Focus: self-compassion; How do you feel when your actions affect others in a negative way? We can't be our authentic selves without stepping on other people's toes. No matter how hard we try to be our best selves, we cannot make everybody happy. We are taught that when we stand up for ourselves in a manner that is respectful toward others, we are serving them as well as ourselves. Yet, it is hard to feel like the cause of another's struggles. Self-compassion is key in finding our voices.

Focus: finding visceral presence; How do you REALLY feel? How much of what you do when meditating is habit, and how much is an authentic response to the sounds and the words? Our logic often makes these decisions before we have a chance to really feel what is happening for us. Why? Because our brains are designed to take the familiar path. This is more efficient for our busy brains. Take a little extra time today to tune into your true feelings.

Focus: Connection to self; How can we find our flow when our lives often have so much structure we don't feel we have room for it? Just keep connecting to self - our busiest schedules can support flow if we know how to find ourself within these boundaries. Start with this meditation. Then in moments of tension, see if you can resurrect the body memory of your breathing and relaxation. With a little practice, it can take seconds to get back there.