Most say life itself can be tough and unforgiving. This much could be true depending on the perspective you are looking at it from, after all, perspective really is everything. I, however, believe that the giver of misfortune is not life, but the circumstances we must juggle within it. Life itself, is a gift. No matter how you see it, or how blurred the lines are, it is a gift. As creatures of routine and habit, we rarely get a chance to stop and appreciate the world for all of its true beauty and wonder. This is no fault of ours. But getting so caught up in the material world we humans conjure up is unhealthy. This is where we start to see problems arise such as depression, anxiety and countless other mental health problems that leave a mark on one in four people on this entire planet of ours. It is for this reason, that it's so important to stop, take a deep breath, and take the time to be connected to your mind, body and soul. The universe is made up of energy, as are we, channeling and cleansing our energy through the use of crystals is a method i have been using for quite some time and works wonders for me. Nowadays, especially around the stigma of the workplace and school, stress levels are hitting unhealthy levels. To put it in perspective, here are some of the effects that stress has on the body.
- Fight or Flight: This is a natural stress response used as a protection mechanism to potentially save your life in a life threatening situation. Your brain releases hormones that spark adrenaline to shoot through your body, causing blood to pump significantly faster, thus raising blood pressure. Although this would be ideal for running away from a flesh eating zombie, the effects of this through every day stress consistently overtime can lead to various issues such as heart attacks.
- Insomnia: Since your stress hormones are raging, your mind is constantly active and buzzing. Just as science has proven that using electronic devices less than an hour before bed stigmatises the brain and causes restlessness and lack of proper sleep, stress has the same effect. The average person should be getting between 7 to 10 hours sleep regularly in order to maintain good health. Stress prevents this, and overtime this lack of sleep can not only lead to more sleep disorders, but other health issues.
- Headaches and Migraines: The increase in adrenaline and cortisol creates tension which causes headaches and migraines.
- Memory Troubles: Surprisingly enough, too much of the stress hormone can make forming new memories, retrieving old ones, and let alone thinking straight a difficult task. Not so good if you're trying to memorise information for a big test huh?
- Breakouts / Acne: An increase in particular hormones causes the skin to suffer, breaking out in some cases severely.
These are just a few side effects of stress. So how do we combat it?
It's important to set time aside to settle down and be at one with yourself and consciously connected to your mind, body, and soul. Crystals are known for their strong energy and healing properties. If you can get your hands on some I suggest using them. One of the most full proof ways to de-stress is through meditation. In our daily lives it's sometimes rare that we get the opportunity to take part in activities such as pilates and yoga. However, if you do have enough spare time i definitely recommend that you give either one of these a go. Not only are these activities incredibly great for your health both mentally and physically, it also connects you to each and every part of your body as you are made aware of each and every muscle and body part and how you have ultimate control over their functions. I have been taking one on one pilates classes for just over a year now as a recovery method for my spinal surgery recovery and not only has it completely fixed up my posture and brought my flexibility back, i am more aware and connected to my body than i have ever been in my entire life. It's to the point where i notice things changing in my body that normally would go unnoticed. Know that your mind is the most magical, beautiful thing in the world.
Meditation is the act of awakening and clearing the mind as well as falling into a state of full body consciousness. The earliest traces of meditation are found in India and the Hindu Vedas of Nepal and since has been written into countless religions. There are many forms of meditation. It's impossible to associate one particular method with being universally "the best" as each method will work differently from person to person. For me I find I resonate most with the Zazen method. 'Zazen' (meaning 'seated meditation') is a form of meditation practised in the Buddhist religion however it can be carried out by anyone. One of the great things about the Zazen method, is the simplicity of it. As there are not many guidelines to follow, it makes it far less difficult to slip into a successful meditative state quickly and keep it consistent. Researching this method a little further i found that the seating positions can vary within this method however I find it most comfortable to sit in the half-lotus position. Your back must be straight, however don't strain. Adjust until you find a position that works for you (one that you don't have to concentrate on sustaining). Find a comfortable position to sit. I sometimes like to light incense to cleanse the room and keep my freshly cleansed crystals close by. To begin with, I ensure that i am in a comfortable position and i begin by taking controlled breaths. If you are new to meditation, counting your inhales and exhales is helpful. Continue breathing slowly, counting if desired, until your mind starts to rely less and less on the counting and falls into a rhythmic pattern. At this point you should find yourself already relaxed. I always start with this before i attempt fully meditating because it makes it so much easier. Now close your eyes and begin clearing your mind. In order to fall into a meditative state, as impossible as it sounds, you must think of nothing. At first this will take some time but after practise you will find it easier and easier to achieve this quickly. I always ensure i am relaxed and in a rhythmic breathing state. I then imagine all of my negative energy leaving my body and vanishing, leaving nothing but white, positive light. At this point i envisage white light in my mind. It should reach the stage where you are no longer thinking of white light, just seeing it with your mind's eye. Already your mind should be clear, if not don't stress, there is no time limit. Through your meditation no matter how long you choose to do it for, thoughts will pop into your mind. Don't get discouraged by this or distracted, having these thoughts enter your mind is a natural, human instinct. You must learn, however, to let them pass through as soon as they enter. Don't dwell on them and learn to let them go without making any attachments to them. You should start to feel weightless overtime. This can be an extremely bizarre and almost frightening feeling for someone who is new to meditation as it almost feels as if you're not attached to your body. Your spirit is liberated. This feeling is completely normal and should be embraced as part of the process. Once you are done, simply come back at your own pace. You will feel extremely relaxed and rid of stress and negative thoughts that troubled you before. It takes time, but taking the time to meditate each day even for a few minutes will eventually rid you of harmful stress and other issues such as depression, anxiety etc.
ૐ Happy Meditating my Fairies ૐ
- Ash x
0 comments