Submitted by Anne Kulmala

With the hustle and bustle of daily life, we often find ourselves overwhelmed, anxious and stressed. Focusing on jobs, money, people, children and all manner of outside challenges, we leave our inner self to take a back seat to external pressures. All challenges feel bigger and heavier when our inner strength is low. Meditation can be a key component in strengthening our inner self. Time spent quietly connecting to our true selves allows us to refocus, clarify our purpose and re-energize our body, mind and spirit.