Peace.  What does that mean to you?  Is it silence?  Is it a day off to spend however you want?  Maybe peace is just your morning latte?  Whatever your peace is – it is important to remember how to invoke that feeling whenever you are in the face of stressors.

With schedules what they are, media overload, demands of families and loved ones, it is easy to forget ourselves and yield to things outside of ourselves.  When we succumb to things that pull us away from our core calm, we then can fall prey to bad habits, declining health and disengagement from the people and things that count.

So, how do we get back to our “happy place” when we are in times of stress?  It really begins with embracing the moments when we are at peace and practicing mindfulness.  Paying attention to all of our feelings when we are relaxed.  Take in all of the sights, sounds, smells and be present in that moment.  The stronger the experience when having that moment of peace, the easier it will be to recall that feeling whenever the situation calls for it.

How do you fit this in the already busy schedule? Easy.  There are things that happen everyday that can have a slight modification and will help you practice being in the moment and mindfulness. When eating, go someplace quiet, turn off the TV and sit alone.  Smell your food.  Look at it and pay attention to the size of the bite you are about to take. Chew slowly and savor the flavors. Make a note of how it feels to chew and enjoy your food.  Count to three before taking the next bite.  Repeat the process until you have finshed your meal.  It may take you 15 more minutes to eat – but you are EATING!  You are feeding your body the nutrients it will need to get you through the day or replenishing the nutrients you spent.  You deserve to be nourished.

What good is that little exercise?  Besides giving yourself about 30 minutes of silence, it allows you to be mindful of your actions and pay attention to what you are doing.  It was an exercise to stop “just going through the motions”of your day and s-l-o-w d-o-w-n! This will also help you be IN THE MOMENT the next time you have your moment of peace.  It teaches you to pay attention to your body, your mind, your actions, your surroundings and your feelings.  When you have  an awareness of yourself – you have an awareness when you are not at peace and you have an awareness of when and how to bring yourself back to a peaceful state.