How to Calm Your Mind
Feeling nervous about something? Don’t be. Nervousness usually gets in the way of facing a situation. Instead of investing your energies into getting a job done, nervousness can take your focus away from what needs to be accomplished. Done regularly, you can do this to lessen your anxieties and stress. Here are the different ways you can calm your mind.
Adopt a Mantra
If you have a tendency to let your thoughts wander to counterproductive thinking, adopt a mantra of your own. It just has to be short and simple. Simply repeat saying “Be positive” and focusing on what you need to do will help you banish anxious thoughts and help you maintain a calmer outlook.
Meditate
The art of meditation is something that is continuously practiced and perfected by individuals from all walks of life. You can do it by setting aside 30 minutes of early morning and finding a quiet spot where you can sit down. Clear your head of thoughts, or recite your chosen mantra. Focus on the silence, listen to your own breathing. It’s not going to be easy the first time around, but you’ll get more used to it once you start making it part of your daily habit.
Let go of thoughts about past and future, and focus on the present. Feel your very presence in the moment, your feet on the floor, your weight on the chair. Focus on your breathing, the sounds and the sights around you. Listen to what all your senses are telling you as one unified whole. Hold that focus.
Hold your vision downwards, and take in everything, without jumping from one thing to the next.
If you ever find yourself wandering off when meditating, don’t berate yourself nor force yourself back into the state of calm. Simply reroute your thoughts back to where they should be.
Assume a Calming Pose
Your body and mind have an effect on each other, and assuming a calming pose will also help you reach a calmer state of mind. This is called the Child’s Pose. To do the Child’s Pose, you must:
Sit on your heels with your knees slightly together. This is best done on a yoga mat.
Slowly and gently bend forward until your head touches the ground. You can use a pillow to be more comfortable.
Let your arms rest limply on both sides, with your palms facing upward.
Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Let your tension and anxieties dissolve.
Inhale slowly and imagine gently pressing your belly against your thighs as you do so.
Imagine your stress leaving your body.
Listen to Calming Music
Upload some calming music or nature sounds in your iPod or any mp3 player. Whenever you’re having anxieties, take a time out and listen to the music. It should soothe your troubled thoughts in no time.