A meditation practice leading to the understanding of our eternal self as awareness gives us just enough separation from our internal soap-opera production for us to be a little more loving, less fearful and controlling, more aware of the needs, hopes and dreams of another.

It's a new year that brings with it a promise of letting go of habits that deplete you, and adapting behaviors that can help you advance.

I wanted to share this gift with you -- the gift of honesty, accountability and reflection in the hopes that it will remind you that you are not defined or limited by past chapters. Your "story" is in development, and one chapter should lead to another.

Have you ever tried to lose weight by not thinking about food? How about trying to stop yourself from calling your love interest by blocking out all thoughts about that person? Ever try to quit smoking by trying not to think about smoking? Did it work? I'll bet it didn't.

"Spirit," by whatever name, is not measurable. But skills like spiritual intelligence (SQ) skills can be measured. And measurement is useful -- it points to where we can grow and improve.

The same life energy that leads to suffering also provides the fuel for profound awakening. Desire becomes a problem only when it takes over our sense of who we are.

While mistakes aren't a huge issue in my life, I actually spend and waste a lot of time worrying about making mistakes, and also find myself being unnecessarily critical of those around me when they make mistakes (both overtly and covertly).

Resolve today to live without regret. Don't wait for tomorrow, next week, or the new year. It is in our daily experiences that we discover who we are and what we can become. Own your own destiny and become who you were designed to be.

We're finding out who we are, so we can do it on purpose. So we can be free. We are gently learning to become honest with ourselves, about ourselves. Which is the entire practice of awareness. All we have to do is show up.

Have you ever noticed how your perspective influences how you interpret things? Sometimes shaking up our perspective can make all the difference in the world. In addition to appreciating ourselves, it can also help us to live more vibrantly.

I believe that perfection is actually an illusion that we created and is based on the fear that we would no longer evolve as humans if something wasn't pushing us to be better. But what if evolution were to come from our desire to learn and grow instead of to get ahead?

How do you light up the world? How do you bring light to another person's life? Each of us has the power to make the world a little bit brighter. Each of us can choose to shine our own light, transforming the darkness one flicker at a time.

I love celebrating the new year, and the concept of resolving to become "better" in whatever sense that resonates for you. That's why I share these thoughts -- because nothing frustrates me more than the January shine, the February wane, and the March drop-off.

In anticipation of holiday gatherings with family, frequently gift yourself with the mindful practice of sitting with the breath, appreciating the air, sipping seasonal drinks and really tasting each drop. Feast on feelings, honor each morsel of the moment.

There is something about the anticipation of a new year that gives us a clean slate and prompts us to recommit to improving ourselves. Use that energy to jumpstart your transformation.

On the path of life, most of us are hauling way too much weight. What's in your own backpack? If you're like most of us, you've got too many items on each day's to-do list and too much stuff in the closet. Too many entanglements with other people. And too many worries, guilts, and regrets.

The loving, consistent support of family and friends is part of the reason people find peace and happiness in this life. It makes sense that we have to exorcise from our mind-body system the negative words left there by others.

If we examine our motivations and are truly mindful, then we'll end up with what we authentically want instead of something we hope will fill the holes in our hearts.

Pausing is an introductory mindfulness practice, but it offers a feasible and practical technique with which to start. Over time, training attention and awareness enhance cognitive functioning and contribute to emotional balance.

When we achieve a balance on the outside with our schedules, we can make time and room to strive for an internal balance with kind self-talk, and to learn how to be more relaxed, accepting, content, and present.

Even though meditation is something that's in my wheelhouse, I've already begun to feel profound changes. The most immediate change is that I've started meditating twice a day -- something I've wanted to try for a while but have never gotten around to doing.

These simple tools can help us get started on the ultimate treasure hunt, where self-awareness and self-acceptance reign, and conscious choices begin rocking our world, rather than the more common suffering-is-all mindset.