The beauty of a sunrise and a sunset is they punctuate our experience of life. No matter what has happened throughout the course of the day, we can expect a sunset to draw the day to a close. And tomorrow gifts us with a sunrise, offering a new day. The rhythm of nature is patterned and repetitive, soothing in its tempo. Allowing ourselves the space to witness the sunrise and the sunset, or to create ritual to start and close the day can be soothing on the nervous system.

One of the best ways to quiet the mind is to let go of the intention to have a quiet mind. Focusing on giving permission for the thoughts to emerge can be helpful in quelling the chaos in our head. If we don’t allow space for our thoughts to exist, they can become louder, creating a challenge. After all, what we resist persists. Many hold the expectation that meditation has to be a totally quiet mind, which is often unachievable for even the most advanced practitioners. Focusing on meeting the thoughts with ahimsa, nonjudgmental awareness, can be a helpful starting point.