Life, with its typically difficult ways, can be stressful. Add in the relentless new stresses caused by the recent decline in the economy, mix them with a little depression and anxiety, and they quickly become a tornado recipe of disaster waiting to happen. Life doesn’t have to be overwhelming and through a few simple steps, we can eliminate much of that stress from our lives and begin forging a path to inner peace.
Simplify Daily Living
Simplifying the difficulties of just pulling through a day uneventfully may take a bit of time to achieve, but it is definitely worth evaluating. What unnecessary routines are part of your day that have a negative effect on your life? Are there some shortcuts that you can take to help avoid added stresses later, such as doing chores as needed and not waiting until the last minute to do ten hours worth of cleaning in just two? Could the stress of driving in morning traffic by reduced by joining a car pool?
Other stresses, such as noise and distractions are easily eliminated. Set children up with a routine that gives them some “quiet time,” so that you can have some down time as well. Designate a time of day that all phones are turned off, electronics are off limits, and the time is spent together or alone doing things such as exercise, reading, or meditating.
A proper diet, along with exercise, proper rest, and regular meditation is another great way to help reduce added stress. It will help the mind, body, and spirit to focus more clearly on the “self” aspect.
Living in the Moment
It is always good to plan for the future, but living in the past can be as devastating as binding yourself to a future that is not guaranteed. Even though it may subtract two minutes away from your lunch break, take the time to enjoy your drink. Take a moment to smile at a child and to laugh or to cry. Laugh and cry and sing. Once a moment has passed, we no longer have control of it. It cannot be changed.
Only in this very moment, can we embrace time and live freely.
Filed under: Mastering Our Destiny by oliver