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Nourish Your Soul

- by Julie Wininger

We all live our lives at a hectic pace. But we often find something is missing. Maybe it's time to take time out and find ways to nurture our soul. This is just a sampling of things you can do to find a little more inner peace. Choose what seems right for you.

  1. Create quiet time
  2. We are all busy. Important things like creating time for yourself should be scheduled along with your other priorities. Even just ten minutes of quiet, reflective time each morning can bring you more energy and stimulate new ideas.

     

  3. Take a bath by candlelight.
  4. Put on some relaxing music, light some scented candles and slip into a warm tub. Maybe try some aroma-therapy scents. Savor the feeling as the water caresses you and let that feeling wash away any stress or strain.

     

  5. Sing - Out Loud
  6. It doesn't matter if you think your voice can make wolves howl. Sing for yourself. Sing where only you can hear: in the shower, in your car. Sing from your heart. You'll be surprised at how good it makes you feel.

     

  7. Breathe deeply
  8. Most of us take relativity shallow breaths. Oxygen is essential to our muscles and our brain. When you take a breath, use your diaphragm, in other words, your belly should expand with the inhale and contract with the exhale. Practice sitting quietly and breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of ten, hold for a couple of seconds, then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of ten. Repeat five times each morning or anytime you feel stress.

     

  9. Take time to watch the sunset.
  10. God paints breathtaking scenes in the sky. Each night a different masterpiece is on display for our enjoyment. Write a reminder in your appointment book or set an alarm to trigger you to take a break and enjoy the vision.

     

  11. Keep a Gratitude Journal
  12. Write down five things each day that you are grateful for. These can be simple things like having lunch with a friend, or completing a task. Concentrating on what you are grateful for rather than on things that went wrong will create a lasting happy outlook on life.

     

  13. Create a Circle of Kindness
  14. Allow that other car to merge into your lane. Let someone with just a few groceries go ahead of you in line. You'll be amazed at how good it makes you feel. Also, this action often creates a 'circle of kindness' and that karma may come back to you when you need it most.

     

  15. Celebrate Nature
  16. If you can't get away to hike in the hills or walk in the surf, take the time to appreciate a beautiful flower, or the rays of the sun streaming though a break in the clouds. Watch a leaf dance to the rhythm of a breeze or a dog wag its tail in unconditional love. Take your lunch to the park and feed the ducks. Take off your shoes and walk barefoot in the grass.

     

  17. Let go of the past
  18. Stop punishing yourself and others for things done in the past. This doesn't mean you should condone bad behavior. But continually dwelling on anger or resentment punishes you more than the other person. Let go and move on.

     

  19. Live in the moment

Pay attention to what you are doing at the moment. The past is a memory, the future has yet to arrive. Today is what we have. Each day we can wake up and start fresh. While on your commute to work, appreciate the way the shadows play across the road. While sitting at a stop sign, notice the birds soaring through the sky. While waiting in line at the store, practice your deep breathing techniques. Treasure each moment of each day.

These are just some of the ways to help you find inner peace and joy. Why Not try a few.

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