Posts tagged Mental Exercise
Easy Ways to Calm Yourself Down
Sep 2nd
The art of calming oneself down is worth learning well, if only because it guarantees us much happiness when mastered.
Sometimes, the smallest things set me off on the path that ends in me feeling rotten, and I then find it difficult to snap out of it. Well guess what – over time, I discovered that it was better for me to exercise some control over my emotions and try not to get annoyed in the first place. Over time, I became better at this, and I am proud to say that I do not get so easily agitated anymore.
If it involves another individual, I try to disengage myself from the situation as fast as I can. Just walking away and occupying myself with something else gives me the opportunity to think more clearly and put things into perspective since emotion is not clouding my judgement at that point. Depending on the circumstances and whether I think it is worth my effort, I might then decide to go back and come up with a solution for the issue.
Of course there are times this technique does not work, for instance at your workplace or office. In this scenario, I just attempt to think of pleasant thoughts or do something to bring back the good memories. Oh, and do not forget to breathe deeply. Having had a (mostly) happy life, this is not too difficult a task for me.
Another method that works well for some people is to invent, in their minds, a hilarious, ridiculous or silly event and relate that to a person they get annoyed with. They regularly make that mental connection between the person and that imaginary event. Whenever things come to a head with that person, that funny thought automatically triggers in their mind, and they would discover that they are much less negatively affected by the less than desirable interaction.
The main objective of this mental exercise is to break the hold these annoying folks have over you. The dark clouds vanish and you get to go back to your inner place of equilibrium, peace and balance.
In the end, nothing beats old, reliable GSOH (Good Sense of Humor), which remains the best cure for avoiding high blood pressure and heart disease, not beta blockers or statins.
What’s For Breakfast?
Sep 2nd
“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” -Eileen Caddy
When you wake up in the morning what is on your mind? What is on your emotional plate? What are some of the first thoughts and words you use to feed yourself in order to get through the day? Do you have a healthy mental breakfast or don’t you even take the time to sit down and eat?
How you spend your time in the morning will have a lot to do with how your day goes. If you take the time to nourish your mental well being you will not only start out on the right note, you will have more balance in your life.
Some people are so used to doing nothing, they simply run around through their morning routine and aren’t aware they even have a mind!
But, if you wake up just 5 minutes early and take time to give thanks for another day, pray to live it well no matter what you find and focus on what you do have that you are grateful for; that 5 minutes will not only help put you on a healthier mental path but there’s no other way to start each day.
If you can take even more quiet time to pray and meditate try and get in the habit of doing so because if you think physical exercise is good for your health, doing this one mental exercise each day puts you in touch with the spirit of life that sustains us.
We are sometimes so wrapped up in the outer physical world that we forget there is a whole other world within us that when tapped into can bring you peace, strength, freedom from worry and fear and the perspective that all is well.
This kind of soulful nourishment will help you live each day knowing that no matter what happens you are just fine. You always have a peaceful place within you and a light that can erase any darkness.
Don’t allow yourself to get so caught up with all of your issues and all of the garbage that’s on your plate that you forget about all that is right in your life.
Learning to start each day from within will be the best thing you can do for yourself. Eating a healthy mental breakfast is the only way to start each day because without it you simply won’t be on your “A” game.
Being grateful and being thankful for every little thing you have may sound trite but it will make the biggest impact on how you live. It is all about your perspective and how you choose to view your life.
Make living with an attitude of gratitude apart of your day and you will live it well!
Below is my mom’s favorite prayer that I say each morning:
Lord/Allah/Higher Power thank you for another day within this life of mine. Help me to live it well no matter what I find.
Bestow from you abundance whatever I may lack, help me use the hours wisely for I cannot give them back.
Lord/Allah/Higher thank you for another day in which to make amends for the little slights and petty words inflicted on my friends.
For sometimes losing patience with people that I find, in finding faults in others lives but not the ones in mine.
Lord/Allah/Higher Power thank you for another chance in which to try to be a little more deserving of the gifts you’ve given me.
For yesterday is over, tomorrow is far away and I remain committed to the good I do today!
