Today we have an epidemic of short-wired people who explode and lose their cool easily, and for what reason? Because someone drove too slowly, didn’t respond to a question quick enough, or looked at you wrong. What if the situation was even more extreme? Stabbings and gun violence resulting in death?
We’re stressed to the max. Powder kegs waiting to go off at the slightest variance within our daily lives. We have high blood pressure, poorly functioning organs, and we’re overweight, which puts excess stress on everything. Basically, we’re killing ourselves and we’ve been made to believe that this is a normal part of life.
Instead of going to the root of our problems, we get a prescription to level out and take care of them, but are they really taken care of? What if we actually decide to take care of ourselves for a change? What would that look like? Who would you have to be in order to do the things you need to do to have better health, less stress, and more happiness? Think about that for a moment.
I recommend beginning with meditation. Many people think it’s some garbage that takes years to master, but it’s really not that difficult. Meditation has been proven to help with anxiety, stress, sleep, and countless other positive health changes.
Start with five minutes and go up from there. Don’t worry about your mind wandering. Focus on breathing in deeply and releasing your breath half as fast as you breathed in. I’m not giving you a specific count, because I don’t want you to feel anxious about this. I want you to feel what it’s like first.
Each time you breathe out, imagine your body relaxing, starting at the top of your head, then your face, neck, shoulders, etc., until you reach your feet. Let go of that stress. Be comfortable where you are. I don’t care if you do this sitting or lying down. Just feel what it’s like to breathe. That’s where you start.
Breathing in to the count of three, filling your belly, pausing briefly, and then breathe out to the count of six (if you want specific numbers) should have a relaxing effect on you. It should help to soothe anxiety and calm your senses. This is a great place to begin if you simply want a feel for the meditative state. You can do this anywhere you are if you begin to feel anxious or angry.
To move beyond breathing, I recommend a meditation app. I myself use Insight Timer. Insight Timer is a wonderful app because you can do a guided meditation, listen to talks, receive affirmations for nearly anything, or create your own timer with sounds you can quietly meditate to. You’ll have a search feature which allows you to look up any number of topics.
Begin by using the app daily. You may find that meditation changes how you feel and pushes you to want to make even more healthy decisions. Ideally, this will lead to you regularly feeling happier and healthier. Who doesn’t want less stress and more happiness?
For more information on Insight Timer and the benefits of meditation, please see the articles below.
**Full Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. You should always consult with your doctor before beginning any new health program or changing any medications.
**Notes on Insight Timer. If you download the app, they’ll want you to do a trial, but if you just want the free version, you can skip past all of that without doing the trial or payment plan.
10 health benefits of meditation and how to focus on mindfulness (ucdavis.edu)
Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break wherever you are – Mayo Clinic
Star Spirit Adventures 