May the peace be with you……
A story goes like this; There was a young monk who started to practice meditation but he could not remain still. During each session, he would envision a spider appearing before him and he was perturbed.
The young monk told his master that he could not chase away the spider away. His master then suggested that during each session, he was to carry a pen and then circle the spider to see where it was exactly.
During meditation, the young monk indeed drew a circle around the spider and felt settled after that. When he opened his eyes later, he found that he had circled his own belly.
The master told him, “ Young man, you need to have a quiet mind and heart. Only in this way, you can stay detached from the rest of the happenings and enjoy your life in peace.”
When you reach a state of inner quiet, you can then enter a peaceful realm. Only then, when faced with whatever situations, we will secure an inner peace that is more likely to help us to overcome adversities.
How?
1 Read something positive every day.
Choose to switch your focus to more positive news in these days of the pandemic, climate change, and other global crises. Do your part to alleviate the situation and note that steps are being taken globally to solve the problems. Remarkable progress is being made on a daily basis and the world is not about to be extinguished. Things will get better.
2 Quit whining and seize the moments.
More than 2 years have gone by since the pandemic started. During this period, assess how much you have done to adapt to this situation improving your own lot and others too.
Quit whining and complaining that the authorities are not doing enough or not doing well. Believe that they have the pride to do a good job. Whining only saps up our time and one is none the wiser. Some people have emerged victorious, bonding more with loved ones, learning new skills, and starting alternative careers as well.
3 Slow down
The pandemic has resulted in new ways of doing things as one is thrown out of the comfort zone. During this time, look around you and see how you could better your life and others. Declutter the house, meditate, listen to music, call an old friend, look at nature around you, etc
There are so many things to be enjoyed but in our hurry, hurry world, most of us put off loads of meaningful activities. We may realize that in our past, we have had a few rushed vacations and thought that we have been there, done that. Look back at the pictures and decide what you could have done better to truly enjoy that vacation with your loved ones or your friends. Savor every moment, even if it is just a cup of coffee.
4 Exercise
Any form of exercise even if it is just a stretch relaxes your body and mind. Exercise releases endorphins which are feel-good hormones. In addition to staving off illnesses, it is a desirable goal to look good in our clothes. Make it a routine, a habit, and an enjoyment.
For example, I find that stationary biking while watching the TV yields results without me realizing it. Stretching while on the couch watching my program relieves any back sores from seating too long. Talking to my friends while walking does make walking many rounds easier to accomplish.
Life will always have its ups and downs but when we feel disquiet, we will feel disconnected and isolated. Attain your peace of mind, keep it quiet and solutions will surface in one form or another. Sometimes it was not a problem at all but it is due to your own perspective of life.
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