An important coping skill: time for yourself. It is important to set aside time every day to relax. Take a private mini-vacation from everything going on around you. How? One powerful method of unplugging from the world and plugging into “Source” is meditation.

We in the Western world so often reach OUT for comfort or guidance – to smart phones and other devices, to drugs or alcohol, to other people. However the truest place to turn for guidance and comfort is inward – to the core of ourselves, our soul. Meditation, as a way to turn inward, takes many forms: guided imagery, silence, mindfulness, transcendental (use of a mantra or repeated chant), Qi Gong, and more, and has been practiced for millennia by many cultures of the world.

The mental and physical stillness created by meditation is powerfully healing, allowing our body to relax and heal itself, the mind to stop its chatter, and the emotions to calm. Few other methods affect the mind and body as effectively, and meditation is a true mind/body/spirit practice.

Beginners to meditation may feel it is difficult to remain still for long. But as with any other new habit, practice trains the mind to relax into the stillness.  Even a few minutes a day can offer relief, but learning to remain still for as long as 30 or 60 minutes has optimal benefits.

Many people have also found that regularly stilling the mind can lead to increased intuition, focus and clarity, allowing them to feel more rested and alert. Do some internet research on different methods of meditation and try what feels right for you. Don’t give up after one attempt – regular practice can lead to great changes in your wellbeing!