My last post was about how I cope with stress and ways in which I try to recenter myself when I know I become unbalanced.
It hasn't been easy and it hasn't been short, just now weeks later am I starting to realize the little but huge ways in which I brought myself back from the "beyond."
Meditating!
Meditating is key --- I know, I know, a lot of people feel meditation is too long or too hard to tackle. But you would be amazed at what a mere five minutes can do on an overly stressful day, and even when you don't feel you have an extra five minutes because of work or family or just life thats when you need to take it the most. I've slowly including a short 5-10 minute meditation with homeschool for my kids and even they say they feel a complete turn around from how they're minds and attitudes felt before doing so. I know sometimes trying to teach children how to just sit and be with themselves can seem even more stressful than including them but I have a four-year-old, a seven-year-old and an 11 year-old who all three have their own personalities and hate sitting still but I've used headspace to help them in learning how to let their mind free and it has done a world of difference in helping them see how to quiet their mind and also let their mind run free. We've only done the 10 day free trial and since then I have been showing them how I meditate... Such as, how I use mantra's, mala beads, sage burning and candles, and even tibetan singing bowls or listening to monks chant. When I allowed them a peak into my sacred meditation practices they let me know it was different than headspace but also nice because in a way I taught them that meditating is what they make of it. I did not coach them on what to do, how to sit, or what to make their mind do.
The first thing I showed them was sage and the way the smoke rises and blows and how relaxing the smell can be and of course the benefits of burning it. Then as I told them to watch the smoke I noticed (and they did too) an energy shift in them, they were very moody and hyper then slowly calmed down. Once they were calm I told them they could close their eyes now and think or not think or do whatever their minds wanted and even let them know that my own mind sometimes played storiers for me. I've also taught them about manifesting with an awesome back story to which they could relate. Then I let the music play and I kept up with the minutes and my younger two children getting antsy and slowly brought the music down and the lights up. They all let me know they enjoyed that so, maybe you too can start with headspace and move into your own sacred meditations.
Now, a good book!
I think I have shared this one before but, its too good not to do it again, I am rereading it now, The Untethered Soul is an awesome book in learning about your mind and ways to reprogram it. But sitting down with a good book and escaping the stresses of life can really just make a huge difference. I noticed once I was reading and actually into a good book that I was less stressed out than before and enjoyed that feeling. Even if you're not an avid reader or barely touch books just a short time every day could make a huge difference in your life. Start with shorter books and work your way up, or start with a series -- Harry Potter (my favorite and its rereadable), Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games -- I could go on and on but a good book... Is just perfect for an overactive mind and a stressed out one!
