Check It Out:

Daily stresses, careers, traffic congestion and financial worries all take their toll on the human body and psyche.

Calming influences and words of wisdom from popular and esoteric authors can have a positive effect.

Here are just a few of the most recent titles whose authors, with widely differing viewpoints, try to impart their visions of peace and spiritual tranquillity and their methods for achieving it.

“How Did I Get So Busy?: The 28-Day Plan to Free Your Time, Reclaim Your Schedule, and Reconnect with What Matters Most” by Valorie Burton: Time crunches and busyness may mask problems other than scheduling. This title makes the connection between self-management, procrastination and effectiveness. Good, solid advice for setting personal priorities while enjoying every day.

“What on Earth Have I Done?: Stories, Observations, and Affirmations” by Robert Fulghum: Best known from his book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” Fulghum offers his sage, grandfatherly essays tempered with homey inspirational thoughts and positive ruminations on personal attributes, attitudes and traveling. This is cozy and comforting for a winter’s night.

“Your Altar: Creating a Sacred Space for Prayer and Meditation” by Sandra Kynes: Domestic altar spaces are a new development in home meditation areas. Learn how to assemble and personalize for your belief system using such varied styles as Buddhist, astrological, or archangel dedications, to name a few. Numerology also takes a significant role in many altar-building techniques. The ideas presented range from a few candles on a table to large furniture pieces.

“Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don’t” by Michael J. Losier: Find success through psychological, forward-looking self-actualization when following this internationally-known trainer and seminar leader/author’s three-step program. A frequent guest on Oprah Winfrey’s and Friends talk satellite radio program, Losier’s assistance may prove beneficial.