[Daily OM]: Our day-to-day demands can quickly
take their toll on our well-being if we are not vigilant about caring
for ourselves as best we can. One way we can ensure that we have an
opportunity to relax and recuperate each day is to create a soft place
to land when we arrive home. This landing pad, whether it is an entire
room or merely a small corner of a larger area, can provide us with a
safe and comforting refuge in which we can decompress and recover from
the day's stresses. There, we are enveloped in feelings of security that
transcend other issues that may be unfolding in our homes. Our landing
pads also act as way stations that enable us to shift our attention away
from our outer-world concerns and back to our inner-world needs.
To create a soft place to land in your home, begin by scouting potential
locations. Or perhaps your entire home is your landing pad in which
case you may only need to declutter. Your habits can often provide you
with insight into the perfect spot, as there may be an area of your home
you gravitate to naturally when you are in need of comfort. Any space
in which you find it easy to let go of stress and anxiety can become
your landing pad. A basement or attic, spare room, or unused storage
area, furnished with items that soothe you, can give you the privacy you
need to unwind. If you appreciate the elements, you may find that
spending time in a section of your garden or outdoor patio helps you
release the day's tensions. Preparing these spaces can be as easy as
replacing clutter with a small selection of beautiful objects that put
you in a relaxed frame of mind. Remember to consider noise and activity
levels while choosing the site of your landing pad. If you know that
ordinary human commotion will distract you from your purpose, look for a
secluded spot.
The soft place to land that you create should inspire within you the
mantra, "I can breathe here. I can relax here. I know I am safe here."
When you return to your home after braving worldly rigors, you will feel
a subtle yet tranquil shift occur inside of you as you settle in to
this most personal of retreats and feel centered once again.