7 Ways to Discover Your Soul's Desires and Change Your Life

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com

Self-improvement is the only way to empowering yourself. This journey is never finished when you consciously decide to change what is not working in your life.

It doesn't matter if it's more "things", more money, more recognition, etc. Your clue is that dissatisfied feeling of not-enoughness after getting what you thought you wanted.

We all experience these feelings but not many of us are brave enough though, to heed and follow those yearnings that just will not go away. It's your soul's desires calling and it makes for a sad, silent and deeply unhappy person when you ignore it and forge ahead with your "planned" life.

You can begin taking small steps toward understanding yourself, by clarifying your thoughts in order to discover who you really are. This is important because we all lie to ourselves, daily. Only then would you begin to unearth what makes you unique. That's all part of the journey, not the so-called achievement at the end because learning never ends.

Success and happiness go hand in glove when we do what we love. Seriously and I didn't believe that until it happened to me! This is as natural as the rising and setting of the sun, birdsong in springtime, reflections in clear pools and the smile on a baby's face. We always need so many words to try to describe a particular feeling, don't we...

As Abraham-Hicks says there's really no problem and there will be no struggle if we all just go with the flow instead of fighting against the current of what is simply because we have been taught to believe this way is normal.

Personal growth is why we are here - we are spiritual beings living a human experience - and everyone has their role to play so you must focus on yours only and forge ahead. 7 ways to Discover Your Soul's Desires and Change Your Life.

If you knew everything was really all right, and that it always has a happy ending, then you would not feel trepidacious about your future. Everything is really so very all right! If you could believe and trust that, then, immediately everything would automatically and instantly become all right. 
~Abraham

1. Journal Every Day

Journalling clarifies your thoughts and feelings, highlights your motivations and unearth insights into particular events which did not strike you at the time. A journal is a private chat between you and your Self. It's a great way to vent without hurting anyone's feelings, be abusive as you like and get the shit of your chest that's stressing you to the max.

What a fantastic tool for self-discovery when you review it days, weeks or months later, identifying what makes you tick and get ticked off, your shadow side, your warts with which you must become comfortable, and the challenges you face climbing your ladder of personal growth. After years of practice, I discover new insights all the time about myself and others that didn't strike me at the time! It works. Drop your Self a few lines each day.



2. Meditation

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Most people don't think of meditation as a means of improving themselves. If I didn't go to my inner well of stillness every day, I would still be a basket case today. My Jungian psychologist encouraged me many years ago to journal every day.
 

I now know for sure that meditation is the perfect way to become stressless and feel good all the time! 

Sitting or lying comfortably and quietly without interruptions for fifteen to thirty minutes each day, in a calm space by yourself, with or without soothing music, focussing on your breath going in and out of your nostrils, clears unnecessary thoughts from your head.

It works because you are no longer thinking. You are focussed instead on your breath going in and out of your nostrils or your belly or wherever you feel it. 

Afterwards, you feel calmer, think clearer and are able to act in a more thoughtful manner. 

It is a proven medical fact that continued meditation improves your digestion, health, sleep pattern and minimises stress. The key word here is practice. Make the time every day whether you stay in bed longer in the morning or you do so before going to bed.

3. Maintain Positive Thoughts 

This appears to be the most difficult to achieve but that's because you allow others to influence and manipulate you especially when they know that you are intent on change for your betterment. People are like that. Don't be surprised by it.

When you expect a negative outcome you will get exactly that and unless and until become aware of your thoughts and deliberately stop yourself and think something positive and uplifting. Continue to review your objectives and remind yourself about why you want to change and improve your life.

The only way to achieve success is to expect positive results. You and only you, are responsible for the thoughts you think! Are you really going to allow some silly, self-serving bitchy complaining critical remark, aimed to hurt and derail you, put you off your game? Are you really and truly going to allow challenges to impede your progress when you know how far you have come?

I have discovered that the best way to nix all this crap is by writing down your desires, coming up with achievable goals, creating a plan of action to make them come true one step at a time and every.single.night. list what you created that day. Re-read the previous list of everything that went well. Nothing brings a bigger smile to your face than that. Rock on!

The starting point of all achievement is desire. 
~Napoleon Hill

4. Written Goals Require Action!

A written goal is your intention you send out to the Universe. Write down a small goal, one thing that you know you can do right now and is so inconsequential that it's not a big deal and tape that piece of paper or index card somewhere you will see it every day. When you see your written goal in black and white, you automatically begin thinking of ways to achieve it.

You want to take action to make it come true because seeing it keeps it active at the front of your mind. How long did it take to make it happen? Wasn't it great and that was a "small goal"! Imagine the greater feeling of satisfaction on something more significant!

Writing down your goals and seeing them in black and white activates your imagination and you begin thinking of ways to achieve it. Ideas come from the most unlikely sources at times because you have taken the most important step to crystallise your desire. You want to make it happen.

When you feel depressed or disappointed with yourself, as will happen, when plans don't work out, go back to your list. Write down the what and the how and be honest about the why (you and your actions), then decide and course correct with a new action plan. Failure only happens when you stop trying. And where did i get all this...from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich.

5. Journey of your soul's desires

Allow meditation to be your anchor and the pivot around which you improve the areas of your life that you know need work. You will need it once you embark on this journey of your soul's desires and make no mistake, this is what it is - resistance creates the most exquisitely painful experiences - everything in your life will be affected including your relationships, your health and your finances.

Personal growth means powerful change and you will find yourself often out of balance as you ramp it up. Consequently, it is essential to maintain or begin a physical fitness routine (as simple as a daily walk starting slow and building up your stamina). Meditation will take care of your mental and emotional fitness. You need social support from like-minded people like yourself who are genuinely rooting for your success. Community centers, Facebook groups and such are good options. Go with the flow: the direction of least resistance.

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort 
and struggle. ~Napoleon Hill

6. Affirmations

Positive affirmations will change you negative self talk you - that inner dialogue that is constantly repeating and self defeating. For me, Louise Hay has the best affirmations. Use those that resonate with you or create your own. Nothing exaggerated eh. It has to be general! This powerful tool can turn your life around and nix your discontented mind chatter.

Write down and repeat your affirmations every day, out loud and preferably in front of a mirror at home. Keep them with you in your bag or wallet or pocket. When you practice repeating affirmations, silently and out loud, you are in effect retraining your subconscious mind with positive self-talk.

7. You Teach What You Need To Learn

You take charge of your personal growth by teaching what you need to learn. Sure, you know the subject. That's not the issue. You teach what you learn however this is about self-growth and mistakes and self-correcting puts you and keeps you on course and everyone benefits. It's a perfect way of sharing yourself with the world.

Namasté

»»  read more

An Easy 2-Step Yoga Pose to StressLessness

Legs up the wall is an easy 2-step yoga pose to ease stress and is taken from the Mentality magazine, Issue 122. I'm sure you've seen little kids do this, instinctively, which should tell you something about them. Now, it's time for you adults to relearn how to relax, easily.



Leg up the wall pose

This pose quiets the nervous system and mind while relieving fatigue, itself a major stressor. In the illustrations, you have two options for the leg pose, one with knees slightly bent and the other with legs straightened against the wall. Follow your comfort zone.

1- Roll three blankets or a bolster against the wall. Sit facing the wall with your knees bent and then lie down on your back. (Some can do this without any back/hip support but that has another function.)

2- Now, lift your legs and hips and slide forward so that your hips are on top of the blankets or bolster, and the backs of your legs are either i) slightly bent or straightened against the wall and ii) are pointing towards the ceiling.

Stay in this position for 5 to 10 minutes, then roll your knees to the side and sit up, then take your time standing up and have a big glass of water to flush the toxins.

In this position, your shoulders will be lower than your hips. This opens up your chest area. Do not tense up your muscles. Relax into the position.

This inversion of your head lower than your feet causes a rush of fresh blood to your brain, neck and chest and quiets your nervous system. The increased blood flow tricks your brain into thinking that your blood pressure is high and it lowers it in response.

Isn't it the most marvelous instrument of technology!

Repeat as needed.

»»  read more

3 Simple Steps to Relax and Be StressLess



Source: tune2peace.com

I am a huge fan of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It works on almost everything! EFT is a natural, non-invasive tapping technique where we use our fingers to gently tap on various points (meridians) of the face, chest and hands, to relieve stress.

EFT, like all other accupressure techniques is based on the Chinese accupuncture without the needles.

It's quite easy to learn EFT and how it could benefit you. You must however take responsibility for any underlying emotion - the real reason you feel stressed (hurt, angry, afraid etc.) - which may arise as you tap.

In this post however, I describe 3 simple steps to relax and become stressless taken from Tricia Mangray's - owner of Aveda Day Spa - article Pressure Points to Relaxation (Woman's Weekly, Issue 122).

A pressure point called the "Gamut Point" in EFT is a hotline to balancing stress in many different places on the body, notably the brain. It is located between the little finger and ring finger bones of the back of either hand.

I guarantee that tapping on the Gamut Point will relieve any tension you are feeling, at any time. I know because I have been tapping on this one only for two months while living through my own crises of snot, rage and disappointment without using all of the normal EFT points listed on the chart.



Source: griefandmourning.com

1. Begin tapping gently on the Gamut point with the index or two fingers of your other hand. Since these points exist on both hands, it doesn't matter which you use. Think of the stressful situation and keep tapping for 30 seconds or until you feel the need to change as it can become quite sensitive at times.

2. Next, tap on the top of your head at the "Hundred Meetings" point for 30 seconds. All acupuncture points meet here. It is exactly in the middle of your head or where a puppet might have a string attached to the top of its head.

3. Return to the Gamut point and tap for another 30 seconds.  Take a huge breath in and release all of your stress and tension with it. Feel the glow of pure, clean relaxation spreading over you and most importantly, drink a glass of water to flush the toxins released.

This relaxation technique can be used anywhere, anytime and as often as necessary. Whenever you feel to the tension arising, take a five-minute restroom break to breath in and out a few times and tap to stress less.

»»  read more

Take Ownership of your Thoughts - Master them!

I'VE LINKED a few Booster posts to spring you to the next level that I wrote a while back providing other resources to help you achieve a stressless state of being. Re-acting to another person's negativity is simply a knee-jerk stress re-action that you feel but many times do not acknowledge. That's wrong.

START MAKING it a practise to know how you feel (emotional) and what you feel (physical as in tight gut=tense) at different times of the day. Please tune in to your body's signals. It never ever leads you wrong. Once you know "what's up" with you, you are able to manage your actions and you will not take you by surprise or feel out of control. Being the authentic you takes work but would you have it any other way?

SOMETIMES YOU believe life sucks but as I was reminded recently, when you have that kind of shit in your mind you attract, yes you got it, shitty people who are attracted to your vibrational energy (without knowing why) and they are very happy to just spread the crap all over you. You, yes YOU, called it to you!

WE ARE ALL living stress-filled lives and we have got to get off of the crazy merry go-round and it starts by taking some quiet time for yourself, every day, to master your monkey mind.

When we take ownership of our thoughts we are less likely to project our issues or disowned qualities onto others. ~Madisyn Taylor

THE KEY TO the power of allowing is to allow people to be themselves. Not always charming and as long as they don't step on you, as stinky as some may be, it's okay. But here's the thing, you are also responsible for drawing the line with anyone who goes beyond what is acceptable to you.

AS MADISYN TAYLOR suggests below you can quite easily visualise a protective shield to block another person's negative energy. It is that easy.  Do remember that it is your thoughts that draw people and their energy, negative or positive to you. The more you master your thoughts - quieting the mind with meditation is the only way this can be achieved - the smoother your life journey will be.

A GREAT WAY I have discovered to short-circuit unhappy people is to deliberately look for the positive aspects of others. When you start paying attention to another's positive side, what bugs you about them takes a back seat and sometimes what we find is so surprising. They don't change of course but your thoughts about them do and that makes a world of difference. Try it.

And by the way, don't get too tied up on the word "meditation". Just walking in nature (without ipod, ipad, tablet or other distractions), singing, dancing, etc. are all forms of meditation as well. Find what's right for you.

WHILE WE CAN try to avoid people we know who engage in projecting their “stuff” onto others, we can’t always steer clear of such encounters. We can, however, deflect some projections through mindfulness and meditation.

A USEFUL visualization tool is to imagine wrapping ourselves in a protective light everyday. At other times, we may have to put up a protective shield when we feel a projection coming our way, reminding ourselves that someone else’s issues are not ours.

ALTHOUGH IT'S difficult not to react when we are the recipient of a projection, it is a good idea to try to remain calm and let the other person know if they are being unreasonable and disrespectful. We all know that it’s not fun to be dumped on. Likewise, we should be mindful that we don’t take our own frustrations out on others.

WHEN WE TAKE ownership of our thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings, we are less likely to project our issues or disowned qualities onto others. Read the rest of Madisyn's article.

MORE
How to quiet the mind course

Just one thing Mini Meditation to dissolve stress (8 mins.)
I have found Ed and Deb Shapiro to be the most down-to-earth teachers on meditation.

»»  read more

FOOD FOR THOUGHT - Quieting Our Minds with Meditation Lessens Stress

Quieting our minds lessens the negative effects of the outside world, for the external things that seem unpleasant to us are often reflections of our inner tension.

Finding something concrete to focus on through our breath and mental repetition of some form—mantras, counting, or affirmations—enables us to still our minds enough to see that in our immediate surroundings there is often very little that is threatening to us.

The pressure we feel is usually a result of the stress we place on ourselves. By finding mental peace today, you will notice that the pressures of the world will loosen their hold on you. DailyOM

»»  read more

2 Simple, Effective Techniques to Reduce Stress-Producing Acid and Feel More Alive

Role-playing dice

Stress is a killer; we all know that and science can now prove it – never mind the therapists, Naturopaths, healers, etc. who have been saying this for decades.

It is a pet peeve of mine that people wait for "scientists" to tell them what is staring them in the face or more aptly, killing them or those close to them.

But moving right along...

The acid produced by continued stress eventually creates a variety of debilitating diseases (many unrecognised by the medical profession) which will kill us off if we do not take preventative measures now.

We also die each day to be "born" anew in every 24-hour sleep and wake cycle. We die to who we were, the hurt and pain, loss, recrimination and resentment, stifling limiting beliefs and seemingly impossible personal circumstance.

What is beautiful is that we have the opportunity to start afresh on a brand new day. Doesn't that stimulate you in some way? Give it some thought.

So many of us feel that our circumstances are so dire that we think dying might be a solution because living is so painful.

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~Maria Robinson

What you need to understand is that the pain comes from the feeling of loss, of not knowing what to do next or how to do it. That is a crippling feeling of emotional disarray opens the door to fear.

When you allow fear to enter, it is your way of saying "I have no confidence or faith in my abilities". You are also saying, "I feel alone and powerless" which is all well and good if you recognise your state of emotional disarray.

When you feel blindsided by life and deadened by circumstances, the easiest thing to do is to pick up where you left off the previous day and begin the same crapshoot all over again which of course will give you the same results.

Yes, it is insane, no doubt about that yet we keep repeating the cycle over and over again.

Breaking this loop is simple. Stop doing what you have been doing all your life and decide to act based on what you know instead of your typical knee-jerk, emotional re-action. You will get a different result.

You have two simple ways to do proceed and both are very effective.

Image via WikipediaMeditation puts on the light in an otherwise dark room. It enables us to see through illusions and relax into our true nature. Without meditation, it is like being in a desert without water. We look everywhere for satisfaction, but like a mirage it cannot be seen or found. ~Ed and Deb Shapiro 

1.    Meditate for 20 minutes each day (twice a day is better)

Instead of jumping out of bed when you wake each day unless it is to empty your bladder or your bowel (which is a very good thing by the way), stay in bed.

Use this time to centre yourself and establish a solid foundation for your day.

This brand new day gives you a new lease on life. Grasp that opportunity.

» Set your alarm to wake you 20 minutes before your normal time.

» Sit or lie comfortably on your bed and relax. Feel the vitality in your magnificent body from your head right down to your toes. A wonderful mantra to say in your mind as you appreciate your Self "May I be well, May I be happy, May I be filled with loving kindness. May all beings be well, May all beings be happy, May all beings be filled with loving kindness".

Continue until it is time to begin your normal routine.

2.    Breathe your way to better health and vitality

Did you know that when you breathe deeply into your stomach for 3 minutes, you reduce the stress-making acid in your body thereby improving your health? Dr Richard A. Di Censo of Beyond Medicine has lots more to say about this.

I have been practising this deep breathing for years long before I knew about these scientifically proven benefits and I can tell you that you feel lighter and mentally clearer and well-rested after such a session. It literally dissipates the stressed feelings.

» When you feel stressed or when you feel  the pressure building, take 3, 5, or 10 minutes to breathe consciously. Breathe in deeply through your nose lifting your chest and letting the air inflate your belly.

» Hold it for a beat or two then breathe out slowly and continuously - not in one whoosh - through your mouth until your belly feels as if it is touching your back.

A rhythm will gradually build as you continue. This may feel difficult at first because most of us breathe shallowly in our upper chest and rarely expand our lungs.

Image by Erik van Ravenstein  By the way, another by-product of deep breathing is that it alleviates constipation. Why? Because the in and out belly breathing contracts and relaxes your colon encouraging the passage of body waste.

Start today. It's all worth it!

To subject your emotional nature to critical analysis unleashes its transformative powers. When you feel, see and question this principal part of you, you begin to wonder if there is desire, doubt, hate, anger, lust, fear or anything else that holds you prisoner. Are you really any of this? ~Natasha Dern 

You gain clarity of thought and purpose and silence those noisy thoughts that clutter your mind with these two simple and effective techniques. Clear minds equal clear thoughts and well-thought out, unemotional decisions and focussed actions.

And as Ed and Deb Shapiro say in their wonderful article If nothing ever changed there would be no full moon. Powerful tips to practise and live by. Read it!

Increased awareness is the natural result of combined breathwork and meditation and you no longer focus on your limitations and that is a huge. Be stressless people. It is the only way to live!

Incorporate these two practices into your daily life reduces the acid produced by stress, and feel more alive. You might also want to read How to stop absorbing other people's negative emotions. Excellent tips there from Judith Orloff.

»»  read more

Participate In Activities You Enjoy

Image by VSELLIS

We discover that our individual limitations reach far beyond the boundaries we had previously assigned to ourselves when we immerse ourselves vigorously in the activities that energize and excite us. 

It is when we participate in pursuits we enjoy that we are most willing to extend ourselves physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Because we have little fear of failure—as we recognize that mistakes and mishaps are natural aspects of individual growth—we dedicate our bodies, minds, and souls to the challenges before us. 

We feel good knowing that we are reaching past the borders of our comfort zones with some degree of success, and are thus encouraged to continue our explorations. 

You will feel strong and accomplished today as you push yourself past the arbitrary limits that once held sway over your conduct. —DailyOM

»»  read more

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Make Time To Relax ('Tis That Season)

Image via Wikipedia

By using relaxation techniques when we are feeling fatigued, we access powerful tools for revitalizing our bodies. 

In our lives we are often on the run and may not notice when our energy becomes drained. When we begin to feel exhaustion, it is the wisdom of our bodies gently reminding us that we need to relax. 

Resting allows us to draw energy from the universe in order to renew our bodies and still our minds. As a result, we handle stress better and can prevent exhaustion in the future. 

Make time to relax today, and you will notice a great difference in your level of energy. DailyOM

Read some more:

• How to relax at work (cnn.com)
• Active Relaxation (dragonintuitive.com)
• Ways to Relax...RIGHT NOW! (grownupforeal.wordpress.com)
• Ed and Deb Shapiro: Does Fear Rule Your Life? (huffingtonpost.com)
• Ronald Alexander, Ph.D.: Expand Your Consciousness with Meditation (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Mallika Chopra: HOW TO: Promote Peace Within Yourself And Your Community (huffingtonpost.com)
• Ed and Deb Shapiro: What the Dalai Lama Taught Us About Transforming Our Negative Mind (huffingtonpost.com)
• TMJ Natural Remedies (brighthub.com)

»»  read more

Make Sure Your Priorities Are In Order

Mental Health Awareness Ribbon via WikipediaWe can take a moment to make sure that we have our priorities in order of true importance. 

Though society tends to stress the importance of work, our jobs are certainly not more important than our families. By seeking balance between work and play, rest and recreation, we can make sure that we keep our responsibilities to ourselves and to our loved ones as well as do work that supports them all. 

When you know what your goals are, you know the direction you need to take and can make changes accordingly to ensure that we live our lives to the fullest, today and every day. DailyOM

Some "balancing" articles

• How to Balance Life and Work (socyberty.com)
• Forget About Work/Life Balance (psychologytoday.com)
• {31 Days Of Living Simply} Day 1 ~ Welcome | remodeling this life (remodelingthislife.com)
• Live Your Life to The Fullest (socyberty.com)
• Tis the Season..... (psychologytoday.com)

»»  read more

More Relaxation – Get Into It and Go Flow

More good news -  get into it and go flow. I hope there's something here for everyone today.

Guided BREATHING Meditation 
(for beginners)

A Listening Meditation

Close Your Eyes and Relax (Deeply)
with Paul Coleman

 

 Chakra Meditation
(I do this every single morning before getting out of bed)

Meditation with a Master - Thich Nhat Hanh

»»  read more

Flowing Into You

Flowing into you is essential for staying grounded and focused so that when life throws you for a loop you can withstand the shock event though you may think that you can't.
Here's how you get back into you.

Blessed One by Thich Nhat Hahn

What Is Meditation – Eckhart Tolle

»»  read more

Being With Your Self

Image via Wikipedia

This is what I call seriously yummy – being with yourself – connecting with the integral you.
Fabulous teachers, Ed and Deb Shapiro have graced us with Find your peace in the midst of chaos and the following powerful words and meditation are excerpts.

Do read the entire article – it's so poetic and graceful!

"If circumstances cannot be changed, then you can change your attitude toward them—you may not be able to control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. 

You can either blame others or you can relax into each moment as it arises. 

When you can just be with the way things are in the present moment, then you can be free of complications—and that freedom is your peace."

Just Being Meditation
 

–Find a comfortable place to sit and close your eyes. 
–Become aware of yourself, of your presence on the chair in the room. 
–Cast your mind around your body. 
–Breathe into and release any places of tension.

Now feel the flow of your breath as it enters and leaves. Here you are: alive...breathing...sensing...your heart beating...your feet on the floor. 

Be present with yourself and whatever is happening, without judgment.
Image by stewartrutledge via Flickr 
Now just sit and be and breathe...just sitting...just being...just breathing. 

Silently repeat, "May all things be well, may I be at peace with all things."


Stay with this for a few minutes or for as long as you like. 

When you are ready, take a deep breath and gently open your eyes.

Do comment and let me know how you feel practising this meditation. I truly think it's one of the yummiest – you simply become so connected with who you are. Delicious!

»»  read more

7 Ways to Become Stressless and Tap Into Everyday Spirituality

Here are my suggestions on how to become stressless and tap into everyday spirituality.

It is something I am growing into and appreciating more and more every day, and I hope you do as well. If not, why not give one a try. It can't hurt.

1. How to Tap into Everyday Spirituality: 3 Ways to Everyday Spirituality - The 3 techniques cover how to Be mindful - Be still - and Energise your surroundings.  In other words pay attention to whatever you are doing - be in the moment.  Become quiet and go inward; and get rid of the clutter around you, be it people, things or tasks which need to be done. Whatever bugs you, get.rid.of.it and boost the energy in your home (or office).
2. How to Focus and Clear Your Mind: A One-Minute Technique - This is a simple breathing technique which is unobtrusive and can be used anywhere. It is meant to override fear and nervousness while you are waiting in an office, on your way to an interview, etc. It clears the mind and helps you regain clarity and focus.
3. How to Meditate in The Morning and Jumpstart Your Day - A 20-minute technique in 7 steps to be done before you get out of bed. It centres your internal force and grounds you, enabling you to better manage whatever comes your way during the day.
4. How to Find Your Natural Peaceful State with Meditation - A 5-step body focussing technique which allows you to "free yourself" from the stress of the day. It's a great way to ensure a restful sleep at night. And alternatively, can be used in the morning as well.
5. How to Become Stressless and Manage Your Life: A Simple Technique to Eliminate Stress - A 5-minute revving up with laughter. 
6. How to Resolve Conflicts Within Yourself: A Stress-Busting Solution - A 20-minute journaling session to reconnect with your feelings after a hard day, bad day, or even better, a glad day.
7. How to Find Inner Calm When Everything Around You is Crazy - A 5 or 20-minute process where you allow yourself to completely feel and accept whatever feelings are present at that moment. You sink into them and become one with them and watch as they fade away and disappear as if they never were.

 Worry only seems to be necessary.  Eckhart Tolle

 
Be sure to follow the One Moment Meditation 30-day series which starts on 1 April 2010 on Oprah dot com with Martin Boroson.  

He says "Every day for 30 days beginning April 1, you will find a new article with a simple-to-follow advice inspired by my book One-Moment Meditation: Stillness for People on the Go, helping you to transform stress— quickly."

 

Do share your thoughts with me about these techniques and let me know what works for you or if you have something else which works just as well or better.

»»  read more

How to Calm Stomach Pains Caused By Stress: A Relaxation Technique

The Idea

I got the visualisation idea for my relaxation technique from a post on DailyOM - one of my favourite sites.  I would reference it but I can't find it anymore.

Interestingly, it's only when I was doing my morning chakra exercises that it clicked - the solar plexus (the gut) is the home of the third chakra - a wonderful sunshine yellow colour.  Now how's that for synchronicity!

And by the way, the gut is our second brain which is why it tightens up when we're anxious or afraid. And it becomes painfully hard when we back ourselves into a corner out of fear of expressing ourselves.

I provided this off-the-cuff technique about five months ago to a young lady on Yahoo Answers who wanted to know how to calm stomach pains caused by stress.

She liked it so it must have worked for her and I thought I'd share it here as well. It's a 15-minute technique but can be done for a long as you like. Try it and see.

The Technique

1 - Find yourself a quiet spot and sit down or lie down and close your eyes and relax.

2 - Start breathing in and out - in through your nose and out through your mouth. There's no rush so go at your own pace.

3 - When you're comfortable with that, imagine that you're pulling the air directly up through the soles of your feet and into your chest. Do this slowly. Breathe in through your nose - filling your stomach and chest like a balloon - then out through your mouth.

4 - When you feel comfortable with step 3, move on to step 5.

5 - This time imagine that there's a bright yellow sun in your tummy, warm, comfy and nurturing, just above your navel.

6 - Now, inhale through your nose and imagine that you are pulling this wonderful golden yellow light up through feet, legs and hips into your chest, and it's spreading into your arms and head.

7 - As you exhale, imagine this golden light is circulating in and out of your body constantly creating a golden bubble around you, keeping you calm and protected.

8 - Do this for as long as you like at home but 15 minutes is good enough. You can do it sitting anywhere. Afterwards, you'll feel very calm.

9 - Repeat the entire sequence every time you feel anxious. With practice, you'll be able to do it anywhere with your eyes open.

Most people don't breathe deeply, particularly women. When you're not accustomed breathing deeply, you will feel an ache under your breasts and in your upper back when your ribs expand as you breathe in. For men, the ache would be in their upper chest and back when they breathe in.

This ache is caused by unaccustomed movement of your lungs inflating and expanding your chest. It's not a problem so don't fuss unless you have medical issues. If that's the case, get advice from your doctor before-hand.

 

Do write and let me know how you get on with this relaxation technique on how to calm stomach pains caused by stress, and most importantly, tell me if it works for you. If you have other simple, relaxation techniques, please share them with us. It will contribute to the whole.

Technorati Tags: How-to-Calm-Stomach-Pains, calm-stomach-pains-caused-by-stress, a-relaxation-technique

»»  read more

Become Stressless: 6 Creative and Alternative Ways to Destress

Look what I found - 6 creative and alternative ways to become stressless from Oprah's Spirit Newsletter. Take yourself out of the loop with one of these techniques and feel lighter and better than ever.

De-stressing is essential for good health. It is therefore my sincerest hope that one of these techniques could help you relax.

1 - Laughing yoga - started in India. Find out if there's a group in your city.  What is it? It's just a group of people who get together to... laugh and it could last from fifteen to thirty minutes.

Yes, it feels forced at first and you might feel self-conscious in the beginning... but be a good sport and try it anyway.  It turns into genuine laughter in less than one minute, then you can't stop laughing. It relaxes you and releases those feel-good endorphins. Ten minutes a day is all you need. Yummy stuff!  To prove my point:

Stressing less with something so simple cannot be beat. I practise sometimes in the bathroom when I need to force myself out of a bad mood.  It's just plain old joy in the world. For those who want and can't get into it, read Reggie's story on how he overcame his complaining streak through laughter.

Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.  Bill Cosby

2 - Mind-body therapies - All creative activities are relaxing. Try yoga, visualization/imagery, meditation, painting, dance therapy - with or without choreography. Simple and effective yoga positions exist which do not involve standing on your head or twisting yourself into knots.

Talking out your stressing issues is also good therapy - with, of course, the goal of finding a solution. Pity parties waste time and suck energy. Listen to Dr James Gordon of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine as he talks about using imagery and drawings to relieve stress.

Healthy minds live in healthy bodies.

3 - Reiki - now don't turn your nose up at this. Reiki is an energy form medicine, and it  originated in Japan. Practitioners have to be gifted in order to use it.

Because they capture universal energy which they channel through their hands, which they then place on the client's head. The chi or energy is guided through the blockages in the body to eliminate or reduce the discomfort. Acupuncture also works in this way.

From the first visit with a Reiki expert, you would be able to tell if it worked by how you feel. Always remember, if you do not feel right about a practitioner - in any area of service, doctor, dentist, etc. - leave immediately.

It makes no sense seeking healing from someone who makes you uncomfortable. Learn more about energy therapies with Dr Erin Olivo, Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia. She explains them all very clearly.

4 - Playacting or Role playing - a lot of us are natural hams which makes acting out your drama a fantastic stress-buster. Why don't you find an amateur drama group, or role play with a group of friends of the same mind. Children do this all the time. Follow their lead. You are then able to pour out your frustrations on a regular basis. On "bad" days, you know that you have an outlet to vent. Psychodrama is another alternative. This one is new to me. It's role-playing in a group which is led by a therapist.

5 - Breathwork - Concentrating on your breathing for five to twenty minutes is an excellent way to become stressless, calm and relaxed. It's wonderful. It's an excellent idea is to take regular breather breaks  during your day instead of a coffee or cigarette. In my past office life, it literally saved my sanity on more than a few occasions. Here is one ayurvedic breathing technique. It's particularly useful for clearing your mind within five minutes.

6 - Hypnosis - is another great way of breaking through mental barriers and much more involved. Because here you have to trust a stranger to direct your thoughts. I personally would not allow a stranger to meddle in my head. However, that said, Shafin de Zane came highly recommended by someone I trust implicitly, so I'm putting his name forward as a go-to guy.

Take Dr Oz's stress management test and surf his options for some more tips to help you stress less.

Here are some more stress relieving for practising everyday spirituality

Deepak Chopra's heart meditation technique just might be the one you need. So go have a look-see.

Technorati Tags: creative-ways-to-become-stressless

»»  read more