Give yourself and your loved ones the best gift of all by focusing on the magic and true spirit of the holiday season. Often busyness, expectations and multitasking eclipse the essence of the holidays. Savor the holiday season and create new memories.

Here are 10 ways to maximize this merry month:

1. Take care of yourself. You’ll have more good energy to share with others. Schedule time for rest, bubble baths, walks, and writing in your journal. A little self-nurturing can go a long way.
2. Slow down. Focus on deepening connections with friends and family instead of filling your time with meaningless errands and stuff.
3. Think gratitude. Thank those who have helped or supported you throughout the year. A visit, personal note or phone call can be really make a difference in communicating your appreciation and strengthening a relationship.
4. Focus on the good in others. Recognize the unique gifts that each of your friends and family members bring to your life.
5. Be patient. During the holiday season it is sometimes easy to let the lines, traffic, parking and other situations irritate us. Rather than getting aggravated, take some deep breaths and be in the moment.
6. Forgive someone who disappointed or hurt you. Remember forgiving another benefits you more than the person who let you down. In fact, forgiveness is one of the keys to happiness.
7. Practice random acts of kindness. Help those less fortunate and reach out to whomever – just because.
8. Celebrate your accomplishments. Take time with your family and your friends to revel in whatever good fortune you’ve had as you usher in another holiday season.
9. Eat smart. Yummy foods abound during this time of year. Appreciate the bounty and enjoy. You can still stay conscious of your choices and portion control.
10. Don’t worry. Be happy!!!

Wishing you all a safe, happy, love-filled holiday season.

With love and inspiration,

Recently at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health I had the opportunity to attend a three-day workshop presented by Rick Hanson, author of Buddha’s Brain. As many know, particularly those in the world of psychology, there is much documented evidence indicating that we can change our brains from a negative perspective to a more optimistic one by developing certain skills. Changing or reshaping the brain is known as neuroplasticity. The fact that we have the capacity to reshape our brains means we have the power within us to lead happier and more optimistic lives. This is indeed good news.

The bad news is as Dr. Hanson pointed out is that, “The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones. The natural result culminates in an increasing residue of emotional pain, pessimism, and numbing inhibition in our memory banks.”

Most of us expend a considerable amount of thought and energy focusing on the negative or potentially negative events in our lives. Focusing on the negative strengthens the part of the brain that  creates generalizations and we interpret old and new experiences in a negative light. According to Dr. Rick Hanson our brains have a “negativity bias.” This suggests that we continually scan the environment looking for the negative, which in turn shapes our minds, resulting in depressed and anxious moods, anger and overreactions.

But (we’re back to the good news) just as we have the capacity to strengthen our negative perspective on things, so too do we possess the ability to fortify the part of the brain that is responsible for positive thought. Even though most of us have internalized the negative bias, positive thoughts can also generalize in the brain. The neural circuitry of memory occupies the heart of the mechanism responsible for changing the brain. If we can learn how to generate and internalize positive experiences into the brain and the self, we can establish greater resilience, optimism, happiness, and better relationships.

Since our thoughts have the power to reshape our brains, it behooves us to learn the skills that are most likely to lead us to a positive perspective. When practiced regularly, certain exercises will help foster a change in brain circuitry and make us happier.

The more conscious we are about perceiving an event as being good or ‘good enough’ the more this perception will generalize to other parts of our brain. However, just having positive experiences is not enough, as these sentiments tend to pass fleetingly through the brain while negative experiences are more tenacious. We must actively work to integrate positive experiences into the brain, in order for the beneficial effects to endure. The question remains, “How do I do this?”

Dr. Hanson teaches a simple visualization exercise, which he refers to as “Taking in the Good.” Although there are many other strategies, I found his method for weaving positive emotions into the brain to be quite compelling. He suggests that this visualization process be practiced routinely, until the effects are noticed and so forth.

How to Take in the Good

The idea is to take in the good in a relaxed state and savor these experiences. The more this is practiced the more deeply ingrained the positive will become.

1.  Look for positive facts and traits about your self and your life. Broaden them to become positive experiences (i.e. a great conversation with a friend, a good night’s sleep, an unexpected compliment).

2.  Savor the positive experience or memory of the experience and sustain it for about 30 seconds. Allow yourself to feel it in your mind and body. Keep bringing your attention back to the experience when your mind wanders. Intensify the feeling and be with that for another 30 seconds. Practice several times in succession.

3.  As you feel this positive, truthful fact allow it to soak into the recesses of your mind and body. Marc Lewis and other researchers have shown that the longer something is held in conscious awareness, the more neurons that fire and thus wire together, and the stronger the trace in memory. The idea is to continue building a positive collection of experiences into the brain. This will cast an optimistic perspective on other experiences and will penetrate the unconscious mind.

Practice “Taking in the Good” and truly appreciating positive experiences and notice how you feel. This may be a bit challenging at first; it gets easier with practice. Remember this is about being kind to yourself and cultivating positive resources in your mind.

Please let me know if you have any questions about how to “Take in the Good.”  Your comments are welcomed.

Rachel developed gratitude in the face of personal loss. She learned one of the secrets to becoming happier and more optimistic. Rachel changed the way she perceived herself and others by incorporating a greater sense of appreciation into her daily life.

She found herself going to bed each night feeling a sense of loss, anger and loneliness. Rachel recently ended her three-year relationship with her charming and quite handsome live-in boyfriend after discovering through a trusted girlfriend that Richard had been repeatedly unfaithful. Everyone seemed to know but Rachel.

Shame seeped into her everyday experience. Shallow and interrupted sleep left Rachel exhausted each day and was interfering with her work. She became more irritable and less able to focus on her role as a physical therapist.

Talking therapy helped her to understand more about the men she chooses. She began to see the patterns of her behavior. Rachel serially dated men that reminded her of her father, who had a long history of cheating. Her parents bitterly divorced when she was about 13 years old.

Now 33 years old, Rachel finally grasped how she was searching for someone like her father, but with whom she hoped she could have a happier ending. What she discovered was that she needed to broaden her horizons and not be so fast to reject men that did not immediately grab her attention in that old familiar way.

She told me that she often found herself feeling angry and cheated. This attitude ran interference with Rachel’s ability to connect in her relationships with men and women. She experienced little appreciation for the good in her life.

I suggested that she keep a gratitude journal. Rachel already kept a journal where she recorded her feelings and the events of the day. This gratitude journal would be intended only for writing down those events of the day for which she felt grateful. The object was for Rachel to diminish her anger and resentment and develop a greater sense of appreciation.

Gratitude is an integral part of a healthy life and sense of well-being. Rachel was loosing herself in her own negativity. Developing a stronger sense of gratitude is one of the key factors towards creating more happiness in one’s life.

She wrote in her gratitude journal nightly about 3-5 experiences for which she found a positive angle. Over time she found herself feeling more optimistic, happy, open-minded and less resentful. Rachel felt a greater sense of connectedness and wanted to spend more time with friends. She also noticed a qualitative difference in her sleep.

After several months of our conversations and writing in her gratitude journal, Rachel was back to a healthier social life. She felt like she had truly developed a deeper sense of gratitude. This time she moved more slowly and thoughtfully as she went out on dates. She also found herself feeling more appreciative of her friendships and her ability to take care of herself.

What are you grateful for today?

Linda, a 42 year old attorney with two young boys, felt guilt and disappointment both on the job and at home. She never quite felt that she was where she needed to be at any given time. For all of her accomplishments, she felt like a failure as a lawyer and as a mother. She strove for perfection in all facets of her life, but now was finding that juggling motherhood and her professional life made this impossible. The standards that Linda set for herself were unattainable and therefore an innate form of sabotage.

She made little time for her own self-care and felt exhausted all the time. Linda ran from home to work and back home again. The multitasking and quest for perfection was taking a toll on her physical and emotional self. Linda also began to isolate herself from her friends as she could not justify taking the time to make plans. Everything and everyone became a distraction, taking her away from her children and work. She began suffering from headaches and displayed early symptoms of depression.

Perfectionism is the belief that mistakes cannot be made and that the highest standards of performance in all aspects of one’s life must consistently be met. It is a state of mind where there exists an imbalance between one’s standards of success and the ability to achieve success. Worry, fear, guilt and self-doubt usually weave their way into the mind of the perfectionist. The pressure of this self-imposed demand can take a severe toll, mentally and physically.

Characteristics of a perfectionist

• Sets unrealistic goals and standards
• Views mistakes personally–as a lack of self-worth
• Preoccupation with fear of failure depletes energy levels
• Interprets comments and suggestions as criticism
• Tends to be rigid in behavior styles and afraid to experiment with the unfamiliar due to fear of failure
• Constantly frustrated, since perfection is unattainable which can lead to anxiety and depression

How to manage the frustrations of the perfectionist

• Set standards in one’s personal and professional life that are high but attainable; aim for your best performance, rather than perfection. Remember setting perfection, as a goal is invariably a setup for failure.
• Listen to suggestions and remind yourself that comments are your opportunities for growth and expanded learning potential.
• Understand and if possible accept that disappointment is unavoidable, the faster you recover from setbacks, the faster you can move forward on your goals.
• Learn some mindfulness techniques to allow you to be more fully in the present, without having to go back in you mind to old voices in your past, reminding you of your inadequacies.
• Practice affirmations to train your mind that you can accomplish your goals and dreams and although the outcome may not be perfect, it can be “good enough.” Satisfaction can be derived from “good enough.”
• Learn to live in the moment and enjoy the experiences along the way that lead to the accomplishment of your goals. Allow you to “stop and smell the roses.” This can help you stay grounded in your wish for success.
• Remain flexible when it comes to unexpected transition and change because it is likely going to occur.
• Celebrate accomplishments.

Linda’s need for perfection came from early childhood messages. I listened to her story carefully and then reinforced that she had to give up this unrealistic fantasy of perfection. If not she would remain frustrated and unhappy. “This is the age of the death of perfection.” I assured her. It is a time in the evolution of women to adapt and integrate a kinder and gentler self-perception. The notion of the “good enough mother” or the “good enough lawyer” does not suggest that we compromise our integrity and commitment to our jobs, but rather that we embrace the multidimensional roles of our lives fully and authentically.

Eventually Linda found relief in the notion of being “good enough” and gradually gave up the notion of perfection. She found herself enjoying her family and work life once she eased up on the self-criticism and adapted an attitude of greater self-love.

Would love to know any tips you have for being less self-critical.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

While most of us were celebrating the July 4th weekend with friends and family, barbecuing, watching fireworks and ushering in the summer, a teenage girl was brutally murdered. The chilling death of 18-year-old Lauren Astley appears to have been at the hands of her former 18-year-old boyfriend, Nathaniel Fujita. Both teens come from Wayland, Massachusetts, which I often refer to as “Pleasantville”–simply because nothing much seems to happen here. Our little enclave feels like a safe haven from the rest of the world. The last murder in Wayland occurred over 25 years ago.

Lauren and Nate were both fine students, athletic, well rounded and headed off to good colleges in the fall. Now all bets are off. Lauren has been laid to rest, Nate is in prison without bail awaiting the next steps and a community reels in pain. Anguish, helplessness and despair pervade our little town.

The light in this tragedy is that people are stepping up to support each other as we attempt to make sense out of this horrific loss. We have lost not one but two of our collective children–every parent’s greatest nightmare. Vigils and meetings at the schools, churches, synagogue, and town hall have brought people together so they can talk, process and grieve.

There are no words that suffice at a time like this; the wound is still gaping. Tears continue to flow and Lauren’s senseless murder has forever changed the fabric of our community. Coming together, sharing thoughts and feelings helps us heal and move away from the darkness.

Traumatic loss reminds us of the frailty of human life as well as the impact of the people left behind. Violent death poses a unique challenge to the bereaved and produces unexpected aftershocks.

What can be done in the face of traumatic loss?

•Come together in (formal and informal) groups to talk about the event, feelings and fears. Hearing the collective voices of pain over a loss can help to minimize the agony of suffering alone.

•Tap into spiritual resources–prayer can be especially powerful during times of grief, as can be the support of religious sanctuaries.

•Find a way to make a difference, by acknowledging and supporting others in pain.

•Foster the development of healing stories in the face of loss. As Lauren’s mother described, whenever she looks into the night’s sky, the brightest, twinkling star will be her reminder of her beautiful, charismatic girl.

•Remember the healing process for traumatic grief can be a lengthy and chaotic process. We need to understand that everyone experiences grief and healing in different ways. It is crucial that we give ourselves and each other the time and space to heal at our own pace.

Our community continues to create groups, which facilitate meaningful conversations and togetherness. This is indeed the loss of innocence for a generation of youths in the Wayland community. Our collective caring and support for one another will ultimately ease the excruciating pain and leave us stronger and more connected.

Please leave your comments or suggestions about managing a traumatic death.

My relationship with my father was complex. I sometimes wondered what I would say upon his death. Perhaps I would say nothing or perhaps I would blurt out all those things I never dared to express to him directly. Two weeks ago today my father died unexpectedly. Convoluted and tumultuous feelings continue to swirl through my mind and body–there is an ebb and flow and the occasional tsunami of emotion.

In the end I found it to be both healing and instructive to write some of my thoughts down that I said before my friends and family at his Shiva. I chose to mindfully honor my father and the life he lived. What guided me in my search for the right words was being authentic and recognizing the man he was. The power of forgiveness, the potency of journal writing and the strength of my support system helps me through this challenging time.

This is my eulogy to my father. May he rest in peace.

My Father–Paul “Giggy” Kamen

My father was a powerful, charismatic and complicated man.

As a boy he was uprooted from an anti-Semitic Kansas City, Missouri to Hightstown, NJ.–when my grandfather decided it was time to work the soil and get back to basics. My father, his six siblings and my babushka wearing grandmother, moved to the farm–125 acres of crops, chickens, cows and a horse or two.

At seventeen my father snuck out of the second floor window of his farmhouse and left that farm with little more than the shirt on his back. As he often said, “He never looked back.” No way was his life going to be about milking cows and tending to chickens.

He took tremendous pride in being able to take care of himself under any circumstances. He was self–educated and the quintessential self–made man. As he stepped away from the butter and egg business, to my mother’s family decorating business, to a successful career in real estate, he always looked ahead toward the next challenge.

Some time before exiting the farm, he met my mother at a summer camp that rented space from my grandfather’s farm. Later, when he made his way to New York City he took my mother out for a couple of dates. Nothing much came of it–until one day he heard that my mother’s father fell off the garage while making roof repairs and died instantly before my mother’s eyes.

He rushed over with an armload of groceries to help out and somehow this tragedy brought them together. They married on Christmas Day in 1947 during the worst blizzard of the century and almost no one showed up. They remained together for more than 50 years until my mother’s untimely death in 1998.

My father worked hard. He had guts, good instincts and big goals. He provided well for his family. Taking his cues from my mother, we traveled extensively, became well–educated and had many rich cultural experiences.

My father loved to argue any side of any subject and was always quick to invite debate, “argument for its own sake” he called it. He possessed a hungry and penetrating mind. He loved numbers, games and most importantly the art of the deal. Competition ran through his veins and winning made things all the better. His passion for business, sports and bridge is where he found his greatest solace.

Everything he did was self-taught and he taught himself well.

My father did not often show a tender side, except when it came to my children, Amy and later Max. He loved to hold each of them as babies. On certain occasions Amy would cry inconsolably. My father would gently rock her in his arms until she fell asleep. He would let her remain in the safety of his arms for long stretches of time. The same was true when Max came along.

Only in the last few years did he become able to tell me and my three siblings that he loved us, that he was proud of our accomplishments and the people we had become.

On Monday, his doctor suggested that he check into the hospital because of his chest pains. But, no! Being his usual stubborn self, he would not hear of it. He had a bridge tournament later that night which he refused to miss. He never did make it.

Last night after Friday evening services at Shir Tikvah we went home to pick up some things from our deconstructed house, before heading back to the hotel where Martin and I have been living for the last two weeks. In the mailbox was a belated birthday card addressed to Amy from my father. It was postmarked March 28th–the day of his death. His last thoughts were about his grandchildren. In the card he also sent his love to us all of us–which he underscored. I believe this was his way of saying good–bye.

Roberta tragically lost her father in a freak accident when she was eighteen years old. Her mother took the reins and controlled Roberta’s life by making her stay at home and work for the family business, rather than going off to college as planned. To escape her mother’s firm grip, Roberta married at the age of twenty and began her family. Five children later Roberta found herself depressed and lonely, although she loved her family. She neglected herself except on rare occasions and secretly felt like a failure. When her ‘baby’ was about to go off to the college of her dreams, Roberta finally decided to get some outside help. Over time she realized that she had traded in her mother for a controlling husband. Her self-esteem was damaged, but salvageable. Roberta needed to become aware of her inner feelings around loss and neglect and find her true voice. In addition, she had to learn how to create healthy boundaries with her husband and how to take better care of herself physically and emotionally.

Healthy self-esteem is central to emotional well-being. It is the way a person perceives herself and her personal value. It is the core belief that you are competent, resourceful and resilient in the face of life’s challenges.

Some characteristics of a woman with low self-esteem

• She operates out of fear and an inability to step up to the demands of challenging situations.
• She does not feel worthy or deserving of happiness, even when she acts like she does.
• She compares herself to others and does not measure up.
• She fears rejection in her relationships.
• She does not feel worthy and often does not take good care of herself except in superficial ways.
• She personalizes the feedback of others, even when it is well intended.
• Her external actions and behaviors don’t match her inner beliefs about herself which makes matters worse.

Some characteristics of person with positive self-esteem

• She believes she is a worthy person and deserves to be happy.
• She has confidence in her ability to think things through.
• She respects herself and expect others to do so as well.
• She knows that her value is not measured by her material possessions.
• Her relationships tend to be strong because she feels good about herself and she values these connections.
• She exhibits confidence in her ability to offer something unique to other people–herself.
• She internalizes constructive criticism without personalizing, thereby deepening her capacity for growth.
• She likely experiences success personally, professionally and relationally.

Making yourself conscious of your internal feelings is the first step toward boosting your self-esteem.

Strategies for Boosting Self-esteem

1.  Focus what’s good in your life – the things that make your life worthwhile. Rather than accepting and dwelling on negative experiences, find ways to see the positive angle in your experiences.

2.  Meditate: Meditate to connect you with your inner wisdom, strength and well-being.

3.  Discover the qualities that you like about yourself. Think about things about yourself that draw your friends and family to you i.e. your creativity, generosity, integrity, communication skills and your ability to care for the welfare of others.

4.  Learn to change your inner critic from a negative, criticizing voice into a positive voice that offers constructive guidance. Use affirmations to help you change negative self-talk. Remind yourself that you are already worthy and deserve to be happy.

5.  Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments. Start appreciating what works. Small accomplishments create the pathway for bigger accomplishments.

6.  Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. When you surround yourself with negative people, you are more likely to think negatively. Similarly when you surround yourself with positive and supportive people, you are more likely to think optimistically and feel good about yourself.

7.  Keep a gratitude journal. When you start paying attention to all the good in your life, you are likely to feel more grateful and better about you self.

8.  Resist comparing yourself to others. There will always be people that have more than you and less than you. Focus on what is yours and how to make the best of it.

9.  Turn your home into a haven where you can escape the busy, hectic world. Surround yourself with music, books, art, friends and a space that makes you feel good.

10. Learn to let go and forgive yourself for not being perfect. Perfection is a setup for failure.

What strategies do you use when your self-esteem needs a boost?

Painting by Alison Seiffer

Julia, a dental assistant in a local dentist’s office has a distinct twinkle in her eye that never fails to light up a room. That is, until February hits. Something happens in the cold, dark months in New England that slowly builds within Julia. Perhaps it is Seasonal Affective Disorder, although she has never been formally diagnosed. It’s as if she hits the wall for the midwinter months and then by late in April she slowly begins to emerge from her cocoon. Julia is in good company with those among us coming undone in February and suffering from the “winter blues.”

Holidays well behind us now, the snow plows this year in perpetual motion, a general malaise seems to have settled throughout New England. Unless you’ve managed to get up to ski country, it’s easy to go into hiding. The roads are difficult to navigate and who wants to leave the warmth and safety of their abodes, unless it is to bask in the sun some place far, far away.

What I observe in my office and among my friends is that this is the time of year when depression typically sets in for many – with or without Seasonal Affective Disorder. Complaints like lethargy, flu-like symptoms, lack of concentration, weight gain, stress, anxiety and increased pain issues abound.

It takes determination and commitment to win the battle against the “winter blues,” but it can be done. Taking certain proactive steps can counteract the doldrums and despondency that this season sometimes brings.

Here are ten strategies that are guaranteed to guide you back to a place of balance, well-being and heightened energy.

1. Start your day with a positive affirmation. Create a simple, positive statement that resonates with you about yourself, your family, or your work that you can resort to as you move through the day. Remember your higher purpose, rather than focusing on the annoyances of the day. Think about the big picture. For example, “I feel balanced, blessed and happy.” When negative thoughts come up, reframe them with a more optimistic perspective. Positivity is a skill that can be learned with regular practice.

2. Build exercise into your day: a brisk walk, floor exercises, a swim, dancing in the living room, watching a yoga tape, visiting the gym. Movement will keep you warm as you feel good energy flowing.

3. Practice a meditation or relaxation exercise. Ten to twenty minutes of meditation or relaxation changes you psychologically and physiologically. It’s one of the most concentrated actions you can take to feeling more centered, focused and happier. If you don’t want to meditate, then build in some extra down time, since the winter can be more demanding on your body physically.

4. Spend some time with a friend(s). If you cannot get together physically, then catch up with a friend on the phone, skype or some form of social media. Face-to-face contact is best, but connecting via any mode of communication trumps isolation. You might also consider enlisting a friend’s support in following through with some of these strategies.

5. Maintain a healthy diet. White sugar and white flour products can seem quite comforting on these dark and cold days. However, foods that are devoid of nutrients tend to zap your energy level and can affect your mood and ability to concentrate. It is better to stabilize your blood sugar levels and go for the fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lots of water and foods rich in Vitamin D.

6. Get sunshine whenever possible. Try to get some sunshine (again Vitamin D) and fresh air when possible. Sunlight releases neurotransmitters, which positively affect mood and feelings of well-being. On sunny days you might consider cranking up the heat in the car and keeping the sunroof open, even if just for a few minutes at a time; the cold air can be quite exhilarating.

7. Embrace the beauty of the winter season. Perhaps take up snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or buy crampons for the bottom of your shoes so that you can safely walk outside. Once you find a way to enjoy the season, you will find it not only easier to tolerate, but you may begin to appreciate the magnificence of a cold, crisp wintry day!

8. Make a fire at home and get cozy. If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, make a ritual of snuggling up with a book or game with friends or family and enjoy the cozy time. You can relax and not feel as pressured to be outside as sometimes happens when there’s warm weather in New England.

9. Engage in flow activities. Flow activities are any activities that you find pleasurable in which you lose track of time. For example: singing, dancing, painting, yoga, writing, long walks, nature, photography, connecting with friends. These activities help enliven the spirit and bring you back into a state of equilibrium and happiness.

10. Focus on the big picture. What are your priorities? Are you moving forward with the realization of your priorities? Everyday that you put energy into A-list goals and don’t fritter the time away sweating the small stuff, you bring yourself a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Finding balance and happiness is about making your day, even in the dead of winter, by combining all of the elements that make you feel good physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

What do you do to take pleasure out of the winter months?

Waking up in the morning to a clean, de-cluttered space brings me a sense of balance and happiness. Even when my children were young I managed to maintain a space where I could sit, if only for a few precious moments and enjoy the calm and peace of a minimalist space.

Of course we all know that life is messy business and cannot really be controlled. There are however ways to make daily life less stressful. Getting rid of extra stuff is one of the keys to diminishing stress.

Simplifying Life

Simplifying your life means doing what you enjoy or being with the people you love and eliminating whatever gets in the way of feeling good. Getting to simplicity is about discovering what truly has value to you and getting rid of the rest. The de-clutter journey liberates the mind and spirit and frees your energy for deeper levels of fulfillment.

The more stuff you acquire, the more time and attention you need to expend caring for and managing that stuff. Taking stock of what is most important to you and eliminating the rest is the essence of the simplification process.

We accumulate material objects for a variety of reasons:

• Sentimental value; memories associated with a lost loved one
• Believing our lives will be happier and more fulfilling
• Feeling more valued ourselves for having more stuff
• Experiencing peer pressure to keep up materially
• Inability to let go; feeling a personal connection with belongings
• Thinking someday the objects will fill a need

The clutter that continues to build in your world creates chaos and anxiety, which can be alleviated by making some changes in your daily routine. When the space you live and work in is pared down and organized, you will feel more in control and able to focus on the things that matter most to you in life.

10 Ideas to Simplify Your Life

• Make a list of your top 5 priorities in your life.
• Evaluate your daily schedule and commitments. Eliminate whatever doesn’t line up with your priorities.
• Consider the appointments and commitments you make. Are they in alignment with your values?
• Think about all the stuff in your life that feels irrelevant or superfluous, and start clearing the decks i.e. donating books, clothes, utensils.
• Pare down your wardrobe. Eliminate clothing that doesn’t make you feel good and confident.
• Spend more time with friends and less time in the stores. You’ll be happier.
• Create morning and evening rituals. Your life will feel not only feel more in control with rituals, but you might also notice that you have more energy in the morning and better sleep as night.
• Find a regular time to de-clutter. Make it a routine, as it’s a process, not a destination.
• Learn the feeling of having enough, so you are not trapped in the perpetual cycle of wanting, seeking and getting.
• Make sure you are doing at least one of your top priorities daily.

Please leave your comments about other ideas you have for simplifying your life.