by Christopher Van Buren
What we surround ourselves with and fill our minds with shapes our outlook, influences our point of view and even changes our mood. Often, you can affect what’s going on on the inside by changing what’s on the outside. A good friend of mine who had been working in a stressful job in a major metropolitan area of California, decided to trade it all in for a residency at a Northern California hot springs and spiritual center. I met her after she had made this transition. She told me that her goal was to find an inner peace and tranquility that eluded her in the city. That surprised me…because I saw her as a person with a calm and still center. There, in the midst of the hot springs, massage sessions and vegetarian meals, she seemed in perfect harmony with her surroundings. She, on the other hand, still held onto her previous self perspective. She was shocked when I told her she struck me as a person with a great inner stillness.

Not all of us can up and move out to a spiritual center and give up all our worldly possessions to find inner stillness. But we can surround ourselves with balancing, harmonious influences that work to bring in the qualities we seek in ourselves. I’d like to point to a few things on these Kosmic Life pages that may make a difference in your self perspective — if used over time and with a focus of awareness.

First, there is something enlightening about the music of Dakshinamurthy, a trio of singers from India. The videos posted here on these pages never fail to lighten my mood and reassure me that something is working in this world. See the NOID videos on this page.

Next, try a little humor with the videos from Youtube in these Yoga & Body Web Soup and Food & Health Web Soup posts. A chuckle every day will help your point of view in so many ways.

Finally, select a couple of yoga postures from our Yoga Reference that will help you get calm and centered. I suggest the Lotus, the Half Lotus or the Mountain Pose for starters.

Lighter, calmer, more silent, more still.
Those are the qualities of a kosmic experience.
May yours be all of this and more.