7 Steps to a Worry Free Day

Posted by Mary

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I found this on my stumbling expedition today. Hope you enjoy it, and if you want to read more stuff like this check out the Secrets of Life Category on the right.

1. Breathe deeply. Take about ten minutes or more every day to quiet the mind by focusing on your breath. You may try five minutes upon awakening and five minutes just before you go to sleep. Or you may prefer the shower or waiting in line to breathe deeply for a few minutes. Wherever you find a few moments in your day, just close your eyes, relax and focus on your breath.

Let your attention follow your breath; slowly in…; slowly out…; now breathe out just a little bit more. Rest a moment. Breathe in. Repeat. Listen to your body. Stay present. Whenever a thought from the past, future or the outside world slips into your consciousness, acknowledge it, agree to ‘deal with it later’ and bring your attention back to your breath. Quietly In… Out… In… Out… Relax. Breathe deeply from deep in the belly.

Whenever you find yourself in a stressful situation and things begin to feel overwhelming, try practicing this or another breathing exercise. Breathe in and out; breathe out just a bit more. Breathe in again. Now you’re better equipped to respond to whatever was compounding your stress level.

2. Feel gratitude. Express your gratitude often; to yourself; your loved ones; your Creator; to those who offer you their assistance throughout your day; to everybody and everything that impacts your life. Feel the emotions that accompany true thankfulness for all that you have right now.

Practice this acknowledgement of gratitude every day. If you’re in a particularly stressful situation, do it often throughout your day and you will notice how quickly things begin to shift.

Twenty-six years ago, when I was six months pregnant with my first daughter, I arrived home to find it surrounded with firefighters, blackened, with a few wisps of smoke still swirling from the door and windows. The surrounding ground with drenched. I had lost everything in there, but even in that moment, it felt like it was somewhat insignificant in the bigger picture of life. I just kept rubbing my tummy and mumbling “It was all just stuff; I have what’s really important to me.” I must have said this, mostly to myself, at least a hundred times over the next few days. I also felt grateful for my friends and loved ones, for strangers who reached out to help, etc. This strong sense of gratitude got me through this very difficult situation.

To finish the 7 steps click here…