Are you feeling scattered, anxious, or overwhelmed in this season? It's understandable. In the Nashville community this week, the unthinkable happened at The Covenant School. While I do not have a direct connection to the victims, Nashville is indeed a tight community, and my heart has been overwhelmed with sadness. It takes practice at times like this to find peace amidst the overwhelm. One way I do this is through breathwork and meditation. Centering ourselves matters, especially when we're feeling anxious.

You likely know breathwork is a simple yet powerful technique that involves focusing on your breath and controlling it intentionally. This practice helps you calm your mind and body, reduce stress, and increase your overall well-being. Combining breathwork with meditation creates a potent tool for finding inner peace, connecting with your Creator, and simply slowing down that racing mind.

Meditation is a practice that has been used for centuries to connect with the divine and find inner peace. By quieting your mind and focusing on the present moment, you can tap into a sense of calm that goes beyond your immediate circumstances.

When you practice breathwork and meditation together, you can experience a deeper sense of connection to God and find peace in even the most difficult times. 

Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Find a quiet place: Choose a quiet place where you won't be interrupted. You can sit on the floor, in a chair, or even lie down.
• Set an intention: Before you begin, set an intention for your practice. Your focus can be anything you choose - from finding peace to soaking in God's love. Just claim something!
• Start with breathwork: Begin by taking a few deep breaths. Focus on your breath and how it feels as it moves in and out of your body. Then, control your breath by inhaling for a count of four, holding for a count of four, and exhaling for a count of four. Repeat this pattern for a few minutes.
• Move into meditation: Once you feel centered and more focused, move into quiet centering or meditation. You can use a guided meditation or focus on your breath. WHEN (not if) your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to your breath.
• End with gratitude: When you're finished, take a moment to express gratitude for the peace you've found. Thank God for this moment of stillness and connection.

​By incorporating breathwork and meditation into your daily routine, you can find a sense of peace that transcends the world's chaos. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, stress, or simply seeking a deeper connection to God, this practice can indeed help you find the peace you seek.

Still feel overwhelmed with these suggestions? Need companionship with breathwork and meditation? If you'd like to take a Christ-centered approach to this practice, see below for one of my Exploring Peace Meditation podcast recordings to practice presence with God through breathwork and meditation. 

People think that because I often appear calm or peaceful, that is my natural inclination. But that is not true (ask my family)! Finding peace takes a lot of practice. 

I began exploring Christian Meditation after my health crisis in my early 30s (17 years ago). My meditation practice today does not typically look like sitting on a pillow in the corner of a candle-lit room (although that is fun too). I often meditate in my bed, in my car (see my Instagram post this week), on my couch, on my yoga mat, or outside under a tree. 

A lot of people find meditation to be an intimidating practice. For Christians, it can even be scary. But it does not need to be intimidating or scary. If prayer is talking to God then meditation is simply quieting our minds and listening to God. And, I long to listen to God whenever possible!

The practice of listening to God through meditation helps us find inner stillness. We are not striving for anything at all, we are simply sitting in God's presence and giving ourselves a break from thinking. Meditation quiets our minds, even if getting there feels loud and noisy. 

Meditation is beneficial at any time of day but I find a morning meditation sets the tone for my entire day. Before the "doing" of the day begins, I simply get to "be" with God. It's a great way to cultivate peace of mind, better relationships, self-esteem, clarity, and presence in all that is ahead. There are so many scientifically proven benefits to meditation, I cannot list them all in this post.  

Let's just say the benefits of meditation are worth the 10-20 minutes it costs me in the morning. The world moves at a fast pace, and most of us face stress and pressure daily. While we cannot avoid life's circumstances, we can face them with the best version of ourselves - with calm minds and peace in our hearts. Meditation helps cultivate these. 

Ready to get started or re-started? Here are 7 tips for finding inner stillness through meditation:

1. Pick a place to meditate (your closet, your car, your bed, your couch, your bathroom, or anywhere you can be uninterrupted).
2. Sit tall and focus on your breath. 
3. Set a timer or consider using calming music or a guided meditation if you need more companionship.
4. Put your phone on airplane mode or do not disturb.
5. Consider holding something (a cross, prayer beads, a crystal, your Bible), so you are not tempted to pick up your phone. Or, simply open your hands as a symbol of receiving God's presence. 
6. When your mind wanders, acknowledge your thoughts and let them go, then return to your breath. I use a sacred word (my word is peace) to come back into the quiet with God. 
7. Practice this daily for 7 days and notice how your days go. 

​I hope these tips help you find inner stillness. And if you're seeking further companionship in meditation, remember the Exploring Peace Meditations podcast is a great tool when you're feeling stuck or need some companionship.

What's your favorite place to meditate? ​

This is a photo of me facing fear. I am smiling because fear didn't win this round. 

My best friend, spouse of 23+ years, and the person I trust most with my life loves his motorcycle. I have had a genuine aversion to the idea of riding with him. He has been patient and never forced me to love what he loves. But I have been working on my fear for quite a while now. And the day finally came for me to face it. And guess what? It wasn't awful. It was great. 

Note: Please don't give me a lecture on motorcycle safety. I was already overflowing with fear for not just me but also him, which tends to resurface with lectures. And whether or not I keep riding, I don't know yet. But I did it, and now I am no longer paralyzed by the fear of simply discussing it. End of note, thanks. 

In my spiritual direction practice and my friendships, I have heard more and more sharing about fear these past few years. I don't think it's coincidental that we have been living with a heightened sense of fear surrounding our health of ourselves and our loved ones. Fear has been a driving force behind many decisions for a long, long time. 

I don't think God wants us to live in fear. I am sure of that (see Isaiah 4:10, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6). But I do believe fear can help us grow!

How do we move from a place of fear to a place of security, even when the stakes are high? How do we shift our hearts and minds (and whole bodies!) to be present and grounded, even when we are afraid?

I was afraid. But I invited my body to stop fighting with me to face my fear. 

How do I face fears? First, I name them. I am grateful I have supported listeners through both counseling and spiritual direction. But if you don't have access to either, you can always name your fears with a trusted listener and get their wisdom with your next steps. 

For me, there was a lot of work in advance but that day I tapped into some tools. I practiced breath work the entire ride. I got grounded in my body and envisioned a shield of protective energy from God around us as we rode. It may seem silly, but visualization and guided imagery are powerful ways to connect with God and to feel seen and cared for. I love how energy work helps my body feel grounded and balanced. I asked God what I needed to hear and let that be whispered to me the entire time we rode. I heard, "you're safe, I've got you, just be here." 

Guess what? It worked. I didn't have expectations for how the ride would go, but instead, I leaned into the courage it gave me to face my fear. Want to try it?  

5 Tips for Facing Your Fears

1. Tell Someone - a counselor, therapist, spiritual director, or trusted friend about your fear and decide how/if you want to face it.
2. When it's time to face the fear, get grounded in your body and spirit. You may do this through prayer, energy work, visualization, or any other tool that helps you feel connected with your Creator.
3. Breathe, breathe, breathe and be sure to exhale fully.
4. Ask God what you need to hear, then let God whisper that to you.
5. Let go of the outcome and embrace the strength you gain by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Fear can be a gift to us if we stop fighting it and embrace it wisely - in body and spirit. Fear can help us get out of our comfort zones and lean on something bigger than our own understanding. So, that's why I wanted to ride a motorcycle. Yep. What fear do you want to face? ​