A few drops of oil can keep a wrench from rusting. A tablespoon of lemon juice stops apple slices from turning brown. Just a little effort — and then a little more and a little more — starts you on a freeing path. One day all those little efforts amount to something: an indomitable will, a tranquil frame of mind, and a joyful heart.

Try this meditation for one minute every day, or longer if you want to:

FIND WORDS such as “peace” or “focus” or “centered” that mean something to you and repeat them to yourself throughout the day. See if you notice a change in your attitude.

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. —Heraclitus

“This Tuesday’s Zen Minute really resonated with me,” writes customer assistance rep Raquel Urbina. “I’m new to the NSB family and very happy to be here. But even when you’re busy with a new job, that doesn’t stop the things that go on outside of work. This Zen Minute helped me take a step back from all the worries I have on a daily basis and just be. I realized a lot of the things I have going on are ‘temporary problems’ that just ‘seem like permanent features of reality,’ as the message said. Thank you for that. I really needed it.”

How did this meditation go for you? Share your experience at shorelines@northshorebank.com and you’ll be entered to win a copy of A Mindful Day: 365 Ways to Live Life With Peace, Clarity, and an Open Heart, by David Dillard-Wright.

If you’d like a daily email reminder to practice one minute of mindfulness, email us with the subject “Mindfulness reminder.”