(This is a repost from one year ago and thought it was worth reposting.)

With so much uncertainty in our economy, many people are turning to alternative ways to make money. Many are embracing their creative talents, while others are trying new marketing techniques. Ultimately, we are all being asked to change the way we do things and to become more creative in how we work and relate to others. If you look around at businesses right now – from restaurants to personal services — they are either failing or thriving. What is the secret behind those that are thriving?

I recently read the book, Think and Grow Rich, by Napolean Hill where he reports his findings of the secret behind the 500 most successful people, including Andrew Carnegie. Keep in mind: This book was written in 1937 during a similar economic downturn. What he found to be the commonality in all of their success was nothing that you would read in a business manual. Instead, it was the mental and emotional energy that each of these successful projected out.

Whether you are conscious of it or not, you are projecting your future through your conscious and subconscious thoughts. Thus, the best way to bring in abundance is exactly this way.  Here are eight ways to use your energy positively to bring about wealth and properity:

1. Helping Others

If you have ever been around really successful people (and by “successful” I mean prosperous in wealth and happiness), then you will quickly notice that they are always willing to help others with their business. Many people think that to succeed, you must be competitive when, in fact, the opposite is true (even towards your “competitors”). Someone who is competitive and cut-throat is simply saying that they don’t trust in their own skills and talents.

If you are willing to help someone promote their business, they will do the same for you. In other words, what you put out you will get back in return. This principle has really been put to use in the world of social media. It is an example of the more you help others, the more you will receive in return.

There are so many ways in which we can help and encourage others. Here are some examples: a simple compliment, such as “Your ad in the paper looked great” or “I love your website”, making positive comments on others’ blog posts, offering others resources that were helpful to you, volunteering your services for free to a good cause, referring people, and being a patron of other people’s services. Helping others says that you are confident in yourself…and not to mention nice!

2. Gratitude

Being grateful for what you already have is the Number One way to bring in more of it. Say “Thank You” to yourself, others, mentors, angels, God, Universe, Source, and/or whoever you believe is a part of what has helped you to get and achieve what you have thus far. By doing so, more will come your way. This is essentially a high vibration affirmation.

3. Being Present

Living in the present moment is a phrase often used by those seeking a more zen way of life and/or enlightenment. But it is also a really great business practice. Your power is always in the present moment. When you align yourself with the present moment you have complete and total access to your own power. By “power” I mean your best skills, talents, and creativity. It is only when we look into the future that we become stressed, anxious, and fearful. For all that is meant for us to deal with in the present moment is just that…the present moment.

Because it is each small step (or moment) along our journey that makes up our life, the destination will only be as good as each of the moments that it encompasses. Eckhart Tolle profoundly describes this concept in A New Earth as follows:

“Everybody’s life really consists of small things. Greatness is a mental abstraction and a favorite fantasy of the ego. The paradox is that the foundation for greatness is honoring the small things of the present moment instead of pursuing the idea of greatness. The present moment is always small in the sense that it is always simple, but concealed within it lies the greatest power.”

So, try being present in each moment of your day, from sending emails to talking to prospective clients. You will be amazed at how much better your focus and productivity is.

4. Use Feng Shui

Many may think that the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui is only used in Eastern cultures, but major U.S. businesses and business executives such Donald Trump are applying its 3,000-year-old principles in their daily business dealings.

By simply rearranging your office space, you are energizing your business in a new way. The shifts of earth energy in conjunction with your own mental intention can change your business quickly and dramatically. The position and arrangement of your desk can make a profound impact. Read my article, Feng Shui Your Desk, for more information.

5. Affirmations

An affirmation is a set of positive words or phrases repeated out loud, to yourself, or just set out in visual sight. The more the affirmation is repeated consecutively and over time, the more the subconscious is being programmed to believe it. For example, if you repeat an affirmation such as, “I attract abundance in all areas of my life,” your subconscious mind will take it as truth (as it has no filter) and the law of attraction will begin to bring you abundance.
You could consciously want more money, but your subconscious mind may be working on a different agenda, potentially sabotaged by old belief systems, implanted societal fear, or simple unworthiness. This is why it is so important to be conscious of our subconscious.

Using affirmations is a great way to re-program the subconscious mind to be more in alignment with what you consciously want in your life. The amount of time it takes will depend on how engrained the current belief system being re-programmed is in your subconscious.

For specific affirmations for abundance, read my article, 8 Affirmations for Abundance.

6. Being Receptive

We are often our own worst enemy. As much as we would like to blame others or the economy, the truth is we oftentimes just get in our own way. Many of us have belief systems that prevent us from abundance. For example, some believe that they don’t deserve abundance, that wealth is only reserved for certain people, or that money is the root of all evil. If you consciously choose to have any of these belief systems, then so be it. But some of you may unconsciously have these thoughts while, at the same time, confused as to why money isn’t coming your way.

So explore to see what belief systems you have surrounding money. You may be surprised. In order to receive, your must be open. For a clinched fist will never be able to receive anything. And don’t forget to be present… for something to fall into your lap, you must be still.

Also be open to where the sources of abundance may come. While your energies may be in one direction, the fruits of your labor may return to you from another direction. Be open. Be receptive. And, again, be present.

7. Make a Vision Board

A vision board is a powerful visualization tool that activates the Law of Attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality. The concept of the vision board, also known as a goal board or treasure map, has been around for generations, but has gained a renewed interest and popularity from the documentary, The Secret.

A vision board is a visual collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. To make one, simply get a poster, cardboard, or foam board, magazines, glue and/or tape, scissors, and a desire. Cut out images either exact or symbolic representations of the things that you want in your life or the things that you want to become. Paste them on your board and display it, preferably somewhere visible to you. In no time, you will be amazed at what you will attract into your life!

8. Use the Number “8″

It is no coincidence that I used the number “8″ for this article. Numbers are one of the oldest symbols in our collective conscious. Each number carries its own meaning, frequency, and energy. The number “8″ is the number for abundance.

In Numerology, anytime you have double or triple digits, add them up until you come to a single digit. For example, 107 = 8; 44 = 8, and 800 = 8. So take advantage of this built-in power. Incorporate it into your life. For example, price your services or products using this auspicious number. I even once lived in an 8-house that made me lots of money when I sold it. Be creative with it!

Conclusion

If you are not bringing in as much wealth and prosperity as you would like, then try incorporating some of these concepts into your daily practice. Sometimes there is no need to spend a fortune on advertising or expensive classes. Invest in your own personal power first. Afterall, you are your most important asset.

____________________________________________

Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

In the documentary film, The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard examines our national obsession with stuff and how it all began. She attributes our consumption addiction to the post-World War III economic policies that propagandized the notion of buying stuff. Our insatiable appetites haven’t been able to stop since. That is, until now.

With the decline of the economy – whether directly affected or not – we have all started to take pause before making a purchase. More importantly, we are beginning to take inventory of the stuff that we do have. Even more so, we are beginning to feel taken over by all the stuff that we have accumulated over the decades, which is why so many of us are having the urge to purge or declutter our homes.

But is it as easy as making some runs to Goodwill?

Of course not.

Why?

We have become addicted, or emotionally attached, to our stuff.

Buying and accumulating stuff is just another way to distract ourselves from our present lives. Like cigarettes or alcohol, it is a quick fix to feeling good. But when the high wears off, we are left with an icky feeling. But we need the icky feeling so that we can punish ourselves and perpetuate our guilt. And then we need the high again so that we don’t feel the pain, and the circle continues.

Is this an overreaction to buying a new toaster? Maybe. But consumption can be an addiction (or at the least an emotional attachment) that, unlike cigarettes and alcohol, is hard to recognize because it is so affirmed by our friends, family, media, and government.

So how do we detach from our stuff?

Knowledge is power. Knowing what and why we are attached to our stuff or certain items will oftentimes break the emotional attachment with our stuff. For some of us, having a lot of stuff is simply a distraction from our everyday life. A cluttered space results in a cluttered mind, which is exactly what some of us want, at least subconsciously. In the same way alcohol makes things fuzzy, having a lot of things in your space will do the same. And on some level, that is the desired outcome. If this resonates with you, then bring awareness to it. (If you are highly resistant to this idea, then you might want to take a second look.)

For many of us, it is certain items that are difficult to part with. It may be books and magazines for some or old pictures, clothes, gifts, collections, etc. for others. Either way, if you don’t love the item(s) or don’t use it, then it is time to part with it. If you are still having resistance, then it’s time to acknowledge an emotional attachment to the item….

Start asking yourself questions.

What am I feeling right now?

What memories does this item bring up?

Who gave it to me?

Why did I originally buy it?

Who does it remind me of?

Do I feel guilty getting rid of this item? If so, why?

Why?

Why?

And Why?

Be your own detective… or therapist. Get to the root of why you are hanging on to an item that you know would be in your best interest to get rid of. You may be surprised. What you thought was just an old hairbrush may actually be a reservoir of past emotions that you and your sister shared when she helped you get ready for prom. Or maybe the green gingham shirt with the price tag on it conjures up guilt for buying things that are on sale and never wearing them. Until acknowledged, the shirt will hang in your closet serving only to attract the pattern for more guilt.

Once you have awareness around an item, you will be amazed at how easy it will be to let go of it. If you have the awareness but still don’t want to get rid of the item, then it may simply be too early. See how you feel the next round of decluttering.

To start the process of decluttering, I recommend working in baby steps with attainable goals as I set out in 5 Steps to Clearing Clutter. You will build up the confidence that will keep you going through the long haul. Once you realize that life will go on with fewer items, you will not only want to clear out more stuff, but will start to feel free.

And when you feel this sense of freedom you know you have mastered the art of detaching from your stuff.

So what is at the root of all the changes currently going on? It is more than a failed banking industry, greedy creditors, international wars and conflicts, and an increase in global warming. In fact, these are only symptoms. The underlying cause is an energetic shift from the masculine to the feminine. In other words, it is a critical rebalancing of yin and yang energy.

All energy, including humans, is comprised of yin and yang energy. In other words, all males have yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) energy, as do females. It is our ultimate challenge to balance these two energies within ourselves. Relationships have proven to be the most common way to do this. For example, if we have an overbalance of masculine energy, then we will seek someone with an overbalance of feminine energy to, in essence, complete us, and vice versa. This critical yin yang balance within ourself is a template for our Planet.

For thousands of years, our Planet has become increasingly overbalanced with masculine energy. Masculine energy has served us with increased productivity, leadership, activity, technology, mobility, and other facets that have led to an amazing modernization of our Planet. However, with these advancements have come abuse of power, war, corruption, greed, superiority, and fear. As a result, women have been oppressed and our divine goddess, Mother Earth, has been abused.

In order for our continued survival on Planet Earth, the pendulum must swing the other direction. And it is. It is not coincidental that during this Depression, the only industries that have grown are those dominated by women: teaching and healthcare (particularly nursing). The industries that are falling are those based in masculine energy that got carried away with power and greed. Meanwhile, businesses based in compassion to men, women, animals, and the Earth are thriving. In other words, it is yin-related activities, businesses, and ideas that will work right now.

So it is important to recognize what constitutes feminine energy in order to not only make this shift into our new world easier, but welcomed and enjoyable.

More Being, Less Doing

Masculine energy is very active-oriented, while the feminine is about stillness and receptivity. In my article, Being More | Doing Less, I explain how the active pursuit of what we want no longer works like it used to. Instead, try allowing things to come to you. In other words, instead of beating doors down, notice which ones open easily. This is a personal balance that we must all find within ourselves in order to manifest what we want.

More Intuition, Less Mind

We have all had an experience where our intuition told us something that simply did not make rational sense to our mind only to find out later that our intuition was right. Our intuition can know things that our mind simply cannot know. This is actually a product of the right and left brain functions. Intuition comes from our right brain, while logic and rationalization comes from our right brain. Correspondingly, the left side of our body is our feminine side and the right side is our masculine side. In our new world, our intuitive skills increase while are monkey mind will drive us mad trying to make sense of the world. Thinking can be so overrated!

More Creativity, Less Structure

Like intuition, creativity is a product of the right brain. We are all being called to be creative. In being creative, we touch the core essence of our purpose here on Earth. Each one of us has a special gift that can benefit others, whether it is cooking, art, healing, gardening, or singing. Begin tapping into your creativity and you tap into your soul.

More Heart, More Heart, More Heart

As I mentioned above, the businesses that are now thriving are those based in compassion and love for their fellow humans, children, animals, and Mother Earth. In other words, they were started from the heart to make a positive difference in our world. Some businesses that may not have started out that way have evolved into helping others. Why? Just like our species… for survival. For example, more businesses are buying fair trade, donating to charities, recycling, etc.

The time is now for all men and women to embrace our Divine Feminine. Although gender is irrelevant, women have an inherent femininity that makes it easier to tap into the Divine Feminine. While men are being introduced to their femininity perhaps for the first time, it is especially important for women to completely embrace the Divine Feminine and become the goddesses of the new world.

photo credit

By now we’ve all either heard or personally experienced that a messy home causes a scattered mind. Most of us can admit that when our home is in disorder, our life follows suit, or vice versa.
There is also a social stigma associated with a messy home. According to a study by the University of Texas, people who walk into a stranger’s house form surprisingly strong negative opinions about that person. In fact, the messiness of Michael Jackson’s home, i.e. Neverland, was used as evidence against him when he faced molestation charges. During the trial, the courtroom was presented video footage of Jackson’s home taken by police during a raid.

Of particular interest of several reports was the lack of conventional order in his home.  CNN noted, “The video showed the house cluttered with shoe boxes, books and a variety of objects stacked on the floors.”  Agence France-Press reported that, “The overall image was a peculiar mix of ostentatious opulence and cluttered confusion.”  Almost as damning as finding pornographic magazines were the scattered shoeboxes.
Studies have also shown the effect of a messy home on children.

According to Pennsylvania State University, a study determined that “disorganized” homes tend to produce children with lower cognitive skills.

But is it always a bad thing if your home is messy?

As someone who grew up in an orderly, organized, and clean home, it was second nature for me to keep my own home neat and clean. Perhaps even at times coming close to crossing the border into being OCD (obsessive-compulsive).

Over the years as my more artistic, right-brain side developed, my home became less orderly. My OCD-like qualities had definitely fallen away as my right and left brain came more into balance. My home naturally evolved into an artist’s canvas where I could express myself while maintaining a peace of mind. If you’ve ever been to an artist or musician’s home, you can see how a dominant right-brain home looks like (which might also explain the scattered shoe boxes at Neverland).
A challenge for all of us is to bring into balance our right and left brains. In doing so, our home will naturally come into balance as well.

The important point is to know what is “normal” for your home. In other words, if your home is more messy than usual, then be conscious of what is going on in your life. Accordingly, know that by cleaning your home, your life will become much clearer as well. On the other hand, if keeping your home sparkling clean to the point of squelching creativity or even deterring guests from coming over, then it may be time to enroll in a painting class or some other right-brain activity.
Find where your balance point is and change or fine-tune it when necessary. Ultimately, our home should be a creative, safe, warm, stimulating, peace-filled, sacred space.

photo by Johan Larsson

With so much uncertainty in our economy, many people are turning to alternative ways to make money. Many are embracing their creative talents, while others are trying new marketing techniques. Ultimately, we are all being asked to change the way we do things and to become more creative in how we work and relate to others. If you look around at businesses right now – from restaurants to personal services — they are either failing or thriving. What is the secret behind those that are thriving?

I recently read the book, Think and Grow Rich, by Napolean Hill where he reports his findings of the secret behind the 500 most successful people, including Andrew Carnegie. Keep in mind: This book was written in 1937 during a similar economic downturn. What he found to be the commonality in all of their success was nothing that you would read in a business manual. Instead, it was the mental and emotional energy that each of these successful projected out.

Whether you are conscious of it or not, you are projecting your future through your conscious and subconscious thoughts. Thus, the best way to bring in abundance is exactly this way.  Here are eight ways to use your energy positively to bring about wealth and properity:

1. Helping Others

If you have ever been around really successful people (and by “successful” I mean prosperous in wealth and happiness), then you will quickly notice that they are always happy and willing to help others with their business. Many people think that to succeed, you must be competitive when, in fact, the opposite is true (even towards your “competitors”). Someone who is competitive and cut-throat is simply saying that they don’t trust in their own skills and talents.

If you are willing to help someone promote their business, they will do the same for you. In other words, what you put out you will get back in return. This principle has really been put to use in the new social networking world of Twitter. It is an example of the more you help others, the more you will receive in return.

There are so many ways in which we can help and encourage others. Here are some examples: a simple compliment, such as “Your ad in the paper looked great” or “I love your website”, making positive comments on others’ blog posts, offering others resources that were helpful to you, volunteering your services for free to a good cause, referring people, and being a patron of other people’s services. Helping others says that you are confident in yourself…and not to mention nice!

1. Gratitude
   

Being grateful for what you already have is the Number One way to bring in more of it. Say “Thank You” to yourself, others, mentors, angels, God, Universe, Source, and/or whoever you believe is a part of what has helped you to get and achieve what you have thus far. By doing so, more will come your way. This is essentially a high vibration affirmation.

1. Being Present
   

Living in the present moment is a phrase often used by those seeking a more zen way of life and/or enlightenment. But it is also a really great business practice. Your power is always in the present moment. When you align yourself with the present moment you have complete and total access to your own power. By “power” I mean your best skills, talents, and creativity. It is only when we look into the future that we become stressed, anxious, and fearful. For all that is meant for us to deal with in the present moment is just that…the present moment.

Because it is each small step (or moment) along our journey that makes up our life, the destination will only be as good as each of the moments that it encompasses. Eckhart Tolle profoundly describes this concept in A New Earth as follows:

“Everybody’s life really consists of small things. Greatness is a mental abstraction and a favorite fantasy of the ego. The paradox is that the foundation for greatness is honoring the small things of the present moment instead of pursuing the idea of greatness. The present moment is always small in the sense that it is always simple, but concealed within it lies the greatest power.”

So, try being present in each moment of your day, from sending emails to talking to prospective clients. You will be amazed at how much better your focus and productivity is.

1. Use Feng Shui
   

Many may think that the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui is only used in Eastern cultures, but major U.S. businesses and business executives such Donald Trump are applying its 3,000-year-old principles in their daily business dealings.

By simply rearranging your office space, you are energizing your business in a new way. The shifts of earth energy in conjunction with your own mental intention can change your business quickly and dramatically. The position and arrangement of your desk can make a profound impact. Read my article, Feng Shui Your Desk, for more information.

And for businesses with a store-front, feng shui can make the difference between attracting customers and deterring them. Simply do a google search for a wealth of free information.

1. Affirmations
   

An affirmation is a set of positive words or phrases repeated out loud, to yourself, or just set out in visual sight. The more the affirmation is repeated consecutively and over time, the more the subconscious is being programmed to believe it. For example, if you repeat an affirmation such as, “I attract abundance in all areas of my life,” your subconscious mind will take it as truth (as it has no filter) and the law of attraction will begin to bring you abundance.
You could consciously want more money, but your subconscious mind may be working on a different agenda, potentially sabotaged by old belief systems, implanted societal fear, or simple unworthiness. This is why it is so important to be conscious of our subconscious.

Using affirmations is a great way to re-program the subconscious mind to be more in alignment with what you consciously want in your life. The amount of time it takes will depend on how engrained the current belief system being re-programmed is in your subconscious.

For specific affirmations for abundance, read my article, 8 Affirmations for Abundance.

1. Being Receptive
   

We are often our own worst enemy. As much as we would like to blame others or the economy, the truth is we oftentimes just get in our own way. Many of us have belief systems that prevent us from abundance. For example, some believe that they don’t deserve abundance, that wealth is only reserved for certain people, or that money is the root of all evil. If you consciously choose to have any of these belief systems, then so be it. But some of you may unconsciously have these thoughts while, at the same time, confused as to why money isn’t coming your way.

So explore to see what belief systems you have surrounding money. You may be surprised. In order to receive, your must be open. For a clinched fist will never be able to receive anything. And don’t forget to be present… for something to fall into your lap, you must be still.

Also be open to where the sources of abundance may come. While your energies may be in one direction, the fruits of your labor may return to you from another direction. Be open. Be receptive. And, again, be present.

1. Make a Vision Board
   

A vision board is a powerful visualization tool that activates the Law of Attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality. The concept of the vision board, also known as a goal board or treasure map, has been around for generations, but has gained a renewed interest and popularity from the documentary, The Secret.

A vision board is a visual collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. To make one, simply get a poster, cardboard, or foam board, magazines, glue and/or tape, scissors, and a desire. Cut out images either exact or symbolic representations of the things that you want in your life or the things that you want to become. Paste them on your board and display it, preferably somewhere visible to you. In no time, you will be amazed at what you will attract into your life!

1. Use the Number “8″
   

It is no coincidence that I used the number “8″ for this article. Numbers are one of the oldest symbols in our collective conscious. Each number carries its own meaning, frequency, and energy. The number “8″ is the number for abundance.

In Numerology, anytime you have double or triple digits, add them up until you come to a single digit. For example, 107 = 8; 44 = 8, and 800 = 8. So take advantage of this built-in power. Incorporate it into your life. For example, price your services or products using this auspicious number. I even once lived in an 8-house that made me lots of money when I sold it. Be creative with it!

Conclusion

If you are not bringing in as much wealth and prosperity as you would like, then try incorporating some of these concepts into your daily practice. Sometimes there is no need to spend a fortune on advertising or expensive classes. Invest in your own personal power first. Afterall, you are your most important asset.

If you’ve thought about starting a meditation practice or tried to meditate and gave up, then this is the article for you. I went from being a left-brained business-minded attorney to a right-brained healer with meditation being my bridge. However, when I first started attempting to meditate, I found it extremely frustrating. That is, if I was able to sit there more than 10 minutes without my back hurting or my legs falling asleep. What most people do not realize is that meditation is an art. And all arts take practice. Saying that “I just can’t meditate” or “meditation doesn’t come natural for me” is like saying “I can’t draw” or “I have no artistic talent.” Sure, there are those people who are naturals at drawing, painting, playing a musical instrument, but most artists have learned techniques and practiced them over and over. They have practiced their art. And so it is with meditation. It takes practice.

You may ask why then should I put in the time to practice this art? Countless studies have shown that meditation has both short- and long-term benefits to brain structure and function. Specifically, the insula which connects the emotional center and thinking center, along with the amygdala, which is tied to the fight-or-flight impulses, actually change in form. Thus, meditators are more aware of what’s going on in their environment and thus more in control of their responses. Translation: People who meditate deal with stress much better and thus have fewer stress-related illnesses. Changing brain structure certainly does not happen overnight. It happens gradually over time after much practice.

Once you’ve made a decision to start practicing meditation, the first step is to designate a space. For tips on setting up a meditation space in your home, read 4 Steps to Create Your Personal Sanctuary. Having a designated space is, in my opinion, crucial. Ask any artist. They will tell you that a designated space to paint, write, cook, etc. is a necessity. The size of the space is not important, but privacy is. If you are unable to close off the space, then using a decorative screen to create a boundary is an option.

The next step is how to sit. This may seem pretty straight-forward unless and until you’ve tried it. Sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion or folded yoga blanket(s) is the most common “seat” for meditation. If you find that your back starts to hurt, then start out sitting against a wall or in an upright chair. If you can sit cross-legged with not much problem, I would recommend using a meditation cushion to prevent your legs from losing circulation and falling asleep. For me, I had been doing yoga for years which is a great preparation for meditation. (In fact, yoga was originally used for preparing for yoga by the ancient yogis.) Even so, it took me about 6 months until I could sit for 30 minutes without my back hurting. There are “meditation muscles” in your back that most likely have been dormant. So make as many adjustments as you need. You don’t need to sit like a monk in Tibet. But you do want your spine upright.

Once you have your space with a comfortable sitting position, the next step is the actual meditation. For any first-time meditator I recommend to start out listening to a guided meditation or meditation music using headphones (the bigger the better). Headphones not only help block out noises but create an inward world where it’s just you. In other words, your attention turns from the external world to your internal world. There are countless options for guided meditation. I am particularly picky about the guide’s voice and my personal preference is Deepak Chopra. So before you purchase something, listen to a sample to make sure you find the voice soothing and not annoying. As for meditation music, I prefer the technological entrainments that help balance the right and left brain. Anything with sudden noises, such as birds, cricket and thunder, I find very disruptive.

Whether you use a guided meditation, music, or go it alone with silence, the most important tip I can share is contrary to what any meditation source will tell you: For the first 5 minutes, let your mind run wild! Let it go wherever it wants. Set it free. Instead of fighting it, just let it go. Your mind will feel like wild horses having been cooped up for years. Free them. You’ll be amazed at what might come up. For me, I might recall a dream I had the night before, remember that I was supposed to call someone, or think about what I want to do that day. Once you’ve given your mind 5 minutes to basically flood itself (use a timer if you feel like you might get carried away), start to rein it in. And then start to quieten your mind. It will not be nearly as resistant now.

From here, bringing your focus to your breath is a good starting place. For the breath is always there in repetition. Counting breaths can be very effective, i.e. Inhale One, Exhale One, Inhale Two, Exhale Two. Start out trying to do this for ten counts without thinking about anything else. Sound easy? Give it a try. You may be surprised. Once you can make it to ten, do it to twenty, and so on. You are controlling the mind instead of the mind controlling you. This is the part of meditation that will take the most practice. It’s the golf swing of meditation. Not thinking about anything!

Each time you can quieten the mind, it will be easier the next time. Let it gradually build up over time. For example, you may start out for 10 minutes the first week; 15 minutes the next week; and so forth. Set reasonable goals. Don’t expect to be a master after one week or even one month. It took me well over a year before I got to a place I felt comfortable with, which for me was sitting in meditation blissfully for 30-45 minutes. The work that you put into your practice will be mirrored in your daily life. You will automatically start living more and more in the present moment. And then one day when your mind is completely quiet, you realize through a deep and profound feeling of knowingness that you are not your mind, but spirit. And this, in my opinion, is the most important benefit of yoga.

photo by Alicepopkorn.

 With little to no movement in the real estate market these days, it is more and more apparent that we must make the best of the space we are currently in.  And, in doing so, it is important to designate a space in your home for retreating, centering, and meditating.  In other words, create a personal sanctuary. 

 This space can be any size — from a 2’ x 2’ corner to the size of your yoga mat to an entire room. 

 Designating this space for your personal use is important because each time you sit there, you automatically know that it’s time to go inward.  It’s similar to the automatic response your body gets when it hears the word ‘savasana’ in yoga.  At first, it’s just nice to have a place to retreat.  Then, after a while, it becomes a necessary part of your day.  

On an energetic level, that space will carry the same energy which builds and builds over time allowing you to go deeper each time.  It is no wonder that it is much easier to meditate in an ashram… the energy of meditators over years has built up to the point you can step in and immediately feel peaceful.

Here are you few tips to create your personal sanctuary.

 1. Location
Again, size doesn’t matter.  However, privacy does.  Choose a place in your home where you will not be disturbed by people or pets.  If it is a shared space with another person or activity, then using a partition rug or screen is recommended.   

 2. Clean and De-clutter
Once you have chosen your location, clear everything out of it and clean the area of any dust, dirt, or residue.  Also clear it energetically with sage, or any other herbal cleanser of your choice, such as cedar or sweetgrass.  A clear space is a clear mind.

  3. Energize
Next determine what you want in your space.  Perhaps a yoga mat, meditation cushion or chair, blankets.  Make it comfortable so that you will want to spend time there.  An altar table, whether it is a cardboard box or an heirloom piece from India, is highly recommended.  In other words, you want to have a centering piece.  Make it an altar where only inspiring and precious objects are placed. 

4. Personalize
From here, add any items that reflect you and appeal to the five senses…
candles, incense, bells, gemstones, crystals, images, essential oils, affirmation cards, books, music.

Once you have created your personal sanctuary, sit, relax, stretch, breathe, read, enjoy tea, meditate, or do anything that so inspires you.  There are no rules!