In today’s world there are so many stressors, uncertainties, challenges, conflicts, political unrest, the list goes on. How do you manage your stress? How do you relieve your anxiety? How do you create balance in your life?
As a mental health nurse and doctor of spiritual sciences, I see the outcome of chronic stress which is depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicidal ideation, self harm, homicidal ideation, physical disease such as cancer, fibromyalgia, IBS, ulcers, hypertension, heart attacks, insomnia, chronic pain and the list goes on.
So how does one balance life, reduce stress and experience greater health and wellbeing?
The number one stress buster ………drum roll, please…………!!
MEDITATION
It is also the number one most resisted practice due to busy minds. I often hear “I can’t quiet my mind enough to meditate or even sit still very long.” The unfortunate reality is that we have been taught to put our attention on our physical world reality, our chattering minds and all of what life has to offer instead of being taught the importance and effectiveness of meditation, contemplation, spiritual exercises and the many powerful benefits of this practice.
Meditation has been found to be effective at decreasing anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD symptoms. Meditation is beneficial for memory, focus, concentration as well as increasing pain tolerance and providing relief from insomnia.
I encourage my clients to start meditating with 1 minute a day for 1 week and then increase to 3 or 5 minutes a day for a week. Continue to increase the time according to successful completion of previous week.
There are various approaches to meditation. For instance, it can be useful to use the breath or a mantra or an image to return your focus once you realize your mind took off on the “to do” list. Gently refocus your attention on your object of focus without judgment or thinking you’re not doing it right. The only wrong way to meditate is to NOT to meditate.
Be gentle with yourself. Allow your experience to be what it is with non-judgment and a whole lot of acceptance. It is like building a muscle, it takes time, diligence, practice and patience. A clear heart-felt intention and devotion can go a long way.
I also offer the tone HU as an object of focus. It is either sung as H….. U…. or as a constant tone of HUUUUU. It is important to give it a musical tone as you chant HU inside. Give HU your focus for 30 seconds and then allow silence in order to receive messages or downloads from your High Self/Soul. HU is an ancient Sanskrit term meaning God essence. HU-MAN. God essence animating the person.
As you become more proficient you will experience space between your thoughts that is a peaceful expansion and beyond. I hope you give it a try and it turns into a daily practice that soothes your stress and gives you greater peace, joy, health, and inner freedom.
In my experience it was very challenging the first few years with a great deal of mind chatter and urges to go do something. But since my doctorate programs curriculum was a 2 hour recommendation, I persisted and eventually reached the 2 hours of spiritual exercises which is an active practice using spiritual tones as a focus. The result has been a deepening in my connection to my spiritual essence in and out of meditation, greater joy, inner freedom, confidence and inner knowing I am taken care of and loved no matter what.
Let me know if you need support or have questions. I wish you the very best on your journey of awakening.
Jewel Lea Grant 