For these two calming techniques, all that's involved is breathing in and out and focusing one's mind. They take maybe a minute or so to do both of them. I've found that they help me a lot when I'm feeling stressed, and I really like doing them proactively too — just to get into the right mindset at the beginning of the day or anytime.

Please try them out to see whether they also help you manage stress and feel more clearheaded, and let me know by using the text link below.

Credit and gratitude go to Bob Jones of Wyoming who created the main artwork in the thumbnail. To show my appreciation, I added the hearts.

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This is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation®, available on YouTube and in major podcast directories including Apple, Spotify, iHeart and Audible.

I recorded this short piece before Veterans Administration nurse and U.S. citizen Alex Pretti was murdered in Minneapolis. He died because he had stepped out from the crowd to aid a fellow peaceful protester. These are crazy times and, more than ever, we need to follow his example and be more kind, not less so. Kindness is a form of love and, ultimately, love is far stronger and more resilient than the hate of bullies. In honor of Alex Pretti and all those who have been harmed by hate, let's spread love and lots of it.

The artwork in the thumbnail is by Wyoming artist Bob Jones. And by the way, "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield made VegOut newsletter's list of "8 songs boomers still love because it reminds them who they were before responsibilities." Check out the entire list here.

And here's a link to the official Buffalo Springfield video along with the full lyrics:

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
A-telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Are getting so much resistance from behind
Time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and a-carrying signs
Mostly say hooray for our side
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
We better stop now
What's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
We better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

This is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation®, available on YouTube and in major podcast directories including Apple, Spotify, iHeart and Audible.

Summary: Kate Jones offers two affirmations in this video.The first focuses on letting go, releasing any tense hold we have on people, places, events and things.The second centers on forgiving everything, everyone and all experiences needing forgiveness.

Background: This is Kate. When I was in my 20s, I started doing two amazing affirmations thanks to my first husband. That was a long time ago, so the details of their origins are fuzzy. I think he learned them from a couple of women friends who were involved with the Unity Church. I always thought that there was a connection between these affirmations and Unity, though I've not been able to confirm that by searching online. Recently, however, I Googled the first line of the "letting go" affirmation, and this is what Google's AI came up with: "That is a wonderful mantra focusing on acceptance and releasing attachment to external factors. This perspective can bring about a sense of inner peace and freedom. By letting go of rigid control over people, situations and material possessions, you open yourself up to experiencing life with greater flexibility, resilience and serenity. It's a practice of mindfulness and trusting in the natural flow of life."

So then I Googled the first line of the second affirmation about forgiving, and AI came up with this: “The phrase 'I forgive everything, everyone, every experience from the past or present' is a powerful affirmation for radical forgiveness, a practice to release resentment, find inner peace, and free oneself from past hurts by consciously letting go of anger and choosing love or acceptance, often through repetition in meditation or prayer, recognizing it as a gift to oneself for healing and growth, not necessarily condoning actions but releasing their power over you.”

I think AI did a great job summing up these affirmations. I incorporated them into my life decades ago and have found them to be great tools for growth and healing. I hope they're useful for you as well. Also want to mention that although the speaker here is a woman (me), just change the wording so that it's right for you.

One other note: The thumbnail picture of the awe-inspiring interior of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona was taken in 2024 by my husband, Bernie Jones, for whom I'm grateful for our life together and the marvelous places we've visited. Speaking of gratitude, I also thank my former husband for introducing me to life-enhancing spiritual tools including the affirmations in this episode.

This is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation®, available on YouTube and in major podcast directories including Apple, Spotify, iHeart and Audible.