| Feature Article
Some Helpful Hints on Dealing with Stress
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
Breathing
Our breathing is an indicator of our state of mind and
health. The average healthy person takes in 21,600 breaths a day, that is, 900 an hour. If
we are constantly breathing in negative emotions, such as anger, hatred and worry,
consider the impact on our health. On the other hand, if we use our breathing to imbibe
the positive qualities from nature, for example, peace, beauty, harmony, strength and
stability, our body-mind will benefit immensely. Remember and practise this simple
formula, especially when you feel tired or stressed:
With every in-breath, I am drawing in a white light of
positive energy that invigorates and recharges my body. With every out-breath, I am
cleansing and purifying my body-mind of all negativities, such as pain, tiredness, worry
and fear, visualising the out-breath as a dark cloud.
If you have time, just focus on your
breathing as described above for 21 rounds. One round of breath consists
of inhalation, retention and exhalation. As your breathing becomes
slower and deeper, you will notice the retention period in the middle.
During the day at work or anywhere, if you feel tired or stressed, just
take a moment and do a few rounds. You will notice the difference this
makes to your day.
Transforming our Emotions
Some of us are more
prone to emotional outbursts than others. Anger, hatred and jealousy
burn us as much as the other
person. Practise becoming aware of the circumstances that trigger our
emotions. Learn to see the causes from a different point of view.
Sometimes, anger is an unskilful
expression of our love or concern for someone whom we really want to help. Compassionate
thought or behaviour is an antidote for anger.
Learn to accept people as they are. It is
natural that everyone thinks and does things differently. Jealousy is
another destructive emotion. Learning to be genuinely happy for other
people’s achievements is good medicine for jealousy. Patience, learning
to apologise, thinking a little more of others, and finding contentment
with what we have, all help to curb strong emotional outbursts. Developing a Deeper Appreciation of Life
- Never stop learning and developing. Keep challenging yourself
and you will never suffer from boredom.
- When you are going somewhere, think of the journey as well as
the destination. If you start in a rush, you will end up in a rush. If you start with a
calm mind and enjoy the journey, you will arrive in a happy state of mind. The path is
also the goal. The process is just as important as the result. Realise that the journey
has begun before you leave.
- Learn to transform pain. If you don’t run away from it,
gradually you will grow stronger and more durable. Otherwise, you may become fragile, like
easily-broken bottles.
- Good knowledge is flexible, adaptable and expandable. Like
good knowledge, you can become more flexible and ready to change. There are many
uncertainties in life, but one thing is sure - evolution does not stop for anyone. Learn
to go with the flow.
- Develop balance and harmony. Learn to listen to your body. Eat
well. Rest when you need it; don’t burn yourself out. Exercise regularly. Give
yourself time out every now and then. Basically, get to know your self better. Being out
of touch with one’s self is a major cause of human unhappiness. Don't try to be what
others want you to be. Be your own person rather than a poor imitation of others’
expectations.
Settling the Day’s Accounts
What we go to bed with is what we wake with. If we don’t
clear the mind’s backyard daily, we are likely to wake with yesterday’s worries.
In fact, learn to stop replaying negative experiences over and over again during the day.
As you replay, you are giving more significance to the experience than it is worth. By
imprinting the event on your mind over and over again with added interpretation and
Technicolor, you create unnecessary suffering for yourself.
At the end of each day before going to sleep, review the
negative events of the day, forgive the people involved and yourself, and say goodbye to
them. Recall all the positive things of the day; be grateful for them and bid them
farewell also. That was the end of 4 August 1998 (for example); that day and those events
will never be again. Let them go, so that you may sleep deeply and embrace the new day
with open arms.
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