How to stay calm

Stress is popularly accepted in the Western world as the most common promoter of disease and illness. It is considered an influence in heart disease, and high blood pressure, it encourages almost every ailment from migraine to cancer.

Unlike most ailments, stress does not pass with time, it will build and build creating anger, impatience, intolerance and every other negative emotion, making your life full of confrontation and conflict.

When you become anxious, your thoughts seem to speed up and become erratic, you tend to lose concentration and focus on things and others around you. As your stress and tension builds your, ability to be controlled expires, and, impatience, and intolerance come to the fore.

As your stress reaches crisis point, your diet tends to suffer and your appetite diminishes, sleeping patterns become erratic and insomnia becomes a constant problem.
Finally along the way disease and illness, will manifest into your life for ignoring the symptoms and warning signs, your body begins breaking down .

Most every one in the western world, will suffer one or more of these symptoms, in the following we are going to help you gain more focus and concentration in your life, and to teach yourself to stay calm.

Before we begin, it is a fact that we are very habitual creatures, so to create something that becomes natural we have to be repetitious and create a routine, persistence is required to begin with but in time, being calm will become automatic.

And if you wish to put the effort in, then you shall be rewarded with a calm balanced attitude, as well as a great reduction in your medical bills.

* First of all we want you to choose a word it may be your name, or love, peace
or any other word that is pleasurable to you. We would like you to focus on this word, whilst in a calm quiet environment, do not force yourself to concentrate, but be determined.

Ensure that you are comfortable and relaxed, your breathing should be slow and even, close your eyes, and focus on your special word.

You will notice after a very short time that your mind will start flitting from one thought to another, when you notice this, stop, focus on your special word and begin again.

Do not get angry or impatient with your self , as this is a typical response, and by continually refocussing on your special word you are actually teaching yourself to concentrate and focus, you are teaching your mind to be still.

* Now we will introduce you into a breathing meditation, using your special word.

Choose a calm, quiet place , dim the lights or use a coloured globe, you may also use incense if you wish, ensure your clothes a loose and comfortable and take the phone of the hook. Sit in a straight-backed chair, sit for a minute relaxing and breathing regularly .

Then slowly stilling your mind, focus on your breathing , be aware of the air going into your nostrils, flowing down into your lungs then up through your mouth and out through your lips. Soon you will be only aware of your breathing, when you have reached this stage forget about it.

Then begin to count to each breath, breathe in, (one),breathe out, breathe in (two), breathe out, do this to four the go back to one, hear these numbers in your head, but do not say them, when your focus is totally on counting, you will find that your breathing will have slowed down below what we consider normal.

You will also find that you will be completely relaxed and peaceful, if your mind wanders during your count patiently refocus on your numbers and continue counting.

You may use your special word in your breathing meditations, by splitting it in half, you can breathe it in and breathe it out, for example, we will use calming.
Breathe in (calm), breathe out (ing), focus totally on the word and you will become it.

The focus on breathing and counting your breaths, is an excurses in concentration and centering of your attention.

When beginning this breathing meditation, you should allow yourself 10 minutes, then gradually increase the meditations until you can meditate for an hour with out distraction of a wandering mind.

As stated before we are very routine creatures and it won�t be long before your number counting or special word will trigger off instant calm, for your mind will associate it with the practice of relaxation and calmness.

As you develop the ability to switch off from outside distractions, by using your numbers or special word, you will then be able to practice this at work , or any other situation that may be causing you stress.

Simply by relaxing yourself, and breathing in, do your counting, or use your word and you will find that you will automatically relax and calm yourself.

You will find with practice you will be able to meditate , eyes open, whilst sitting up or standing, anytime or anywhere, in doing this you will become totally balanced , calm and in total control of your emotions and mental wanderings.

You will be able to deal with any crisis situations whether they be at work or home, your health will improve as well as your patience, tolerance and the ability to enjoy life to the fullest.

Remember to gain something you have to earn it, and with practice you can earn the ability to stay calm.