May you Flourish

This week for some reason my stress levels have been high. I have the tendency to try to talk myself out of how I am feeling.  Do you do this too? I think, "Don't be so stressed, everything is fine," or "It's just the garden, it is no big deal."  Somehow though, it never works to try and talk myself out of stress. Do you know what does help? A practice!

What I mean by the word practice is something that is done regularly with the intention of meeting oneself and the moment in order to reduce stress. (Did you know that another translation of the word dukkha - from the Buddha's 4 Noble Truths - is stress?) With practice we can reset the nervous system toward a little bit more ease and resilience. This shift impacts your health, well-being, and quality of life. And it impacts the people around you too - friends, family, and co-workers.

Don't be fooled and think that I am talking about some huge commitment of time and energy. (It's a practice, not a perfect!) It may be just taking a three minute time out at lunch for some deep breathing. Or maybe in the evening you put the phone down and roll around on the floor for a moment. Of course, it could be that you have a meditation practice, not to be a good meditator, but to tend and befriend your mind and heart. Maybe you like to pull tarot cards or write in your journal. Anything regularly done with the intention of lowering stress counts as a practice. In this way, we tend and befriend ourself to improve health and quality of life.

 You and your life are important; take care of yourself out of sympathy and goodwill.

May you flourish!