Don’t bother looking under the Christmas tree for your greatest gift.  You won’t find it there, or anywhere outside of yourself, for your greatest gift lies within.

You are attuned to the noises of daily living, but often forget to tune in to your inner spiritual voice.  You spend your time busily seeking happiness, but not finding it.  You need to accept that you are who and what you are seeking.  The only way to find yourself is to look within.  Spending time alone with yourself puts you in touch with who and what you are and helps you connect to your inner guidance.

When going within, you begin to hear what your heart truly thinks and believes, instead of what others have conditioned you or told you to believe.  Once you are able to just BE and access stillness, you will be able to look at the world around you with greater perception and discernment.  When you are more at one with yourself, you are able to recognize the external influences on your thinking from friends, family, and your surrounding environment.

Going within also helps you to access information not normally available.  You will begin to hear the voice of your Higher Self providing answers and direction. All answers lie within.  Enlightenment does not come from doing but from BEing silent so you can tune in to guidance.

You can consciously cultivate your inner voice.  Sit or lie in a quiet location where you will not be disturbed.  Close your eyes, focus within your heart, and ask to connect  with your Higher Self.  Let your mind go blank.  Just BE.  Note the thoughts that come, but don’t dwell on them.  If they are negative or fearful thoughts, know that your ego is trying to control your thoughts.  Your ego is not your true voice. Send love to your fears and negativity, then release the thoughts and send them on their way.

In quiet contemplation there is happiness and joy where you are able to realize who you are and your magnificence , then you can easily recognize and appreciate the unique magnificence of all around you.  Once you find your inner peace, then you are able to assist others to find their inner peace and ultimately you assist in achieving world peace.  What greater gift could there be?

May you find your greatest gift within that brings you joy, peace and enlightenment!

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others. ~ Peace Pilgrim

“Peace is not something you wish for; It’s something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.” ~ Robert Fulghum

“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.” ~ Unknown

“First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.” ~ Thomas Kempis

No one knows better how to trigger stressful responses in you than your family members. Maintaining your inner peace is often a real challenge at holiday times when you are around family that you haven’t seen in a while.

No matter what your age is now, they expect you to still respond in the same manner to their remarks and antics as you did when you were younger. They don’t understand that you have grown mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. They are comfortable with the “old” you and seek to see that “old” you.

Can you smile at their antics, recognizing their discomfort with change and the fact that they are just reflecting where they are now? Can you honor who they are now with tolerance for they, too, are on their own spiritual path?

You are entitled to the opinion that while your spiritual path is on the “straight and narrow,” theirs is wandering all over the place, but can you respond without making that opinion a judgment? Can you reflect back peace with respect in your voice and manner?

Unconditional love accepts people for who they are. Acceptance does not mean that you aren’t expected to set a better example. People learn by example.

We are all teachers for others, but lecturing and berating others often turns them away. The axiom goes: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” So, be sweetness and light.

These are some of our challenges as we seek peace within and cultivate true peace in the family and on the planet. Let’s make a plan to help you make it through these holiday times and beyond.

· Remember to do your Grounding every morning and every time you get upset. This will help you to run off your stress and see the world more objectively and less emotionally.

· Do your Brain Balancing every morning so you have the knowledge and wisdom to respond calmly and respectfully.

· Don’t take things personally, because people are really just trying to tell you where they are emotionally.

· Don’t let their drama become your drama.

· Remember, all are on their spiritual path no matter what route they take.

· Set a better example that you want them to follow. Be sweetness and light.

· Accept gifts graciously, because it shows the person was at least thinking of you.

· Set boundaries. This may be the season of giving but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to everyone’s demands of you. Acting out of Guilt is not coming from Love.

· When negativity comes into a discussion, change the subject.

May you find these suggestions helpful in cultivating true peace this holiday and beyond!

If you need to know how to Ground and Brain Balance, go to www.youtube.com/alterra1