Our patients are often instructed to start practicing meditation, and very often, after only a few days, they tell me it does not feel as relaxing as they expected. And I am not surprised, because the practice of meditation itself is not relaxing. That might sound strange, so let us go deeper into the dialogue between meditation and stress. The first thing to understand is the difference between the practice of meditation and the meditative state of mind. The practice, especially for beginners, can be quite stressful. When you try to quiet your mind, the first thing you encounter is just how noisy it really is. That is why beginners often feel more agitated, not calmer. It is no different than going to the gym for the first time. You feel the pain before you feel the strength. But as one deepens into the practice and starts living meditation rather than doing meditation, the experience changes. Zen meditation, in particular, brings us into the here and now. Over time, it helps us step out of the noise of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow. Gradually, life becomes quieter, not because everything around us changes, but because our inner dialogue does. And beyond relaxation, meditation offers something even more valuable: choice. Zen meditation is a way to gain control of your mind, to choose what, when, and how long to think about something. The peace that comes with it is the bonus, not the goal. 💬 Have you reached that stage yet, where meditation is no longer a task but a source of peace?

When going through a shift in our health and habits, we always have two choices. 1. We can either choose to be the change that we know is good for us 2. Or we can choose to fight it, doing what we must while resisting every step of the way. The first choice puts our mind in a creative, positive state. It looks for solutions and opportunities. The second keeps us in fight mode, busy finding excuses why it’s not working, or finding problems for every solution. One of the most important shifts we can make for better health is to move from fight mode to acceptance mode. This single inner choice can make all the difference, not only in healing, but in how pleasurable, joyful, and fun the journey becomes. 💬 Are there places in your life where you are choosing to fight rather than accept the change? We’d love to hear and help.

Im not so sure I give a shit about the traditional history of thanksgiving, but I thought Id pop in with my bed head and give my perspective on what it takes to live in full love and gratitude because that is what I think of when I celebrate "Thanks For Givner"

Hi guys, I am about to go to a dr appt that is triggering a lot of trauma. I am facing demons such as "if your own family doesn't care if you live, why would anyone else?" Etc. So this post is an act of me saying I DO matter. Even if right now I am really scared. I would love prayers/well wishes that I can relax my body enough for the dr to do what he needs to. And healthy results as well. Thank you 🥰

Question for everyone here! What do you do when you’re sick/under the weather but still have things to get done? Do you take the entire day off to rest? Do you try to balance a little work with rest? Or do you just push through and power through anyway? For me, it’s a mix. I try to listen to my body first if it’s really telling me to rest, I rest. But if there are assignments or things that must get done, I break them into small chunks and tackle them slowly, giving myself permission to pause when I need it. It’s all about balance for me! Honoring my body while still keeping up with responsibilities... I’d love to hear what works for you. How do you handle a busy life when your body says “slow down”?