Maybe you are in another helping field or job where the expectation to achieve results is breathing down your neck, or you'd just like to learn how to act instead of react in stressful situations in order to be your best self always.
I recently held a call where we discussed what happens when we're stressed and what to do about it:
What's working for us now and what isn't working. What are the effects on our lives when we continuing reacting the same way as always? I guided the attendees through the steps of a one minute meditation moment. We brainstormed when and where we can use this technique.
I challenged us to try this technique at least once a day for 30 days to see what happens.
If you missed the call, below is a brief synopsis--
I have a technique I use to relax in the moment whenever I'm faced with a situation that I feel myself tensing up against. In my mind I visualize myself standing on a mountain top facing a lovely sunrise. I open my arms out wide and soften my heart,breathing in the wonder of that moment and breathing out any tension within.
I drop my shoulders as I take a few deep belly breaths and remember this situation does not define or control me. This person speaking to me is coming from a place of need within them. It's less about me and more about them. This helps me see that I can hear what they are saying without reacting to it in a way that closes me off. I can then act in a way that expresses my highest self more completely.
Recently I read about Martin Boroson's One Moment Meditation: Stillness For People on the Go - He describes his version of obtaining the same benefits from a minute (eventually, a moment) of stillness, thereby helping us achieve the same peaceful, calm centered feeling that puts us in that OM zone.
It's all about being able to quiet the mind in a stressful situation or tensing when we are multitasking,and pushing the reset button on life in the moment. Embrace the feeling of what is happening now and allow it instead of resisting it. When practiced enough you can learn to detach, step back out of the stress, and act from a place of grace and compassion.
If you'd like to try this practice of meditation in the moment:commit to a minute a day (when you are not stressed) for 30 days. Use a kitchen timer. As you get comfortable, count the number of breaths you take in one minute, then you will be able to do this anywhere by taking the same number of breaths to relax. Then try reducing the number of breaths by one and see if you still get a sense of calm from it. Eventually you will be able to De-stress in a moment and come up with your own moment of meditation.
Try it stuck while in a traffic jam or while on hold on the phone.
*Disclaimer* Keep your eyes open in traffic! My average when deep breathing is 8 complete breaths or 10 if I am breathing normally. When someone says something at work and you feel that burn creeping up on you--excuse yourself for a breath of air or slip into that quiet spot within.
So right now, scan your body. Are you tense any where? Does your back or neck hurt? On a scale of 1-10 what is your stress level?
- Set your timer for one minute.
- Sit up straight yet relaxed. Lay your hands in your lap comfortably in your lap.
- Put your feet on the floor to ground yourself to the power of the Earth.
- Close your eyes.
- Think of the top of your head as being open to all the Cosmic energy and wisdom of the Universe.
- Settle in and just notice your breath.
- One minute elapses--DING!
Now scan your body again--From 1-10 how stressed do you feel?
What did you notice? Please comment and let me know what worked - was there an resistance? Continued practice of just one minute will make this an automatic response when you need it.
Listen in real time and do 1 minute of meditation now.
Tap the volume button to increase it.
Jude Eastman ~ Life & Soul Coaching
http://stirringthespiritwithin.com/
2 comments:
Jude was great to meet you and finally hear your voice. I had a very good inforrmative time and really did find that I noticed a difference in that 1 moment. But will say to do quickly ie at work ect would take practise.
WIll keep on trying.
Cindy
Hey Cindy! Soooo good to get to finally talk to you too. Try to do this once a day especially in calm times to cement this process. It then becomes even easier to do in the times of stress. Let me know how it goes!
Post a Comment