ahead, re-shift when necessary

8. Create community and ask for help:

• Invite people into your life who lift your spirits
• Give and receive
• Be honest and transparent: ask for help

9. Find time to relax and renew in body, mind and spirit:

• Spend time each day doing nothing
• Spend time each day with people you love
• Intentionally enjoy the beauty in life

10. Begin and end the day with gratitude:

• Name three things you are grateful for each day
• Do this morning and evening
• Begin to find the gift in everything

Most of all, take time each day to enjoy yourself and the life you have been given. In our fast paced society, it is easy to be moving too quickly to truly savor and cherish each moment. Rather than being another “to do” list, allow these tips to be guides along the way to a life fully lived and deeply loved.