Do you know what philosophy means?  Philosophy is the love of wisdom. 

Then again, what is wisdom?  According to 'The School of Practical Philsophy,' based out of NYC, wisdom is "the knowledge to enable life to be true and happy."

Throughout history, many people have purported that the key to happiness is to live a natural and simple life.  The ancients, the mystics & even many modern-day people believe this.  Here in NYC, where life moves at the speed of light, this is a daunting task.  But, believe it or not,  there are ways to find stillness -- amid all the chaos.  There are exercises that individuals can conduct (and it does take some level of discipline) to bring their mind back to a state of calmness.  I know for me personally, I have a busy mind -- one that is constantly making connections between things, and seeing at a high-level, possibilities everywhere.  This is a blessing and curse.

Having recently taken a qigong workshop with Robert Peng, a NYC-based qigong master, I have seen the value of such exercises first hand.  For those who don't know, qigong is, "a Chinese healing art using a series of gently focused exercises for mind and body.  The chi, our vital energy, is facilitated to flow smoothly throughout the meridian pathways of the body.  By increasing stamina, flexibility, relaxation and overall quality of life, the healing process in turn, is encouraged and accelerated."

I think that it is important to reign in our busy minds and balance our mind/body relationship, because often times that is when we find peace and health; that is when we can be most connected to our surroundings, raise our energy levels and return to a more natural state.  

So, the questions posed for you is,  "how can you simplify your life?" and "how can you calm your mind when it is way too busy, running away with itself?"  

A good start is taking a pause, closing your eyes, and focusing only on the sounds around you.  Give it a try, it helps.

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."  -- Albert Einstein