Stress affects us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. When we ease stress with meditation, prayer or creative visualization, we become more mindful of what we need in order to create balance in our life. “Cultivating mindfulness can lead to the discovery of deep realms of relaxation, calmness and insights within yourself,” notes Jon Kabat-Zinn in his classic book, Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness.
There are many causes of stress ranging from external pressures of work, family and finances, to internal negative thought patterns and stressful reactions. Three powerful ways to ease stress include calming the mind with meditation, seeking guidance and support through prayer, and balancing the mind and body through creative visualization.
Explore these three practices as a way to reduce stress in your life.
Ease Stress with Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a key component of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Meditation has many mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health benefits proven through years of research. One of these benefits has been termed the relaxation response because of the significant physiological changes in the body.
Meditation is a form of non-doing, so it allows the mind and body to relax, de-stress and return to a healthy balance. Find a meditation technique that works for you and practice it for 15 minutes a day. Even a 5 minute break from the external world to simply focus on your breathing can do wonders to restore inner peace. Many people complain that they are too busy to take a meditation break, yet when they do, find that they have more clarity, energy and enthusiasm for their daily tasks.
Surrender Your Burdens with Prayer
When pressures build and life feels overwhelming, it can be a relief to unload your burdens and worries through prayer. Connecting to the Divine reminds you that you are not alone, that the Universe is supporting you, and that you are a spiritual being, bigger than any problems or stresses in your life.
Take time each day to communicate with the God of your heart. Let go of your burdens by surrendering them to a higher power that can guide you to inner peace.
Create Balance with Creative Visualization
Creative visualization can be used for a variety of purposes from reducing anxiety to increasing performance. The body doesn’t know the difference between what is imagined and real. Visualizing a relaxing beach scene can calm the mind and balance the body within minutes. Imagining a successful outcome can increase confidence and enthusiasm.
If you’re facing a daunting project, spend five minutes each day in creative visualization. See yourself completing the project step by step and feel the relief and joy of its success. If your mind and body are overwhelmed from daily tasks, take a 5 minute break to visualize yourself in a relaxing setting. Use all of your senses to see, touch, smell and be in the peaceful environment.
Use one or more of these practices each day as a way to ease stress and create balance in your life.
Do you have any questions or comments on how to ease stress through meditation, prayer or visualization? Please share below.
I had problems with meditating up until recently. I kinda couldn’t focus. I guess staying focused is the key and that’s why meditating doesn’t work for everyone. I found a quiet place for me in my house and that provided me with the extra focus I needed. It’s way better now!