Find Your Zen This Holiday Season—10 Minute Tips for More Peace, Love and Joy

Christmas (Hannukah, Kiwanzaa) is not a date on a calendar. It’s more than a state of mind. It’s a condition of the heart.
—Toni Sorenson

Hello Beautiful,

What do you want your holiday season to be about? How do you want to feel? How do you really want to celebrate it? What would you do differently if you thought about it for a minute?

It’s easy to get swept up in all the holiday chaos and lose sight of why you’re running yourself ragged, stuffing yourself mindlessly, or spending money you don’t have. The peace, love and joy that we hear so much about on greeting cards, songs, and ice capades is easily lost as we all too easily become frenzied and almost robotic in our holiday endeavors.

This holiday season, I invite you to pause before you push “replay” on the holiday routines that seem hopelessly destined to create stress, disappointment and even depression for some.

Here’s a 10-Minute Zen tip to help you find that elusive peace, love and joy that is just beneath all the flurry and worry:

10-Minute Morning Meditation

Begin your day by centering yourself with a quick morning meditation. Get up 10 minutes early so you have the time. You will find that your day goes much smoother and you can actually get more done if you’re centered and focused.

Benefits of Meditation: Science has proven that meditation reduces stress; increases relaxation, focus and concentration; improves heart and immune health, and just flat out makes you calmer and happier.

Here’s a super simple way to meditate:

• Grab your cup of tea (or whatever your morning drink is)
• Find a quiet spot
• Get comfortable and close your eyes
• Begin to notice your breath as you inhale and exhale
• Inhale to a count of 4
• Exhale to a count of 4 (repeat 3 times)

Helpful tips:

• Empty your mind of each thought as it tries to intrude into your mind
• Keep emptying your mind and bringing your mind back to your breath, counting to 4 on each inhalation and exhalation
• Enjoy peace of mind, greater clarity and focus and watch your happiness grow

This is the first of ten 10-Minute Zen Holiday tips I’ll be sharing with you over the next 3 weeks. May you find your Zen and banish the busy-ness and stress of the season.

Cheers,