Shambala Blog

meditation

Listen to the Still Small Voice Within You

Pay attention.

A serene environment optimizes your hearing ability. However, in a multitude of voices, it is difficult to hear what individual voices are saying no matter how hard you strain. The universe speaks to us calmly amid chaos. Other voices are louder than it and the former gets lost therein.

The major difference is that the still small voice speaks in you, not elsewhere. The universe has a way of communicating with your spirit. It speaks in a tender voice within you. As it speaks, you are convicted in your heart to act upon what it is telling you.

Communication with the universe.

The universe communicates to us diversely. Most notably is the still small voice speaking within us. It is calm even when the situation is chaotic.

In an intense situation and with an adrenaline rush when we are under the pressure to make a move, it is difficult to pay attention to what the universe is telling us. You can be sure that only the voice within you holds the key to unlocking the stalemate. Communicate with the Universe

Maintaining calm under pressure is difficult. Everyone is looking up to you for direction and you feel obliged to be the hero.

Communication is a skill perfected over time especially with a tight situation at hand. Here is a guide to listen to the still small voice in you:

  1. Withdrawal.

As much as we may spite this, our environments play a significant role in how we communicate to the universe. It is difficult to hear what the universe is saying if we live in a chaotic environment.

Consider the analogy of the price of a bottle of water. At the airport, it could be priced at $7. The same is priced at $5 in supermarkets and $3 at its wholesale outlets. Why is the price different for the same commodity?

The difference is a result of a change of locations. This signifies the importance of our environment. Change your location if you cannot hear what the universe is telling you.

  1. Focus.

The focus of your attention at any point is very important. Always focus inwards before outwards because the external environment can soil your focus before you have discovered yourself.

The universe operates like the camera. You focus on the subject before taking any shot. There is a guarantee of a perfect shot if the focus was accurate. Similarly, focusing on yourself enables you to sift through the multitude of voices. You can distinguish your desires from the right thing to do.

You master self-control when you focus on yourself. Lust or any other selfish desires cannot stop you from listening to the conviction in your heart by the universe. Without accurate focus, you will mistake your innate wishes for what the universe is telling you.

  1. Adjust.

The universe requires us to adjust to what it is telling us. Adjustment is an uncomfortable affair. We have to cut down on our pleasures and settle on a middle ground. It could be something we were unprepared for but we have to do it anyway.

The still small voice within us always demands what is right over what is convenient. We may have to adjust by shedding off some unnecessary friendships. They could be the hindrance to manifestation by the universe. communicate with the Universe

Listening to the still small voice involves doing away with anything that comes in the way. Mark you, the universe wants what is best for us contrary to people who only wish on us what will be convenient for them too.

  1. Act boldly.

Have the guts to implement what the still small voice within you is saying. The universe never forgets. It shall not pardon you for contempt to implement what it told you. Of all the relationships you have forged, yours with the universe is supposed to be the superlative one. You owe fidelity to it as it does to you.

Pursue the dream you have always wished for before someone discouraged you from doing it. Court the lady or man giving you butterflies in your stomach. Do not think twice to apply for that scholarship when it is still available. Bold actions are always rewarded.

Demonstrate faith in your actions. Believe in the voice convincing your heart to act on something because it is never wrong. 

  1. Observe acts of nature.

Apart from the universe communicating to you in a small still voice, it does so through acts of nature. Observe what is happening around you that reinforces the message of the still small voice. Has your best friend suddenly abandoned your agreement on something without an explanation?

When the universe speaks to you about leaving one course for another, you will be hesitant especially if you had invested heavily in it. The universe will command things to frustrate what you are doing until you toe the line. Part of the reason why this happens is if the course you are taking is disastrous. The universe knows what lies ahead and will warn you of impending danger.

When everything is happening in your favor, the universe is encouraging you to continue with what you are doing. It shall be rewarded. The still small voice can be stifled by what happens around us but acts of nature reinforce what we may not be ready for. What the universe wants always prevails.

In conclusion, it is paramount to listen to the still small voice within you. The universe rewards obedience and punishes rebellion. Choose where you will want to lie wisely.

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confession

Confession Brings Possession

Say a word!

Confession is the act of speaking aloud your innate desires. It could be to someone or yourself anytime you wish. It is the most underrated method of affirmation yet remains very effective when done in the right way.

Some are fearful that confessions are unfruitful especially if your foes happen to hear you. They could work against you to halt your dreams. However, the secret is that confessions thrive in antagonism. The universe works for the bold. It favors fearless people who would want to thrive regardless of any opposition in their way.

Refuse to be ordinary.

Ordinary people refuse to act differently from everybody else. Confession appears as a simple act of ignorance that does not go beyond speaking. However, there is a great secret in it. This is only understandable by those who defy norms and confess their dreams to the universe.

Stand out from the crowd and boldly confess your dreams. Do not shy away from them because nothing will be hidden from people at the time of manifestation. 

They will marvel at how your dreams have come true before their eyes.   

The power of confession.

The universe considers confessions the way soldiers act on orders from their commanders. Orders are not questionable. They are expressly implemented. The destiny of people is directed by the universe.

The destiny in tandem with your desires as expressed in your confession manifests when you learn to communicate to the universe. Speak what you want to possess and it will draw nearer to you. God who is the master of the universe wants us to tell Him our desires although He knows them.

The only path set by the universe for us to follow is confessions. Prayers, which is a populous way of speaking to God, is also a form of confession. 

We pour our hearts into the universe and thereafter get favorable feedback from it.


 

What do you want to possess?

When you are capable of satisfactorily answering this question, then you are drawing closer to receiving it. Indeed, our needs vary yet the universe holds all our answers. It can never be saturated with them because prayers are answered daily.

The answered prayers belong to those who believe in them. You cannot lie to the universe. If you believe you can receive what you are confessing, consider your prayers answered. It can only delay but shall surely come to pass.

The next time you are confessing your dreams to each other or the universe, only do so for what you believe in.

What do you confess?

Always confess positive no matter how difficult a situation may look. Confessions attract our possessions and we should never wish any bad luck on ourselves; not even in anger. 

Speak positively of the future even when the present seems dark. It is darkest before dawn.

Products of confessions are hardly reversible. Negative confessions can cause too much damage before they are stopped. 

The consequences can live with us forever. They can maim or leave permanent scars in our lives.

Discouraging situations can mislead us into believing illusions about ourselves. 

We may think the universe is against us when we pass through the fire. 

However, all hope is not lost. When we confess good things but the universe does not yield to them, there could be one door that is locked.

Purity of confessions.

Purity is the prerequisite you have to fulfill if you want to possess your confessions. 

The universe knows our deepest secrets. It cannot grant you a wish on tainted hands. Some of the dirt in your hands could be slander, theft, illegal business, or malice.

Purify yourself before you confess to the universe your desires. 

The universe can manifest any confession you make with the purity of heart and soul. It rewards good and punishes evil.

Granting confessions to one with soiled hands will make you misuse possessions at your disposal. Purity unlocks the possessions of your confession. 

Seek forgiveness from those you wronged, return the plunder from those you stole from and confess your evil plans to those you intended to harm.

Refusing to seek purity will block the door to your possessions. God encourages us to be at peace with everyone as much as possible for it to be easier to answer our prayers.

Conscience in confessions.

What is your conscience when confessing to God your prayers about the present or future? The intentions you harbor to use your possessions thereafter matter a lot if the universe is to consider your request at all.

If you intend to capture power, for example, for the aim of revenge and not to serve then the universe will shut its doors. We often do not receive what we pray for because our conscience is unclean.

We can hide our conscience from family and friends but never from the universe. Before you confess, in public or private, have a clear conscience to use your possessions for the benefit of the universe or people you live with.

Why should the universe grant your wish if your possessions will not serve humanity? In the extreme, it can grant your ill confessions and they shall only haunt you and spare those you intended.

An abundance of possessions.

When it is clear what you are confessing to the universe is a generous cause, answers will come in abundance. God shall answer you speedily and multiply what you asked for because you intend to serve the universe.

In service, your life too is transformed. You become an instrument the universe uses as a blessing to others. As a source of blessings, you shall never lack because the universe shall entrust you with its resources.


 

To whom much is given…

To whom much is given much will be demanded. The universe gives you the responsibility of taking care of others owing to the multitude of your possessions. Guard yourself against falling prey to selfishness or misuse because the universe can shut its doors to you.

In conclusion, confessions surely bring possessions when done in the right way. What is preventing you from being a good son/daughter of the universe? Take a bold step today and be an example to the rest.

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inner child

Listen to Your Inner Child

When you hear the word, Inner child, you are more likely to think of it as a bygone past memory. The kid version of you, was that part that was playful, naughty, carefree and very cheerful. We trust and believe everything that has been told to us, whether good or bad and that’s how we are later shaped as adults. 

Now here comes the tricky part, as kids, we were so guileless that anything our elders, teachers, close people, etc. told us, we were quick to accept. This is where we slowly start pushing away our inner child. For weren’t we told that now we need to act like an adult? Act like a big girl/ boy. child playing kite

And now as “Adults” certain situations trigger us into acting like the childish version of ourselves.

Then we question yourself, why am I acting like a child?

This is where listening to your inner child will actually help.

So how does one listen to what the inner child is actually trying to communicate?

Your inner child  does try ways to communicate to you, but you have never actually paid attention to it, wanna know how?

Have you ever observed that there are certain situations under which your mind or your body just froze, you are flooded with angry or negative thoughts, wish to run away, etc.?

Yet you as an adult, do not realise why this particular mundane situation is provoking such strong reactions from you?

That’s your inner child, trying to communicate with you. dreams

Understanding and listening to your inner child requires you to also pay attention to your past childhood needs, wants and desires.

Here are a few questions to start off with to know how to listen, start point.

  • Were your emotional, psychological, physical, spiritual needs met, when you were growing up? 
  • Were you able to truly express your thoughts, wants and desires in a non judgemental way?
  • Were you given the liberty to fully pursue your hobby, spend time doing things you loved the most?

If you have answered No, to either of the questions, then you have found your start point into this inner child journey.

These are the ways in which you can listen to your Inner Child :

  • Acknowledge your inner child’s presence:

To be able to listen to your inner child, the first prerequisite is that you need to ACKNOWLEDGE his/ her presence in your life.

Understand that your inner child functions like any other kid or child. 

They just need  you to tell them that you are paying attention to their needs, wants, desires, likes, dislikes. That you will listen to what they have to say, wont ignore their naive or novel demands, like the other “Adults” have been doing. They need to know that you will value them, if they make a mistake won’t scold them.

Ask yourself or observe this, the next time you make a mistake unknowingly,

What’s the first thing you end up saying to yourself?

Ah, Shit, why am I so dumb!?

That’s where you are indirectly scolding your inner child for their mistake.  

Most of the time, our self talk is not our talk with our own self, but rather a mixture of all the bad remarks adults have told us and what we later carried forward too.

So the next time, you observe that you have been acting rudely with your inner child, pause, say sorry to the inner child. Learn to acknowledge that he/ she is also scared and just needs some support. That’s why you are here. 

  • Practise talking to your Inner child : 

To be able to talk to your inner child,

First you take a picture of yours, from your childhood album.  You can go and sit back in a relaxing place that is quiet and silent. You can either just lie down or sit back comfortably.

Next, before you close your eyes, look at the picture of yourself. Look at the picture carefully, you are going to meet the same kid.

Now as you close your eyes, imagine reaching out to or meeting your inner child for the first time.  

How do you feel he/ she will react? Will they be happy, sad, shy, laidback? Imagine meeting them at a favourite spot, you had, as a kid. You are free to imagine how their first reaction would be to you.

Next, try asking what would he/she like from this adult version of you?

Do you feel they would need some form of support? Acceptance? Need more of “Me” time, play time? Wanna explore more hobbies? Asking the kid and imagining the conversation itself, will make you feel light and get more in touch with your inner child’s wishes.

  • Write a letter to your inner child:

The next way in which you can listen to your inner child is, by writing them a letter.  A very common  first reaction would be, what do I say, how do I acknowledge him or her, how do I go about? writing a letter

It’s simple, firstly give your inner child a cute pet name or refer to them as something you would like to call them. A friend of mine named her inner child “Nemo” for she truly wished to connect and listen to what her inner lost nemo had to say.

In the letter, you can pour out every emotion, expression that you feel you had not experienced as a kid. And let them know that it was not their fault that they were neglected, ignored, bullied, laughed at.

Next you would like to say that now you are here. You will be the adult who will accept them and honour their wishes and desires. You will not leave them. They are worthy of love and affection, which is exactly what you shall provide.

After all, all the inner child really wants you to listen to is, to accept them, don’t ignore them, feed them and let them be silly!

  • Do the things you loved to do as a kid

My childhood may be over, but that doesn’t mean playtime is.” Ron Olson. I completely agree with this statement. Your inner child may or maynot actively talk to you, but once you are more mindful about your own routine or actions, it gets easier to listen to your inner child. Pay attention to the things that made you happy or lively as a kid. 

Whilst “Adulting” we tend to ignore the things that made us excited, that made us lively, maybe it meant chasing those butterflies or collecting seashells, do whatever makes you smile as brightly as the rainbows!

  • Do the thing that pushes your inner child out of its comfort zone:

Now I know you would think that why would I want to push my inner child out of its comfort zone? It will run away and hide and never communicate, but that’s not always the case.

When you try something even as small as, riding on a rollercoaster ride alone, which scared you as a kid. You are allowing a safe space for your inner child to come par with its fears and show them that it’s not that scary as it seems to be. Our fear associated with trying something new and the actual outcome are usually at opposing heights.

 Thus doing this will your inner child speak to you again and try out new adventurous things in life! After all, the child just wants to explore and feel safe at the same time.

This will make you even more lively and try out even more exciting things in life.

Conclusion: 

Listening to your inner child might feel like an impossible task in the beginning, but once you slowly accept your own childish hues, you shall see that your inner child will aid you to an even fruitful tomorrow!

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self compassion

How to Practice Self-Compassion Without Feeling Selfish

For God knows it is good to give; 

We may not have so long to live, 

So if we can, 

Let’s do each day a kindly deed, 

And stretch a hand to those in need, 

Bird, beast or man.

– Robert William Service.

We have often grown up with the idea that compassion is what we ought to serve and show towards others in our life. 

So, if you were to ever think that you would too like to be cared for, cherished and respected the same way that you treat others, you would be puzzled. 

You would feel it is not the right thing to do.

Because you have been pre programmed since childhood, you must put others’ needs and wishes first, be at their service. Your own feelings and emotions come last in this hierarchical base.

 

But this is why you are here to change that pattern.

By practicing self-compassion you will accept that there are some weak points that you would need to work upon, you will thus try to be a more progressive version of yourself.

When you work towards growing to be a more healthier and healed version of yourself, you allow yourself to fully feel loved and appreciated.


happiness

 

 

Your own compassion will aid you into this beautiful journey of Self compassion : 

When you say you feel compassion towards others, that means you can fully feel what all hardships they would have undergone or seen in  life. And that you are there by their side to lessen this suffering by providing your unconditional support to them. By showing them respect and acceptance you show your compassion to them.

This is exactly what you need to do to yourself too.

 

Look within, you are worthy too.

Suppose, your wife comes to you sharing her sadness. She has lost her job, due to some impulsive mistake from the organization.

So what is it that you are more likely to do?

Simple, you are first going to hug her tight, tell her that it’s okay, no biggie, jobs come and go, she will find something more amazing in the future. You are likely to put on your shoes and take her for her favourite dinner.

Then my question to you is,  why is it that when you face a similar situation like this, you fail to acknowledge all of you previous hard work? And be there by your own side?

Why is it that for your trivial mistakes or silly decisions, the first thing that comes to your mind is negativity?

Realize that the level of empathy and acceptance you are showing towards others, the love you keep showering them with, comes from within. And unless you yourself do not give the same acceptance and love  to you, how will you be able to shower the same to others?

As Rumi once correctly said, you cannot love others, unless you love yourself.

Look Within, you are worthy too.

 

Try Tonglen Meditation. 

This form of meditation was developed thousands of years ago, by a Buddhist monk. The main idea behind it lies in the way we channel our compassion into creating something more beautiful.

meditation

During this meditation process, your main focus like the mindful meditation is to be aware of your inhale and exhales. 

Here’ s the interesting part. 

As you inhale, you take in the pain, in its pure raw form and you let it become a part of you. 

Let this pain, these negative self-talk, criticism you show yourself, reach towards the core of your heart, wherein you shall now send love and compassion to yourself.

Next as you exhale, with the long breath, you imagine that you are sending unconditional love and care towards that pain.

It’s the same way you would for your loved one, but right now, you are in need of the same.

Begin your days on a compassionate note 

I had read this somewhere, that the way you begin your day, plays a crucial role as to how your entire day would go. Try beginning your day thus, with words of compassion. It will be in the same way you greet your best friend or family members or significant other. happy family

Here are a few you can try practising:

  • Today is a beautiful day…” I will try my best to enjoy it to the fullest”
  • I will try my best to be kind to myself today
  • I will give my best today, not thinking about the bad consequences.
  • I will be a stronger version of myself, as I get ready to face the day.
  • I will be a happier version of myself today knowing that I am enough.

Conclusion :

Lastly, as the famous quote says,You’ve been criticising yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens next?

I think that’s all I would like to say and it’s for you to try.

 

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letting go

How to Stop Living in the Past, and Live from Today?

I recently came across this quote by Eckhart Tolle from my pinterest and I think that is what gave me the idea to share my intake on the topic. The quote goes something like this” “The past has no power over the present moment.” 

So why is it that we often find ourselves rummaging over the same past events like listening to the same song over and over again, until we are tired of it, yet we cannot let it go, for it was our favourite at some point in time?

There was one beautiful thing that was told by someone very close to me, when I shared how I was having difficulty in letting a particular past event leave me.

She told me, the reason why I was constantly haunted by the same past thought, is because I was carrying it upon my shoulders. Aiding it, supporting it all the time, nurturing it, not cutting it away from me.

The result?

That simple, unharmful thought had become so permanent inside me, that anything new, it rejected the idea of that. 

I was finding it difficult to accept anything new that was told to me, for I kept asking, revisiting this thought. And once she pointed out that I realised how maladaptive that thought actually was.

That’s what your past does to you.


letting go

It hinders your capability to fully live in the present, rather like a bog you shall be engulfed into the past, those memories, the feeling, emotions, etc.

‘So how do you stop that and start living in the present?

I am present here in the moment:

Well this was told to me by the same friend, she said every time I felt I was going to get carried away into revisiting my past and then feeling all kinds of heart aches, weird feelings inside my stomach etc.

I should pause, 

Then mentally list aloud the above things:

  • 2 things I can see / observe in my immediate environment 
  • 1 thing can hear in the background
  • 1 thing I can feel, i.e, my jacket resting upon my arms.
  • 1 thing I can taste.
  • 1 thing that I can smell.

This exercise is used by many psychologists as a way of getting their client’s focus back to present.

Thus, this way, you will be more in touch with what is happening around you and not get carried away by rumination.

The present is all you have, use it wisely :

By the time you finish reading the headline, and reach towards this particular line, that headline has already become a spur moment of the past. 

Start enjoying the gift of this present moment. 

Make the most out of it, even though it’s as small as smiling at yourself every time you look past a mirror, feeling the warmth of the sun even though it’s for brief seconds. 

After all happiness lies in those fleeting moments of the present.

Stop wandering, start living.

A study conducted by Harvard University, showcased how there was an indirect relationship between your mind wandering and your happiness.

Thus the more your mind wanders to your past or other unimportant things, the more you are likely to feel unhappy and vice versa. 

Every time you feel your curious Alice of a mind has gone on a journey to her wonderland, call out yourself, by doing something else, either taking a deep breath.

Or do a stretch. 

While doing that make sure you are giving full attention to that stretch, or even getting up to take coffee or water or a loo break. 

A simple activity such as washing your hand with soap can help your mind stop wandering.

Just pay attention to the way the foam feels in between your fingers, those bubbles, feel how relaxing that task is, when you wash your hands with fresh water.

Focus upon the sensations, voices, smell, present in the environment.

We are so dependent upon our autopilot mode that we are either planning for the future or learning to be better than our past. But what about the present moments?

They have become like dandelions, one moment they are here, the next, we try to catch them, alas they are a distant memory of the past.

Thus, as you pause, and allow yourself to observe or listen to the melody or tune of the environment, you become more happy and more in tune with your own mind. 

Here’s a little activity you can try :

Try smelling a flower, looking at its beautiful natural colors, soft petals, the next time you are out for a walk by the garden.

Engage your mind’s attention:

To learn how to live in the exact moment seems like a simple task, but it requires a very efficient commitment towards being mindful. The easiest way to get mindful is through breathing in and breathing out. You can either try pranayam, or love kindness meditation, this way, you will allow yourself to be present.

Allow yourself to be in the moment, not out there witnessing galloping trails of thoughts.  

Conclusion :

Lastly, as my favourite character from my favourite movie once quoted, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery,  and today is a gift.

That’s why they call it a present” Go ahead, enjoy your present moment to its fullest, for you will never get it twice!

 

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meditating

10 Ways to Quiet Your Mind Each Day

Do you find yourself constantly ruminating about some recent past event or mistake?

Do you feel that you are unable to accomplish a few tasks because you are not “in your zone”?

Have people commented that you seem scattered and not yourself, lately?

If you have answered yes, to any of these questions then you have come to the right place to quiet your mind.

Now to explain the working of our human mind, you can take an example of a sponge.

The sponge soaks all the water that surrounds itself, we humans too most of the time, end up soaking the thought, vibes, and energy of those who surround us. 

Do you know what happens when the sponge soaks more than its capacity? 

Firstly, it becomes, heavy

Secondly it starts to leak.

So what is the ideal way to let go of the excess?

Simple, you make sure that if it gets heavy then drain the access so that it has proportional level of water, ie, it soaks up to its potential. 

In a similar way, your racing thoughts too, contribute to feeling ”heaviness” and this makes it impossible for you to accomplish the task at hand. how to quiet your mind

The way one leaks here is, if you are doing a task, you would see that you have committed many mistakes or you are taking too much time to accomplish the task. 

Thus, once you acknowledge that you are having racing thoughts, are experiencing stress related to some future event or are engaging in rumination of past events, half of the job of quieting your mind has been achieved.

The important point is to be AWARE that your mind is working more than its capacity and then my friend we work upon quieting it.

Why is quieting your mind necessary?

If you do not then it starts interfering with your work performance, with your relationship. With a cluttered mind you will also find it impossible to fall asleep quickly or feel tired.

As Maria Konnikva rightly said, the most powerful mind is a quiet mind. It is the mind that is present, reflective, mindful of its thoughts and state.  It does not always multitask, but when it does, it does it with a purpose.

So here are ten effective ways in which you can quiet your mind everyday!

  1. Stop. Breathe. Repeat. 

By breathing I do not mean one that you are doing right now. This is so natural and automatic that you were not even aware of it, until you read this sentence, which is exactly what you have to do.

Remember how kids stick a cartoon label or sticker on almost everything right from their books to their folder, bags, etc? 

You can do the same thing, but in place of funky stickers, you can opt for a simple dot sticker, on the things you do. 

Say you have a habit of getting up for coffee every three hours or so, this is where you can stick the sticker upon the coffee mug.

This will serve as a reminder that every time you see this sticker, you are supposed to take three or four deep breaths. 

This will help you relax in the moment and be present in the moment. Go on and add these stickers to the everyday objects, eg, refrigerator, novel, diary.

2. Take a power nap!

A quick fifteen minute power nap is seen to be beneficial to calm down racing thoughts or to help charge up the body and the brain. A word of caution, try the focused breathing exercise, ie, focusing upon your inheration and exhilaration, while you take the nap. This will help you to ignore those unwanted recurring thoughts. You will truly feel recharged after the nap.

3. Be Mindful in the everyday things you do:

As one of the famous sayings goes, BE MINDFUL EVEN IF YOUR MIND IS FULL. 

A few everyday things  that we engage almost automatically include:

  • Walking from home to the office or to the station.
  • Typing on the keyboard
  • Checking, replying back to emails
  • Attending calls or greeting a client or guest, etc. 

how to quiet your mindMost of the time, our response and our engagement in them is quite automatic. 

Thus we do not pay attention to the way in which  “WE” accomplished the task/ activity.

Thus, next time you engage in any of the tasks,  observe how efficiently you have done it, and while performing the task, be present to your own bodily sensation, your breath, the other person’s response, listen actively, smile, etc. These will aid you to be present rather than doing them with an absent mind.

4. Get your jumbled thoughts upon paper :

This is what I do everytime I find myself getting affected by my racing thoughts.

I put them down on a piece of paper or write them in my diary. 

So, when you write anything on  paper, you are entirely focused on that writing activity. It helps you understand what it is that you are feeling, that is making your mind feel uneasy.

That way if you see that there are some recurrent thoughts or feelings that come up always, then you know which aspect you need to work on.

5. Go out and experience the colors of nature!

Nature has the solution to most of our problems. Thus anytime you feel worked up or stressed by the racing thoughts, go out for a walk to the nearest park, beach, etc.

While you are walking listen to those birds chirping, feel the wind touching your face. 

When you walk, observe the surroundings, if there is grass nearby, then try walking on the cool grass barefoot. This will help you feel rejuvenated! how to quiet your mind

6. Meet and communicate with an actual friend / human:

Ever since the outbreak of pandemic, there has been a significant increase in people experiencing anxiety and stress.

 This was mostly because they were unable to contact their close or loved ones or physically present with them. 

So a way you can decrease your anxiety and calm your mind, in case you feel it’s getting too much, talking to an actual human being helps. 

This is because, firstly, our thoughts may not always be correct about everything that we are thinking. 

Secondly when you meet the person, suppose your friend, you will be able to share your thoughts more clearly and can vent easily, rather than writing them down or keeping them with yourself.

7. Watch or read something different:

 So suppose you are stressed about the upcoming meeting with some foreign clients. You do not want to mess anything up, thus you keep rechecking the meeting room, your notes, the ppt, etc. This will make the situation worse. You will get more stressed.

In a situation like this, firstly stop!

And watch a two minute video of something funny, say Mr Bean, that would help you relax.

Or you can just meditate for 5 mins, before actually meeting the client or entering the meeting hall.

Or have some water and sit back on an empty chair and day dream that the meeting went amazing and they loved your presentation.

(PS: Daydreaming is linked with increased levels of creativity and is a sign of intelligence!) 

8. Make a Gratitude list :

When was the last time you were grateful for the things you have in life, right now?

 Did the question make you fumble?

If yes, then now is the right time to start practising a “gratitude list”, ie, things you are grateful for.

My gratitude list includes being grateful for such a supportive family, loving kids and a kind S.O. And I am also grateful that I have a healthy functioning body that aids me to work. These are small things if you see, but it’s always the small things that matter the  most.

9. Listen to relaxing music:

Research has shown that listening to relaxing music, such as the sound of flute or the sound of rain or waterfall, etc, have been found to have a calming effect upon our brain. By listening to them, the brain’s meditative state is activated, which then releases more dopamine into our system. Dopamine is nothing but the hormone that makes us feel calm and happy!

So, next time you wish to quiet your mind, try to listen to some relaxing music, or any mild instrumental music. 

10. Make your own morning mantra.

Morning mantra routine is no rocket science. It simply means that as soon as you get up, you shall remind yourself that today’s day will be good and you will achieve all the tasks that you have thought of. how to quiet your mind

You can make your own morning mantra, here are some examples:

  • Today I feel empowered knowing that I get mentally stronger with each new day. 
  • Today I am happy to see that I am working towards my goal in life.
  • Today I will say “YES” to all the things that make “ME” happy
  • Today I will say “NO” to the things that I do not wish to do, or make me “UNHAPPY”

Conclusion:

Life will always give you many things to worry about, to stress about. There are times wherein you shall get affected by these and you shall experience chaos within. But there is always a ray of hope that shines brightly waiting to be found. Go ahead and find that light of yours, your centre of calm. You shall achieve it. For once you calm your mind, your soul shall guide you to the path of light!

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