How is your inner life these days? What kind of progress are you making each day to experience more peace of mind and well-being?
 
One way we can make steady progress is by doing a little less of one thing and a little more of something else. This way the change we wish to make is done with self-compassion, not with the energy of “I should.” For example, saying no to busyness and yes to an afternoon of “Sabbath time.” Sitting less and moving more. Complaining less and appreciating more. 
 
‘Progress, not perfection,’ is a good mantra to keep.

​©2026, Janice L. Lundy

How can we find inner peace amidst the chaos of everyday life? In order to relieve our personal stress and make the changes necessary to live a life characterized by serenity, we must have a passion for creating it. We must want it, desire it so intensely, that we are unwilling to settle for anything less.
 
For many of us this comes only after we have hit rock bottom—an unwanted health diagnosis or an unexpected loss—and we have nowhere to go but up. We have no other choice but to make peace with our situation or we simply cannot function. The choice to have more peace in our lives, no matter what is happening in it is just that, a personal choice.
 
How can you choose peace for yourself today?

​©2026, Janice L. Lundy

Do you have a grateful heart? Are you someone who sees life as full and blessed, rather than lacking or unfortunate? Are you the purveyor of a positive attitude? The wearer of a smile? Do you say ‘Thank You’?
 
Offering sentiments or tokens of appreciation can help both the giver and receiver feel better in a world that is often challenging to face. Everyone wants to be appreciated. Our everyday lives are ripe with situations that are difficult to bear. We can all use a boost of kindness now and then. One thought, offered by the Buddha, can remind us to offer words of thanks and appreciation to those around us. "Life is so very difficult. How can we be anything but kind?" 
 
Heaven knows, we can all use more kindness.

​©2026, Janice L. Lundy

Mindfulness is a desirable state to which we can aspire. But a mind full of what? A mind full of awareness. A mind full of attention and the open space to receive it. A mind full of intention, the wish to be present to yourself, to life as it is in this very moment.
 
And what about its opposite, "mindlessness"? Mind-less? Perhaps this could be perceived as a mind that is not fully functioning at its best; a mind that is off somewhere, caught up in distraction, or void of awareness altogether. Present-moment attention lost in a blur of confusion, your good intentions for clarity having disappeared.
 
You can always reclaim yourself from this state of mind. Refocus your attention and energize your intention. With awareness and choice, you can back to a full experience of being here ... right now. And, when you do, you’ll discover that ease is yours once again.


​©2026, Janice L. Lundy

If you have ever suffered a dramatic loss or death, or dealt with a life-threatening illness, the importance of living in the present makes itself known. You learn very quickly that the past is over and done with; that there is no reason to dwell on the past except to learn and go on. You understand more fully that there are no guarantees of tomorrow; that you, or the people you love, may not even be here one hour from now. So you learn to stay present, to savor and appreciate the moment at hand.
 
Barbara DeAngelis, Ph.D. says in her book, Real Moments: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why we call it the "present."
 
The present moment is truly a gift, one we can leave unopened or one that we can joyously unwrap to savor its beauty and meaning. The choice is ours.

​©2026, Janice L. Lundy

We do this journey with a warm and loving heart. We are gentle with ourselves. We go slowly and treat ourselves kindly. We let go of notions of perfection, of getting it right, or being the most spiritual person on the block. We do what we can when we can and pat ourselves on the back all along the way. 

Excerpted from:
My Deepest Me: A 30-Day Retreat to Nourish Your Inner Life
https://www.janlundy.com/writings.html

©2026, Janice L. Lundy

It is healthy to slow down, to give yourself well-deserved R & R—rest and relaxation. Author Robert Gerzon explains in his book, Finding Serenity in the Age of Anxiety, that our bodies are not intended, nor constructed, for such fast-paced living. 
 
As a passenger on the train of life, you may often move through your days at breakneck speeds. And when you do, this speediness is felt in your mind as racing thoughts, stress and anxiety. It manifests in your body as health disorders —heart arrhythmia, headache, neck and shoulder pain, digestion woes, and more. When you slow down, you immediately feel better; your body and mind tell you so. 
 
The only thing we really need do is slow down and listen—intently, deeply—and trust our body's wisdom. We'll instinctively know what to do or not do to be well. But first we must slow down enough to listen. Are you listening today?

©2026, Janice L. Lundy

It takes practice to notice the nature of our thoughts; to gently guide them in a more skillful direction. One technique that can help is to connect with a phrase that calms you. 
​
This phrase can be an affirmation, a song lyric, a scripture, a mantra, a positive "something" that holds your attention, something that has meaning for you.
 
Engage this process not from your head, but from your heart. Drop your awareness down into that deeper place; allow the phrase itself to "breathe" through your heart. Say it silently, repeat it again and again for as long as it takes for you to settle down.
 
Today what would be your mind stabilizing, heart-opening phrase?

©2026, Janice L. Lundy