Sitting under a tree in a beautiful garden a Sufi, head upon his knee, eyes closed was lost in contemplation. A passerby, annoyed by his state, could not contain himself, “How can you sleep, pay attention to the signs of God that surround you.” The Sufi calmly answered, “God signs I behold within my heart.”

I am constantly thinking of the future and questioning the present.  Is this the right job for me? Can I be making more money? Is this the man I’d like to spend the rest of my life with? Do I like this neighborhood? Should I get a smaller place to live? The list of questions scrambling around in my mind about my current situation is constantly swirling.

How comfortable are you going outside your comfort zone?  People say that’s when the learning takes place. But who wants to walk into the unknown, into unchartered territory, with people you may not know?  Aren’t we getting fed the mantra to “be you”, “do you”.  So if “you” doesn’t like the idea of doing something, why would you venture into that unknown?

If your life is getting off track or if you are feeling overwhelmed, or you need to make a big life decision, take a breath, and ask yourself this 1 question. Do not put the question into the context of your current challenge. Rather look to answer the question without any predisposed answers in your mind.

This simple exercise will help you prioritize what’s important for you during the holidays. It’s not letting you get sucked into what you “should be doing”. Rather it is allowing you to do the holidays the way you want to do it. I can assure you that you will ring in the New Year feeling more refreshed and joyful, if you’ve enjoyed the activities you’ve done rather than seeing them as a chore.

Don't stay in a relationship that is sucking you dry.

Don't stay in a job that does not align with your priorities.

Don't keep friendships that are toxic.

Don't stay in a house that doesn't serve your needs anymore.