4 Ways Meditation Can Calm Your Anxious Mind

Life is busy, stressful, and complex. No matter what season of life you are in. It's always something, as I used to tell my mom. Our minds are on overdrive trying to process everything that comes at us in a day. And then there is the nightly news. 

The result? Racing thoughts. Sleepless nights. Overeating, pill popping or drinking alcohol to relax. Sound familiar? This week I'm sharing a spiritual practice that can help you tame your monkey racing mind and stay more present and peaceful during your day. 

An Ancient Practice 

Archaeologists and scholars believe meditation has been around for over 5,000 years. In this information-over-loaded culture we live in, it is critical that we make time to not only rest our bodies, but our minds as well so this week I'm sharing on the ancient practice of meditation. 

No matter what beliefs you have, you should know that meditation practices have been part of both eastern and western religious practices for ages. The earliest documentation of meditation is found in the Hindu sacred text known as the Vedas from ancient India but it has its own place in Western religions as well. St. Ignatius of Loyola is famous for his book, Spiritual Exercises. The Bible continually exhorts believers to "meditate on things above", meditate on the Word of God day and night and to "Be still and know that I am God". Also we are exhorted to "take every thought captive." That is meditation. 

Can You Please Sit Still? 

In the same way the body needs a good amount of rest to restore and renew itself, so too does the mind.  Often, even when the body is asleep, the mind continues to churn away on the problems and issues of the day. No wonder we wake up feeling unrefreshed. The mind didn't know it was bedtime.

So, how often do you sit down during the course of the day, close your eyes and just observe your thoughts? Most people are so tired that when they do sit down and close their eyes, they fall asleep. Others find it difficult or even uncomfortable to sit still and do nothing. I know, because I used to be this way. 

As a single mom of two boys working at a mentally exhausting career while balancing the demands of home, health, & child-rearing plus trying to fit in a social life, I wish someone would have suggested meditation to me years ago. Sit down and rest my weary mind. 

The rapid advancement of technology has dramatically increased the pace of life and the hurry up, get-it-done-yesterday mindset has side-lined this important discipline. As the rate of stress-related illnesses soar, many are realizing this non-stop physical and mental freneticism is not only unhealthy but unprofitable as well. So how can meditation benefit you?

Benefit #1: Meditation calms our minds and our bodies. 

In the same way the body needs a good amount of rest to restore and renew itself, so too, does the mind. Often, even when the body is asleep, the mind continues to churn away on the problems and issues of the day. No wonder we wake up feeling unrefreshed. The mind didn't know it was bedtime.

When we sit down to meditate, we allow the "mental clutter" to settle. The breath and the heart rate slow which reduces blood pressure naturally. Meditation allows confusion to dissipate and clarity and creativity to spark so we can find answers to our problems and creative solutions. 

There are different forms of meditation so whether your spiritual path is eastern, western or a combination of both, you can benefit from this ancient practice. In eastern religions, there are several different meditation styles. One of them is to focus the mind on something constant such as the breath, a candle flame, or a mantra, which is a word or a phrase such as "peace', "be still", or "I am calm". The basic premise is that by focusing the mind, the practitioner becomes increasingly aware of the flow of thoughts as they occur and is able to disengage and enter the place of rest where the mind is calmer. I practice what is called Vipassana meditation which focuses on finding clarity and insight in addition to calm. 

Benefit #2: Helps us to connect with ourselves and with God. 
When we still our bodies, the thoughts that jump around like monkeys in our minds settle down as well. This allows us to see what is going on with our feelings and emotions and to get in touch with our inner selves. When we are moving so fast all day, we ignore that still small voice and our deep thoughts and emotions rarely get noticed or even attended to.

The practice of meditation in Christian religions is similar in that one of the goals is to focus and calm the mind. In addition, Christian practitioners also have the goal of calming the spirit and connecting more deeply with God which is done by reading or repeating phrases or words of Holy Scripture or Christian devotions. Early proponents of Christian meditation are St. Teresa of Avila, St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. John of the Cross.

Benefit #3: Brings awareness of our thoughts, feelings and actions.
Whatever your spiritual path, meditation is an important skill that helps us bring more awareness to our daily lives.  Often we go through the day on auto-pilot, barely noticing anything inside us or around us until we plop into bed at night, exhausted. And then we spend the night processing what happened during the day. 

When we deliberately calm our minds, we are more able to identify our thoughts on a moment to moment basis. I've read that the average person thinks 60,000 - 70,000 thoughts per day, and being the deep reflective thinker I am, I probably process a lot more. Yikes!

Meditation helps us become more aware of our thoughts and the type of thoughts. Is this thought positive or negative, anxious, or angry? Thoughts are energy and negative thoughts bring us down and lower our energy and steal our joy. Notice whenever you have left the present moment - today - and wandered either into the past or the future. Meditation helps us to stay in the present moment which helps alleviate anxiety. It also helps us to stay focused and pay attention to what we are doing, rather than be unaware and easily distracted. 

Unawareness of negative, anxious and angry thoughts lead to a vicious downward spiral which often leads to depression and reactivity. Becoming more aware of our thoughts and emotions is a tool to stop this cycle and keep us grounded and calm.

Benefit #4: Breaks the vicious activity cycle.
Many of us run around all day frenetically going from one thing to another. As a single parent, this pace was my norm. Since retiring, I have made a conscious effort to slow down, do less and take more breaks. I have a sticky note that says "Take the pressure off." Continuous activity is akin to an addiction, something that makes us crave more and more. Meditation helps break this cycle as well. 

When I feel like I'm moving too fast, an alarm goes off in my mind "Break time!" and I make myself sit down and meditate for 15 - 20 minutes. If I fall asleep, then that means I'm tired but I don't berate myself for falling asleep. This stopping to meditate breaks the "to do" cycle and mentality. We are human beings not human doings! As meditation becomes a daily practice, we realize stillness is a gift and we will look forward to our times of being still. 

For reflection:

Have you considered incorporating meditation into your daily routine? How might it benefit you, personally? Meditation is not difficult. All it takes is a few minutes a day, start by closing your eyes and taking 3 deep breaths a few times a day. Here are some more posts on meditation to help. 

If you enjoyed this post, join our blog community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

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If you 

Until next time, I wish you peace and stillness and remember...

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Draw Closer to God During the Lonely Times

Life can get so busy, can't it? It seems there is an endless stream of distractions and challenges that show up such as taxes, car problems, weather crises, computer problems, relationship issues, sickness, to name just a few.  It is always something. If you are waiting for life to slow down to develop your relationship with God aka your spiritual practice, forget it. It will always be something. We have to prioritize spending time with the Divine, just as we would a significant other. Could it be that the organized church, imperfect as it is, has provided us with a natural season to re-calibrate, reconnect, and discover?

                                        

Lent begins during the last of the dark, cold, days of winter which is a perfect time to slow down, refocus, and reprioritize what really matters in life. As we said, life is full of distractions. How many of us are following through on our New Year's resolutions? What happened? Distractions.

Sometimes God has a way of taking us out of our normal routine just so that he can draw us closer to Him.  Let's take a look at a few biblical examples to understand how God uses times of loneliness to prepare us for our destinies. 

The Life of Moses
Let's look first at the life of Moses. Now Moses, you will recall, was raised as royalty - the son of Pharoah - in the Egyptian palace. After learning his true identity as an Israelite, he decided to leave the luxuries of the palace and go live a nomadic life in the desert where he spent 40 long years. Ever feel like you're in a dry, barren time in life? I have and I bet he did too. It's not much fun but God  has a purpose for times such as these. God uses these desert seasons to prepare us just as he did with Moses. 

What was he doing out there those 40 long years? Or rather what was God doing in him during this time? God never wastes anything in our lives. I think Moses was learning to trust, listen, & depend on God. I bet he did an awful lot of thinking and praying during those forty years. Maybe he even thought his life was over. His executive position at the palace, surrounded by servants and riches, was a distant memory and now he was a nomad surrounded by mostly sheep.

But wait, God had big plans for him, didn't he? Remember the burning bush? God sure has a way of getting our attention suddenly. God's plan was to use Moses in a BIG way, which leads us to the next example, which shows us what not to do in the desert.

A Season of Suffering 

The suffering, beaten, down-trodden people of Israel. These were the chosen ones and look how much they suffered all those years in Egyptian captivity. Have you ever suffered many long years? I have. Numerous times. 

Enter Moses, stage right, to lead the people out of bondage. How many miracles did they see? Hint: watch the movie "The Ten Commandments" or better yet, read the book of Exodus. The promise of a better life was before them, but what did they do? Complain, complain, complain; they complained about the food, the water, even the leadership. Sound familiar? FYI, God doesn't like complaining.

So they spent the next 40 years wandering the desert while God patiently waited for them to learn to trust him and accept their circumstances happily. But they didn't, and God said "Trip cancelled". The entire generation died off. But we do have a much better example of how to respond to times in the desert. Let's take a look at the life of Jesus.

The Life of Jesus
He, too, spent time alone in the desert. Forty days to be exact. Notice the pattern of 40 in the Bible. Is it a coincidence Lent is also 40 days long? What did Jesus do during his desert time? Fast and pray, that's what. Commune with God. Get quiet and alone. He wasn't out partying that's for sure.

The disciplines of solitude, fasting, and prayer, draw our attention away from food, drink, and the material distractions of this world. They open the channels to hear from God. The devil tried to tempt Jesus in his weakest moments with the promises of worldly pleasure, power, and significance. His tactics have not changed one bit since then. Have you heard of the acronym "HALT"? Never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. These are the times when we, too, succumb to temptation. Many seek fame and fortune, power and luxury, but none of these give us the peace and fulfillment we so desperately crave.

Just as God had a plan for Moses and for Jesus, God has a plan and a purpose for your life, too. As we look at these examples, we see that by removing ourselves from the distractions and luxuries of this world, we can tune into the plan God has for our lives. During times of fasting, prayer, and quiet reflection we can hear that still small voice more clearly. We, too, can conquer the temptations that beset us and learn to trust God more fully. That, dear friends, is what Lent is all about.

For Reflection
Do you want to find your purpose and destiny? Or perhaps just the next step in life, whatever that may be. Guidance starts by learning to tune in to that still small voice and that happens by spending time in quietness, meditation, & reflection. Will you make time for spiritual disciplines this season or will it just be busyness as usual?

If you enjoyed the thoughts in this post, consider joining our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly Tuesday posts plus my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".  Lent is the perfect time to go further in your spiritual path.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Know When God is Speaking to You

If you're a parent, you know how frustrating it is when your kids don't listen, right? You keep repeating yourself and it seems no one is paying any attention. I think that is how God feels about me sometimes when I run from one thing to another and don't bother to tune in to that still small voice, or worse yet, ignore it. 

     
Realize God is still speaking to us today. 

So we know that God spoke to people back in the days of the Bible. But God still speaks to his children today. He wants to be in relationship with you and me and what does a good relationship require? Communication. Regularly. A relationship can only grow based on the amount of regular and healthy communication. 

God speaks to Each of us Uniquely. 

As I recently explained to my youngest son, God speaks to each of us uniquely. He speaks in ways only we will understand. It doesn't matter whether someone else understands, what matters is that you know that God is speaking to you PERSONALLY .

Personal Story 
This happened a few years ago but first, a little background. Over the years, being a pretty decent dancer myself, I have dated several men who were also good dancers but none of them turned out to be marriage material and all ended in heartache. 

So there was this one guy I had been dancing with on Friday nights who is a really good dancer. I felt like I was in heaven when I danced with him. One friday night, we danced to a particular song and those few minutes were memorable.

That weekend, the same song played on the radio, and I started dancing around my condo like Liza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". All of the sudden, the building smoke alarm system goes off chirp chirp chirping and snapped me right out of my revelry. It was quite the rude awakening, you might say.

I knew what it meant immediately."Stop thinking about that guy. You know where it will lead if you go down that path again. Danger, danger." The message was LOUD and CLEAR. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but I knew that the message was to protect me from making the same mistake again. Where our thoughts go, eventually, we go. 

Now you might laugh it off and say it was just a coincidence, but I know when God speaks to me. And there are no coincidences with Him. If you could have been there and heard that alarm go off, it would have scared you smack into obedience too.

Slow Down and Make Time  

A relationship with God is quite similiar to any human relationship. And that requires slowing down and making time. The problem is many of us are in way too much of a hurry to slow down and listen. We are so preoccupied with our plans and our agendas, we care little for what God's plans and agendas may be. 

God is still speaking to you, too. The best way I can describe it is a strong sense or prompting in your inner spirit. It is easy to dismiss and disregard, but God is trying to guide you and protect you. Start paying attention to that "still small voice". It's almost like a faint whisper sometimes. It's a sensing of someone speaking inaudably.

For Reflection 
Ever have something like this happen to you? What was the message? Did you listen or ignore it and what happened then? God is still speaking to us today and He will use any method to get our attention, even smoke alarms. The question is will we listen and obey, or will we not.

If you'd like to learn how to find your spiritual path my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" will help you along.  Enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive my weekly posts. If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment and do share it with your friends. And pop on over to Pinterest to check out all the goodies I have collected there for you. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and discovering your destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

The Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness Meditation

Do you find yourself stressing out about the future? Ruminating on some past event? Not staying in the here and now? If any of these are true, then this post is for you. Learning to live in the present moment helps us find more joy because joy is only found in the present moment. So let's learn more about how to do that. 

Mindfulness is non-denominational 

First let's get past some common misconceptions. You don't have to be a yogi or a buddhist to practice mindfulness, and no, meditation is not anti-Christian either. Mindfulness means being "aware" of our thoughts and not letting them control us or run amok like a monkey on a tree that jump from here to there willy nilly. 

First we'll examine what it means to be mindful. Then we'll talk about the many benefits, and finally I'll share some simple steps you can take to implement mindfulness into your day. 

Mindlessness

Unless we make a conscious effort to tame and train our minds, our thoughts can steal our peace and our joy. Did you know our thoughts determine our feelings and our actions, often without us even realizing it? Did you finish off that cake or bag of chips because you were hungry -  or - because you really just weren't paying attention? 

Much of the time we operate on routines, schedules, and habits - kind of like being on auto-pilot. We are so used to moving fast in an endless race to accomplish more, more, we plan -actually overplan -our days to the max, the cellphone our constant companion, and then when our head hits the pillow at night we wonder where did the day go. Did I enjoy it? Was I really present? Did I make choices that are in line with my values? Was I kind? Patient? If the answer to these questions is no, today I am going to share a technique to help us all with this unproductive and stressful way of living.

Personal Story 

I've often been told "You think too much" or "You're a deep thinker" and maybe so, having worked in an analytical career for over 30 years. My job was all about problem solving and finding links, patterns, and root causes. Add to that the added pressure of being a single mom and having to handle everything myself, my mind was on overdrive for decades. It was only until the chronic migraines hit me full force that I realized I needed to give my brain some time off and that's when I discovered meditation.

Mindfulness meditation. 

Now for those who may be new to this technique, there are many different kinds of meditation. This post is going to focus on what is called mindfulness meditation or vipissana meditation.  In other words, we will be discussing a method on how to train our minds to be more attentive to the present moment, with acceptance and without judgment. It is a skill that will serve us well in many areas of our lives and you can learn it right in the comfort of your home. You don't need any special tools or equipment. All you need to start is 15 minutes a day by yourself. That's it. You can carve out 15 minutes a day to live a life more fully engaged, right?

Meditation has Christian Roots.
But first, let's address the common concern many people have about meditation. It seems meditation has gotten a bad rap, especially among Christians, many of whom balk at the very word.

Some disdain or dismiss it, thinking it is ungodly or against their religious beliefs. I would like to put your fears at rest. There are many verses of Scripture that encourage us to manage our thought life. One of them is 2 Cor 10:5 which exhorts us to "Take every thought captive". Colossians 3:2 says "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things,".

The Apostle Paul knew the value of controlling our thoughts and not allowing them to control us. We are also encouraged to "Be still and know that I am God". When we sit ourselves down and settle our minds for a few minutes, we release stress and tension and we are able to sift through the cacophony of inner voices that chatter at us during the course of the day. Calming the mind is not the only benefit of meditation.

Many Physical Benefits.
Here are some additional benefits that may interest you:
- Lowers oxygen consumption.
- Decreases respiratory rate.
- Increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
- Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients.
- Promotes a deeper level of relaxation.
- Reduces blood pressure
- Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
- Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches.
- Enhances the immune system. Research has revealed that meditation increases activity of 'natural-killer cells', which kill bacteria and cancer cells.

There are tons of books and now websites and apps that offer to teach us how to meditate. Some of them can be unnecessarily complicated and confusing. Websites and apps usually involve a fee at some point. Today I am going to share an introduction and some simple steps to help you begin your meditation practice at home and for FREE!

Strengthen Your Spiritual Muscle
Yes, meditation is a practice. It is a spiritual discipline just like reading your favorite sacred text or praying daily. Think of it as sending your mind to the gym.

Just as we train our physical bodies to perform at their optimum level, so our minds need to be trained to perform well. We are constantly barraged by external sensory input: cell phones, noises, traffic, loud music, texting and people talking. No wonder we have trouble hearing from God with so much input coming at us all the time. Just like defragging the memory on our laptops, it is important to clear out the mental clutter and basically do a reboot on our minds.

A Simple Mindfulness Routine 

1. Get alone and quiet.
Find a time of day or night, preferably both, where you can get quiet for 10 - 20 minutes. Make sure the cell phones are off and tell the family you are taking a quiet time break. Encourage them to take one as well.

2. Get comfortable.
Make sure your clothing is loose and comfortable and the room temperature is appropriate. We want to eliminate anything that could distract us from being present.

3. Sit in a comfortable position.
Use a chair or sit on the floor, carpet, or a mat. Use a cushion, pillow, or a folded blanket if you like more support. Make sure you sit up straight with an erect spine. I like to sit in half-lotus which is cross-legged with one foot on top of the other knee.

4. Close your eyes.
Rest your hands either in your lap or on your knees palms up.

5. Begin to focus on your breathing. 
Many of us only breathe very shallowly, thru our upper chest. Start breathing through your lower belly rather than your chest. As you settle, your breathing will get slower and fuller. Place your hands on your belly to make sure it is rising and falling with each breath until you get the hang of deep abdominal breathing as opposed to shallow chest breathing. 

6. Scan your body.
Relax and release any tension or tightness in your muscles. Relax your shoulders, your face, your jaw, your hips, etc.

7. Once you have completed the body scan, continue to focus on your breath.
The breath becomes a focal point of your practice. Observe the air coming in and out through your nostrils. Observe the length of your breaths. Keep your mind focused on your breathing. You will notice many thoughts come into your mind. This is natural at first. Notice the thoughts and let them float by like clouds. As your breathing slows down, so will your thoughts. Continue to bring your attention back to your breath each time it wanders.

8. Resist the urge to keep checking the clock.
If you'd like, set an alarm. The longer you can sit the more relaxed and focused you will become. You will feel refreshed, relaxed, and energized to go about the rest of your day. Meditation is also a great practice to do at night before bedtime. It quiets the mind and prepares it for a restful night's sleep.

As you can see, beginning a meditation practice is not all that difficult. The benefits you will receive are well worth the time you put into it. Like anything else, implementing a regular meditation time means decluttering your life to make room for what is truly valuable and useful. Turn the television off sooner and use that time to meditate.

For Reflection
Are you open to trying meditation? Pause a few times during the day and examine what exactly you are thinking about. Mindfulness practice is particularly helpful especially when having a stressful day. Start by sitting quietly with your eyes closed for 5 minutes and observing your breathing. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community. Enter your email address in the box provided and receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

In the meantime, check out my other books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. If you are an Instagram person, follow me there.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we learn more on how to ignite the power within so you can take back your life and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Part 3: How to Hear From the Holy Spirit

Do you often ignore that still small voice and then later regret it? Are you sensitive to the vibes you get when you meet someone new or enter a restaurant? Do you trust your intuition? Many of us have been told "Oh, you're too sensitive" or "Oh, get a tougher skin". Can you relate? Our feelings and our sensitivity to that still small voice are gifts we have been given to help us navigate through life, avoid danger, and make good choices. Let's face it we live in a rough and tough world and people who are "sensitive" are often criticized. Well, this week I am writing to encourage all of us to tune out those folks who criticize and get back in touch with the Holy Spirit and her gentle guiding. So, how do we live by the Spirit in this loud and fast-paced world?

                                                      

Find Time to Get Quiet
We live in a noisy world. From the constant rings, dings, and beeps of our phones to the loud blasts of construction everywhere to the steady barrage of news and information coming at us. All this noise separates us from ourselves and from the Holy Spirit who is often trying to communicate to us. When we make time to get quiet, we allow our spirit to connect with the Holy Spirit. God is always speaking to us, the question is "Are we listening?" 

Distractions abound and it is up to us to make the decision to find stillness so we can hear that still small voice. Being still goes against our 'get it done now" culture,  but the Bible clearly exhorts us to  "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). Did Jesus ever hurry? I don't think so. He made time daily to be still before God and if he made it a priority, so should we, don't you think?

Listen to Your Body 

Our bodies are also vehicles through which the Holy Spirit can communicate to us. I notice that my stomach churns when I am having a difficult conversation. Migraines - as horrible as they are - also have messages and it is up to us to discern what that message is. Just this past weekend, I had a terrible one. After figuring out the physiologial cause, the deeper spiritual message to me was to spend less energy on other people's problems and focus more on my health and my problems. Yes, I am a recovering codependent with an elderly mother. 

Read the Bible 

I cannot stress this enough. People have stopped going to church and many have lost their connection with God. A good way to reconnect is to spend time reading the Bible, the most copied manuscript of all time. It is the inspired word of God. In it, we can learn more about the Holy Spirit and how God wants us to live. 

There are nine fruits of the Spirit which means behaviors that show we are living not according to our flesh (ego), but more like Jesus. Do you know what they are?

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self control 

The more we exhibit these characteristics, the more loving person we become. We will be more tolerant of others. Have more joy, and find the peace we all seek. 

For Reflection 

Do you make time to get quiet on a daily basis? It is one of the steps to building our spiritual muscle and one way to grow spiritually. Which of the fruits of the Spirit could you need help with? If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, the next step is to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you and then focus on one of the fruits to practice in your daily life. Sticky notes around the house are a good reminder. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts AND a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", and remember, communication and community are a two-way street so feel free to connect with me and others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ArielPaz08. 

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. I just recently started posting on Instagram so follow me there too!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we learn more on how to ignite the power within so you can take back your life and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Finding Calm in a World of Chaos

Do you yearn for more peace in your life? Are the events of the world making you even more anxious? Life is full of peace-stealers and they come in a variety of forms. Today I'm sharing on this oh so important topic because peace is priceless.

How we lose our peace 

Stressful situations come at us unexpectedly. Some we bring them on ourselves and some are caused by other people. Our thoughts go off on worst case scenarios. Adrenaline shoots through our veins. Then we react or rather we over-react. Boom. We've just lost our peace. 

What is the igniting factor here? The thoughts we think in the moment, right? 

The key to staying calm is to be aware of our thoughts in the moment. I've read like 60 or 80 thousand thoughts pass through our minds during the course of a day.  It is easy to get stuck ruminating on problems and difficult situations but there are some things we can do to take back control of our minds and sleep better at night. 

1. Work on slowing down 
Now I know this is not the mantra of our society.  At least in the United States, it's more of a "Get it done yesterday" "I've got so much to do"  mentality. This may be productive in some ways but not in others. In fact, doing too much during the day can cause us to have restless nights. Even the Bible cautions us about doing too much during the day and not resting enough. Slowing down helps us to be more aware of our thoughts.

2. Practice meditation. 
Meditation in one sense means clearing the mind. Some people may poo poo this idea, but the mind, just like our computers needs to be cleaned of all its junk files, viruses, and cookies. Stuff accumulates and meditation helps us to reset, recalibrate, and refocus. If you want to learn more about it, enter the word "meditation" in the search bar. 

3. Give yourself the gift of solitude.
I don't know about you, but when I am around other people I find it harder to stay centered. I have to really watch what comes out of my mouth and how I react/respond to what other people say and do. By solitude, I mean no computers, no smart phone, no music. Just quiet. Some people have a hard time with quiet, but it is really a great way to get in touch with our thoughts and feelings. If we aren't aware of what we are thinking we are at the mercy of our monkey minds.

4. Replace negative thoughts

Scripture says to think on things that are "just, excellent, noble, pure, of good report". In other words, we are not to dwell on the bad things that happen. We are to dwell - say dwell - on positive, uplifting thoughts. Did you know the brain has a bias towards negativity? This is why we have to make an effort to think faith-filled thoughts. 

5. Get to Know the true source of Peace. 
In times of great distress, did you know you have a supernatural power to assist you? I admit, I often forget, but it works every time. It's a secret only a select few know about and I'm going to let you in on it.

The true source of Peace is only found in the person of Jesus Christ. Now, you may or may not believe in Jesus, but I can tell you there is power - supernatural power - in calling on the name of Jesus. When all else fails and I am at my wit's end, I call on the name of Jesus. It is amazing. I feel an immediate change in myself and in the stratosphere. I don't know how it works, but I do know it works. Give it a try next time you feel really stressed out. 

So there you have it - 5 practical steps to achieving more calm in a world of chaos. 

For Reflection 

Your homework is to stop and ask yourself this question several times a day for the next few days: "What am I thinking about right now?" If you find yourself obsessing over something, you're expending useless energy. Stop and replace it with a prayer. Guaranteed to work. What we can choose what we think about. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". If you are already a member, pass this along to a friend who might need it. 

In the meantime, stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR DESTINY!

Ariel Paz

Managing the Busyness of Life

Life is busy, isn't it? We have a list of things to do a mile long and we run from one thing to the next trying to get it all done. Seems someone always wants our attention: our family, our boss, the spouse, friends. All this busyness can lead to anxiety, stress, fatigue and a host of other symptoms. Often we are not even aware of the stress load we are carrying and we ignore the signals our body sends us. Today, I am sharing on the importance of managing busyness and how to recognize when we are too busy. 

As a single mom, I had it all on my shoulders: the house, the job, the car, the kids, the yard, the housework, the bills, nightschool....I could go on. I learned that I had to make time not only for myself but also time with God if I wanted to have the energy and the wisdom to get it all done and make the right decisions on how to do it. People would ask "Where do you get all your energy?" I know it was from spending time with God.

Don't make excuses 
Now you might say "I don't have time to :
a) exercise
b) clean my house
c) spend time with God 
d) go to church or wherever 

Friend, I say this in love, if you don't have time for God or for the basics like keeping your house clean - you are too busy. What you are basically doing is prioritizing everything else ahead of the basic fundamentals of life which I talk about in my e-book "Streamline Your Life: 5 Fundamentals to creating a balanced and joyful life". If we don't manage the basics, we are building a faulty foundation and eventually any life built on a faulty foundation will collapse. 

How to Make Good Decisions It is especially important to make time for your spiritual development. Without the wisdom of God, you will make more mistakes - in your finances, in your relationships, and in your decisions. I know because I've done it. 

God is the source of true wisdom and when we don't care to find out what he thinks about stuff, when we think we know it all and don't need to run it by God, we set ourselves up for another big mistake. This is pride in all its fallen glory. And you know what they say about pride going before a fall!

Make time for God 
So what do I mean by "making time for God'? The mind and the body were not built to handle so much activity on a daily basis. We need regular periods of rest, relaxation, and solitude. I don't mean go to the gym or exercise, I mean get alone, go for a walk in nature, meditate, read sacred literature, do something slow and contemplative. 

We need to let the dust settle, so to speak. We give God a phone line to speak to us through.  When we keep our minds and bodies constantly on the go, we block the flow of communication. Otherwise, God says "Oh, the line is busy again." Just like any healthy human relationship, we need to make time for  a relationship with God. Good relationships need time and regular communication.

Learn from Jesus
Stress is nothing new to society. People in Jesus' time had stresses of their own. They had no modern medicine or conveniences like we have today, and were, for the most part, poor and uneducated. They had to walk everywhere and thousands clamored for Jesus time and attention. Ever feel that way?

So when things got hectic and the crowds and activity got to be too much, what did Jesus do? He went away to be quiet and spend time with the Father - in solitude, prayer, and meditation. And that is exactly how I am suggesting we manage our busyness as well. I know it sounds counter productive, but it works. No matter how much is on your plate, make time to get off the fast-track and get quiet. You will be surprised at the clarity you will get and you will be more productive in the long run. 

Reflection
How often you do make time alone and get quiet? Do you make it a priority? How has it helped you maintain your stress levels? Send a comment and share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you and if you enjoyed this article, do sign up for my weekly posts by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" .

In the meantime, stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom on finding healing, wholeness, and harmony so you, too, can ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz