How to Find What We Truly Want [SPOILER ALERT: It's Not Stuff]

Now that we've completed the shopping/eating/drinking/traveling/celebrating/action-packed over-the-top-ism that is the United States during the holidays, what has it gotten us?

Case in point: I happened to be in the local Pier One at 8 am on December 24th—Christmas Eve, mind you—and the staff was putting out the Valentine's Day merchandise. Seriously.

Life here in the Bay Area can feel like a relentless cycle of MORE: work, responsibilities, driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, rushing, and failing to feel ok about any of it (that's on a good day!). If we can't find respite and solace in what's offered by mainstream culture—and increasingly it seems we can't—perhaps we should consider a radically different approach to managing the experience of our lives: the practices of meditation and mindfulness.

We can find more time for ourselves by intentionally creating it—through mindfulness practice.

For example, how does this sound to you?

• Improve your resiliency under stress

• Decrease anxiety and insomnia

• Reduce negative self-focus and endless rumination

• Increase your focus and sustained attention

• Cultivate compassion for others

• Improve health markers like reduced inflammation, blood pressure, stress hormones

Isn't this what we truly want?

I can tell you: it's easy to get. Doesn't cost much. It's simple to learn.

Research demonstrates how powerful mindfulness practice can be in all these aspects and more.

All it takes is choosing to try it, and some effort to practice. In my experience with students and clients, most people start to enjoy the benefits immediately.

There are a plethora of resources available locally and online for learning these modalities.

Check out my Programs page for a few of the solutions I teach.

Wishing You a Peaceful 2018!