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“If it comes, let it come. If it goes, it’s ok, let it go. Let things come and go. Stay calm, don’t let anything disturb your peace, and carry on.”
Germany Kent
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In today’s hectic world, it is becoming harder and harder to calm the mind. We are over-stimulated and overworked, and we find less time to do the things we enjoy because of the things we have to do.
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Without moments of quiet and clarity, it is easy to go a full day without hearing your inner voice. But this is one of the most important things you can do for your mental health. Finding a space for mindfulness helps us both in challenging times and moments of celebration. It allows our mind to come back to who we really are, where we are, and how we are doing.
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Here are four easy methods for finding a moment of calm during the daily grind or when the small hours of the night are creeping in on you as you wrestle with anxiety or fears.
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Gently and softly allow your eyes to close. Feel the touch of your eyelashes against your skin and the gentle soothing pressure of your eyelids against your eyes. Let the soft darkness be a virtual blanket that slowly covers you safely and feel its gentle warmth as it falls across your arms, legs, and body.
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Play a variation of the ‘I Spy’ game with yourself. Find a window and focus your eyes on something a good distance away. You might notice a tree, a building, a lamppost, a playground. Spend a few minutes just gazing out at this object – intentionally slow down your breathing which will encourage your body to relax. You might count the number of branches on the tree or the number of windows in the building. These will get your mind focused on something beyond the immediate stressor and this gives you a mental break that can serve to defuse the body’s stress response.
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Offer yourself compassion and warmth . . . literally. It as n found that just the act of cradling a mug of tea, coffee, or just warm water can help a person feel centered and calmed. Just as the tea ritual in Asian cultures can bring the focus to the present moment, enjoying the grounding warmth of a cup of hot tea in your hands can be a time sensitive substitute.
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Colour! Doodle! Sketch! Letting yourself engage in a non-threatening expressive activity can allow your mind to let go of its anxiety as you physically engage in a relaxing activity. It is not the product, but the process, that matters in this type of activity engagement with creative expression. Focus on the paper and the pen and allow your worried thoughts to fade away as you engage your mind in a totally different direction.
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These activities tend to drop you back from your distracting thoughts and ballooning worries into awareness of your breathing, your body, and your physical presence in the world. Your head can get in the way of your heart and when your worries are screaming for attention, they block out the ability to easily stay present in the moment.
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The methods described above provide strategies for wrestling control from uncontrollable thoughts which gives you the pause to gather your thoughts. …Today choose to create calm and tranquility in your day.
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“Peace is not always easy to grasp or keep close. In the process of attaining and protecting it, you may find yourself tired, weary, and uncertain on how to keep your peace safe. While being uncertain is normal, continue to commit yourself to peacefulness. You are worthy of every drop of sweetness and ease that you encounter. Being tested is a part of the journey. Giving up, and letting go, is not.”
Alex Elle
appliedalliance 