This 10 minute guided meditation is a combination of practices that I use almost daily. If I’m in a good place I will stick with 10 minutes and if things are tough and I can find the time, I will spend a little longer. I start with deep breathing and mindful awareness of any stressors I might be experiencing and then I finish up with a compassion meditation. Compassion meditation has a lot of proven benefits for our well-being and it lights up the part of the brain associated with happiness. This practice involves picturing a series of people, starting with yourself and applying a deliberate sense of care and empathy towards them. It just feels really good for my soul to send well wishes to all beings, even those that I might be at odds with. It’s so freeing to let go of any tension I have with others. These feelings don’t serve us and can only make us sick. Stress has a bigger impact on our health and immunity than food or exercise. It should be acknowledged and attended to in a non judgmental way in order to release it. Meditation is a proven tool to do so.