I sincerely hope you take the time this holiday season to rest, relax + renew your mind, body + soul.

I’ve always been a do-er, and in the past, whenever there was any down time, I’d find ways to fill it by improving my home, improving my workout, or learning new ways to improve myself.  Resting + relaxing often felt unproductive.

Now, I realize how giving your body a break from doing + your mind a break from trying to achieve, improve or figure things out, is exactly what your soul needs.

This time of year, I think every actor should take a break from improving themselves.  As an artist, there will always be room for improvement.  Better training. Better headshots. Better auditions.  And when you get the job, it’s easy to get in the headspace of wanting to do a better take, have a better storyline or deliver a better overall performance.

When you give yourself permission to take a break from improving yourself, especially as an artist, you’re expressing deep self-love + acknowledging your divine perfection, right here + now.

When you take the to time rest + relax, you also end up deepening a sense of trust in your life.  You may find yourself breathing deeper, feeling calmer + simply enjoying the present moment more.

In fact, napping is a perfect way to realign your energy, not only physically, but mentally, because when you slumber, all resistant thought ceases.

(I am actually proud to report, I took a 3 hour nap yesterday.  Every cell in my body needed it + I felt more clarity + more joyful when I awoke.)

So, if your holiday schedule is packed, try making an appointment with yourself to do something relaxing that has nothing to do with your acting career, this business, getting ahead or improving yourself or your craft in any way.

When you make an appointment in your calendar, it will make it easier to stick to your own self-care.  Or as we say around my busy home, “If it’s not scheduled, it’s not real.”

As a mom, wife, actress + business owner, I have finally learned that the more I fill myself up first, in loving ways, the more love I have to give others.  And there’s nothing to improve there….except maybe taking more time to do it!

So here’s to napping, watching movies, watching sunsets, making snow angels (take a day-trip out of L.A.), drinking hot-chocolate with mini marshmallows + doing whatever else it is that feels really relaxing to you mind, body + soul.

Your career, your goals, and your intentions for the year ahead will all be happy you took a well-deserved + well-needed break.

And, you will most likely begin 2015 as the renewed + refreshed version of you, no improvement needed.

Happy Holidays!

Love + Gratitude,

Morning Mindset Meditation

I take a deep breath in and give myself permission to do absolutely nothing.

I exhale and let go of any “shoulds”  that I (or others) have placed in my mind.

All is well in my world.

When I relax and rest, I renew my body, mind + soul.

I let go of any need to improve myself during this down time.

I am perfect exactly as I am right now.

There’s nothing new I need to learn today.

The only thing my mind + body are craving is rest. 

Resting + relaxing is an essential parr of my expansion + growth.

I allow myself to take a break from improving myself in any way.

I feel a sense of inner peace + inner love deepen within me.

I am enough.  I deserve to rest.

I take care of myself first, and everything else falls into place.

I make my own self-care a priority.

When I put it on my schedule, it becomes real.

I know what I really need this time of year is rest + relaxation.

This is the gift I give to myself.

Thanks for sharing the love…