Life can sometimes feel overwhelming¾whether you're dealing with a health issue, work problem, emotional upset, or just "too much going on." You feel submerged, even if all you’ve done is to stick your littlest toe into the water of “looking for a solution.” This inundated feeling seemingly lies too deep and hidden to deal with. When you are subconsciously ignoring it, there is no way you can even begin to try and solve it. And, so it gets buried deeper. Finding your way out of this overwhelmed place happens in small steps. Adding lots of little steps together eventually leads you to a place where a clear, calm, positive mental attitude ripples out into every aspect of your life.
Where to begin?
The first place to begin is creating a quiet place in your mind. Studies have shown that learning to still the mind, if only for a few minutes, can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, limit stress hormones, and enhance immune function. “Our modern world actually trains us to pay less attention and to become caught up in habits of worry and hurry,” says Jeff Brantley, MD, director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C., and author of Calming Your Anxious Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Anxiety, Fear, and Panic.
What’s the antidote?
Purposely pay attention to one thing at a time. “Being mindful is really just waking up with awareness and being truly present in your own life,” Dr. Brantley says, “whether it’s becoming more aware of the sound and feeling of the computer keyboard on the pads of your fingers or enjoying the bittersweet, creamy taste of that iced latte you’re sipping.”
One step at a time
In a world that is full of stimulation, the odds seem overwhelming. Perhaps you are thinking, “A quiet, still space sounds wonderful, but in reality, it feels next to impossible to create!” Does the thought of sitting still in meditation drive you crazy? Following are some “alternative” ways to create a little space of calm in your life. Whenever we try something new, the best place to start is with small, manageable steps. A serene, quiet mind welcomes healthy balance into your everyday, one step at a time.
