1. Be aware of your intake with Television, the news feeds our fear instinct and many prime-time shows are feeding violence and discord. I am not saying never watch TV, just be aware of how much you watch, and which shows you choose. Television is one source of food that we feed our psyche.

Suggestion: Work on nourishing your mind with passion projects at least 2 nights a week instead of watching TV.

  1. Practice mindfulness meditation. Meditation is easy, you can’t do it wrong, there is nothing weird, hocus-pocus, or new age about it. Mindfulness meditation is based in psychology and science, anyone can do it. With mindfulness the goal is self-understanding. In meditation we quiet the thinking mind so that we can see beneath the constant, unconscious chatter, that fills our minds. We go to the gym to work out our bodies which helps us stay physically healthy. Mindfulness is the gym for our brains. Meditation helps our minds to stay healthy by integrating all aspects of our being, so we are functioning as a whole human, rather than having some fragmented or disjointed parts in our psyche.

For ease, I will describe a basic mindfulness meditation for you to explore. Pick an amount of time that works for you. I suggest 5 to 20 minutes to start. Find a comfortable upright posture, straight back but not rigid. If your comfortable closing your eyes, close them; if not, leave your eyes open with a soft downward gaze. When you are sitting, first notice your body and any feelings and sensations that may come up. Just feel them with curious awareness—tingles in my feet, warmth in my hands, stiffness in my leg, etc. After you settle in begin to look at your breath. Some people follow the breath right where the air comes into their nose. Others following the breath at the back of the throat, and some use the rise and fall of their belly—choose wherever the breath is most predominant for you, and let this point be your anchor, your home base. While you are concentrating on your breath you will notice that your mind will start to wander.  It’s no big deal, that’s what minds do, when you realize you’re lost in thought, gently remind yourself to come back to your breath. Mindfulness takes effort but it’s a gentle effort; realizing that you are lost in thought or story and coming back to you breathe. It’s that simple.

If you prefer to listen to a guided meditation, there are many resources on-line, Insight Timer is a great resource, or use one of the guided meditations available on my web site. https://www.jacquelynrinaldi.com/guided-meditation/

Suggestion: Try committing to mindfulness every day for 30 days without judging your progress or the outcome. Sit for whatever amount of time works for you and do your best to do it every day.

  1. Write a gratitude journal. Every day write down four or five things you are feeling grateful for, or if you’re up for it, write one whole page of gratitude in your journal. Try not to be automatic, don’t list the same things every day. The practice of gratitude is to get into the feeling of your gratitude, so each thing you are writing down feels alive or moves you in some way.

 

  1. Take time to walk or enjoy nature. It could be as simple as noticing the flowers as you walk to the mailbox. Maybe you decide to go for a walk around the block, maybe a hike, or a bike ride. Notice what it feels like to step or peddle your bike. Notice what it feels like to breath the fresh air. Notice the flowers and the plants. Notice the sounds, the birds, the dogs, the cars, whatever comes. Just make time for this moment and use nature to slow your attention down by connecting with the simple beauty that lives all around us. Bask in the beauty of this moment, right now.

 

  1. Make it a practice to do one compassionate act every day. It doesn’t have to be big; it can be as simple as holding the door open for the person walking in behind you. Just be conscious and intentional as you offer your act of compassion for the day—set out with the intent to find an opportunity where compassion is needed. Don’t tell the person or bring attention to yourself for your kindness just let it sit within your heart and feel the warmth that arises from your compassion.

Suggestion: Commit to doing all 5 of these things for next 30 days without judging your progress or outcome.

 

Do you have other ideas or practices that you use for cultivating well-being? I’d love to hear them! Please email me or reply to this blog.

May you feel peace and ease in life. May light shine on your path. May you become all you are intended to be.