Issue 13: Tips For Peace
It is a no brainer that we are all on overload in these unprecedented times. How can we find peace? I'm a big believer in formal meditation, but for some that may be too much to take on now. In light of that, I would like to suggest some tips to bring a greater sense of presence, peace and calm to your day. I encourage you not to discount these tips without giving them a heartfelt try. Be open minded and stay with how it feels as opposed to what you think about it (judging). It's not about what you think, it's about what you experience.
1. When you sit down to eat, notice the taste, the texture, the colors, the sound and any swirling thoughts in your head. Just focus for the moment on the taste and how it evolves as you chew. This may not sound like anything profound yet it does start to usher in moments of peace and calm as opposed to the swirling thoughts of discontent, anxiety, deadlines, and all you feel you need to do.
2. When “you arrive” such as sitting down to watch TV, getting in the car to drive or sitting at the table to eat: take a breath or two or three. Allow yourself to feel, if just for a moment, your presence. Embody the moment. The silence and peace inherent in this moment. The awareness of this moment independent of your worry, thoughts, anxiety, pressures etc. We all need so much more of this in our life.
3. Try when you do some thing to bring awareness to it. For instance, do one thing at a time. When you open the door, bring your full presence to the awareness of what you are doing. Let go of your thoughts. When you wash the dishes be present for the experience and not lost in thought or opinion about how you may not like doing the dishes. Notice the temperature or sound of the water, the experience of looking at the soap on the dishes etc.
4. Try bringing awareness to the simple things in your life. For instance, in the morning you can walk outside and for maybe half a minute be present with all that is happening around you. Notice the temperature in the air, the feel of the breeze on your skin, the warmth of an August day, the sounds and the beauty all around you. The same can apply to the family you live with, watching your dog or cat, appreciating your health (don’t forget you are alive) etc.
I fully appreciate that the way we have lived our lives can make the above tips sound a little strange. But the more you do it, the more it becomes your “new normal” and the way you did things in the past start to become the “new strange.” Lastly, don't do these practices with any sense of expectation. Just be there for what is.
There is a life waiting for you, independent of what you think, feel and believe. A life free of your concerns, time pressures, needs, wants, etc. in this moment. Some call it your true home. Enjoy!
Eat Mindfully, Breathe Mindfully & Enjoy Life!
Best Regards, Joseph Wieliczko, Psy.D.