It’s that time of year again. We weave our way through clogged traffic and congested stores at a way-too-hectic-pace. We over eat, over spend and over imbibe. We over stress and tend to deplete our precious resources of time, energy and even kindness. We walk a tightrope, balancing the joy of the season with the frenetic pace that it brings.

This is the season during which we in the health and wellness field write about how to manage the holiday eating extravaganzas, how to find time to get some meaningful movement in our day and how to make successful resolutions to overcome what we just did to our bodies.

Yes – Tis the Season..

But it’s also the season when millions of people around the world feel connected – to one another as well as to something that is both larger than themselves and within themselves.

I’m talking about Spirit.

I’m talking about Spirit in the context of Wellness. Those of you who have read my book, know that I compare wellness to a three-legged stool. Cultivating the mind and the body are two legs of the stool. Spirit is the third. Without Spirit, our wellness stool can never be fully functional.

I’m not making this stuff up!

There are stacks of research on this topic. What these researchers have learned is that folks who develop some kind of “spiritual” routine or process tend to be happier, to be calmer, to manage stress better, to heal more quickly - even to be less prone to dementia/Alzheimer’s.

Cultivating Spirit is about making a connection to what I call “your inner compass”. There are as many ways to do this as there are individuals. You may find your connection in meditation or spending time in nature. You may participate in a formal religious practice or you may connect by journaling, singing or chanting.

The key to realizing the health and wellness benefits of your personal practice is…..

Doing it.

Actually, there IS a bit more to it. You need to do your personal practice daily, and with mindful awareness.

What that means is to be present with your practice. Don’t allow outside interruptions during the time you’ve set aside to connect.

Once you’re in that space….

• Give yourself time
• Breathe
• Focus (on a thought - like love, peace, gratitude or health or process – like the breath itself)
• Allow yourself to experience your communion with your Inner Self

That’s it.

Seriously. It’s that simple.

So why not take advantage of this season? A season in which hearts can be more open, compassion can flourish, and your mind and body can merge with Spirit to help your whole-self thrive.

“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”

                                                                                         Deepak Chopra

Until next time,

Be well!

P.S. If you find this topic of interest to you, I encourage you to read more about the Mind Body Spirit connection in my book, From Overwhelmed to Inspired.