As I hiked up the path to the Peaceful Valley Chapel, I relished the quiet of my early morning solitude. After many eld as a participant and supporter instructor at Thomas Crum's Journey To Center Program, this beautiful and energizing ten-minute hike had become a personal ritual. Each morning of each Journey to Center week, before our breathing and meditation session at 7, I always hike to the top of this small mountain to be inspired by the view of a much higher mountain range in the distance.

I stare at the 14,000-foot peaks, open my arms and breathe, inviting their energy, power, beauty and peace into my being. I oppositeness their stability and their \"just there-ness\" with my possess approval-seeking energy, their effortless poise with my striving to do the right thing, and their natural and graceful essence with my desire to appear experienced and beautiful and centered.

Could I possibly meet BE? Like the mountain? There.

That turned out to be my practice this year - and I let the mountain be my teacher. Each time (well, most times) that I found myself in striving or approval-seeking mode, I stopped, breathed, and intellection most the mountain. Thought most meet BEING - like the mountain.

Each time I practiced, I felt my body come back to a relaxed stance, mind clear, my being at rest. It was as if I had been leaning forward - out of myself - looking for something, someone, to be okay. As I intellection of the mountain, I came back to center.

Is there a place that helps you return to your possess coercive presence? Your needs are met, you are okay meet the way you are. Find it now - in your office, your home, your cubicle. Bring your mountain back into view. And have a great journey to center.