Sometimes taking a moment to enjoy the sites and sounds around us can be a meditation in itself. Try it while looking at the lush colors and scenery of autumn in Chicago.

Expand your awareness as you watch daylight break on the Kansas prairie. Let the wide horizon, with fields of flowers and roaming bison, inspire a new perspective. As you look at the land in its natural state, consider the calling of your own life.

Spend some time among the artful bonsai trees at the Chicago Botanic Garden and think about the power you have to shape your own life. "Bonsai," which means "tray planting" in Japanese, is an art form that celebrates patience and refinement over a period of time. As you watch each cut, consider that—like the tree—you too are a work in progress, full of potential.