How to create your sanctuary

Another way of looking at it is finding our sanctuary. A co-worker once asked me, "do you have a happy place? A place you can go to in your mind whenever you want?" What a brilliant idea!

The beauty of an inner sanctuary is that we can take it with us wherever we go. It's portable! To make full use of this practice, however, we'd do well to have a few reminders around to ensure we visit more often. Creating an outer sanctuary is a wonderful way to access our inner one.

It can be as simple as creating a positive trigger: every time I walk through the front door, I will take three deep breaths and take in my surroundings, for example. I can create a ritual for the morning, evening, or both! I can make a cup of tea and walk around my garden with it, pay a visit to my plants, and check in to see how they're doing.

For some, it's creating a room of their own. A place to journal, sketch or read. Maybe it's a home office or studio decorated just as you like. It might be a favourite armchair next to the fireplace or window, a seat on the terrace, a garden shed turned into your own yoga or music studio. Chacun à son goût!

There aren't any rules about creating your sanctuary, other than, maybe, that it has to work for you. If it helps you reach a state of peace and calm, it's effective.

And a great thing about reaching that state of peace and calm is you're then much more effective in whatever you do. You'll be better positioned for a positive interaction with others. And they may 'catch' your sense of peace. After all, our moods are contagious.

• Woodlot Fresh Face Exfoliant
• Woodlot Handmade Soap Bar
• Woodlot Essential Oil Blend
• Woodlot Palo Santo Incense

After some peace, quiet and centring, you may wish to venture outdoors and mingle a bit. Join us next week as we head out to the farmer's market!