What is your Zen?

Photo Credit: Liz Erb Firmstone; Terramuse Retreat Center, Mechanicsville, IA

Zen is such a great word with such marvelous meaning. It is succinct yet powerful, the way we desire to BE.

The word Zen refers to having meditative calmness and strong intuition. A state through which the qualities of self-actualization and insight are developed.

We all know the term Zen also commonly refers to a place of “happiness” and “peace”. It is something desirable and worth working toward achieving. Of course getting to Zen is a practice, something that is a process realized through a continued behavior. Being with Zen can be cultivated through observing your habits and making efforts to continually practice mindful behaviors. Being mindfully in tune with your own instincts and intuition is absolutely a Zen place to be.

If you don’t know where to start, setting an intention is a great place to begin. Setting your internal compass to point toward the concept of Zen will allow you to begin to make those micro choices that bring you one step closer to a constant state of peace and happiness.

Allowing Zen to “flow” might look like cracking open a window just a tiny crack through making a slight adjustment to your daily routine. Checking to see what the temperature is outside, determining the humidity level and feeling to see if the wind speed is comfortable for you. Open your mind to the possibility that there is “more” out there for you to see, feel and experience. Start by just thinking about it.

Yoga mats are not required to BE with Zen. Although having a mat on the ready certainly will help! Maybe is it green space, maybe it is silence, maybe is it cooking, maybe it is walking or your favorite chair - Zen can be found most anywhere.

Wherever you are, that is the place to begin. Set your intention to let the fresh air in and be mindful of your Zen.