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". 

If you are interested in furthering your spiritual growth, you might enjoy my newest book, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 steps to Supercharge your spiritual growth" available at your favorite booksellers here. 

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If you 

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

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Find Peace in Uncertainty Times

Nothing is really certain in this world of ours. Everything is in a constant state of flux and turmoil. Just take a look at the stock market these days. It's easy to get off center and start to worry or become anxious.

Envision yourself in one of these scenarios. You've gone for tests and you're waiting for the medical report to come back. You lost your job unexpectedly or your spouse walks out on you. Your child is diagnosed with a serious health condition. As hard to accept as these can be, negative circumstances have something positive to teach us and that is how to live with uncertainty. 

There are lots of situations in life when we don't know what's coming next and we are forced to wait in a state of limbo. Time seems to stand still and we wonder what the future holds or if God is really paying attention to us or if He really cares. The answer to that question is a resounding "YES, He is and He does!" God is totally in control and has a purpose for everything we go through.

Personal Story:
God has allowed many situations in my life that have been extremely painful and uncertain.  If you've read my book, "The Power of Faith", you know I've been through a lot of ugly stuff such as: a bad marriage, an ugly divorce, financial ruin, health issues, rebellious addicted kids, dishonest dating relationships. And that was only the first half of my life. 

Sometimes I look back and wonder why has all this happened to me. But then I look at other people who are a lot worse off and I am so very thankful. In fact, a better perspective is to say "Thank you, God, for bringing me through all that stuff." Trials build our character. They build endurance, hope, courage, and faith.  After all, now I can write about the stuff I've learned. 

We don't know why bad things happen and it's normal to wonder how everything is going to turn out. The good news is we can relax. I know, easier said than done. Repeat after me: God is in control. Just relax. These circumstances may be a surprise to us, but they are not a surprise to God. He knows exactly what is going on. He has us in the palm of his right hand. Picture that for a moment - in the palm of His right hand. Gives you a certain comfort level, doesn't it?

How to Deal with Uncertainty
Now I am not trying to minimize whatsoever the stuff we endure in life but I have learned that learning to wait and trust God in situations is critical to maintaining my peace and joy during the rough patches of life. So what can we do to get through while we're waiting? Here are some techniques I've learned that help me and trust they will help you as well.

1. Set a limit on the amount of time you ruminate on a given situation. Do not let yourself be consumed by whatever is going on in your life or in the world around you. Ruminating sucks our joy and our energy and keeps us immobilized in a state of anxiety. Remember you are in control of your thoughts. 

2. Realize what is and is not in your control. 
Many situations that upset us are not in our control: the stock market ups and downs, the natural disasters, the fires, the viruses. As much as we would like to wave a magic wand and have all be well with the world, we cannot. The best we can do is to try to manage our own thoughts, behaviors, and reactions. This takes enough energy. 

3. Remember you are not alone.
Others have and are going thru the same thing. You are not in this alone. Reach out for support. Don't be afraid to talk to others about what you're going through. I've found that when I open up, others do the same. We are all dealing with something and we all need a listening ear. God is the best ear we could have and his line is never busy. 

4. Don't rush ahead of God and take the situation into your own hands.
It could have disastrous results. Yes, waiting is tough, but if we don't wait on God we could get ourselves into a worse mess. God is directing our steps and His speed is usually SLOW. We want to remedy things NOW but God has something to teach us in our trials. I've learned that many situations in life I think are annoyances are really opportunities for me to learn endearing qualities such as Patience, Letting Go, and Surrender. God doesn't waste anything. 

5. Trust God.
Most of us have no concept of how much God really loves us, especially if we didn't receive the appropriate love, attention, and approval from our parents. But God makes up for all that. He loves and approves of us and he is watching over us all the time. 

Put it this way. Take the love you feel for the most cherished person in your life and multiple that by like a thousand (very rough guess) times. God loves each and every one of us and ultimately wants the very best for you and me.

6. Praise God.
Praise comes in many forms. It could be singing, praying, playing an instrument, thanking God out loud, quoting scripture verses. Praise is good for our souls and our spirits. It takes our focus off our problems and puts it back where it belongs - on God. It lifts our burdens and lightens our load. 

Praise also activates movement in the heavenly realms, believe it or not. There is much going on in the spiritual realm that we are not aware of. Something in the spiritual atmosphere changes when we praise God. 

For Reflection

What is it that you are anxious about today? Who or what is stealing your peace and joy? Lent is a good time to draw near to God thru prayer, journaling, and meditation. Spend some time today connecting with the Divine and see how much more peaceful you feel. 

If this post was helpful and you'd like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly emails plus a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

Do check out my many Pinterest boards full of helpful tips on exercise and diet, health, recipes, fashion, meditation, tea, prayer, and so much more.  Click here. 

Until next time, keep looking up and do leave a comment or forward this to a friend!

Ariel Paz 

How to Guard Your Peace - Part 2

What is it you want more of in your life? More money? More friends? More vacations? As a culture, we crave more more more. We surround ourselves with people and stuff and activity thinking these will satisfy our deepest needs but perhaps what we need more of is something less tangible but infinitely more satisfying - like more peace, more joy, and more faith. These are what will get us through the rough patches of life. 

When hard times hit - like the pandemic - our material possessions don't seem quite so important. The activities we used to enjoy lose their appeal and we are left with an emptiness, a gaping hole in our souls if you will. Could it be that these hard times are wake up calls? These times of slowing down, opportunities to reevaluate our values, priorities, and relationships?

As someone who has been through many crises, I have learned that the only true anchor of life is FAITH. I don't know where I would be without it and I don't know how people who do not believe manage to get thru life.

Faith is knowing that everything and everyone will be okay, no matter what it looks like in the present moment. Faith knows that the problems that seem unsurmountable now are "light and momentary afflictions" and you will come out stronger and better. Faith  brings peace to our troubled minds and souls. Faith is a spiritual value that is the core of this blog. My goal is to help YOU develop more faith so you can conquer the Goliaths in your life and have more inner peace. 

Where to Start
If we want to have more peace and joy, which leads to energy, we have to recognize what is stealing our peace in the first place and then do something about it.  Today I'm sharing on identifying these thieves and how to put a stop to them so we can enjoy each day we are given. 

1. Recognize everyone is in process. 
People are all at different places of their emotional and spiritual journey and during tough times, some are not able to withstand the pressures. They may over-react, get angry, say unkind things and distance. Do yourself a favor and don't take it personally. 

Some of us are actively working on spiritual growth. Others, however, are not.
Just like becoming physically fit, it takes time and effort to become spiritually strong and emotionally self-controlled. Not everyone is up for the task. Many people are too focused on making a living, having fun, worrying, or distracting themselves to work on their emotional aka spiritual growth. I know you're not one of them, or you wouldn't be reading this blog so good for you!

2. Catch your negative thoughts and feelings. 
If we want to be less reactive, we have to be conscious of our thoughts and our feelings in the moment. It is too easy for our monkey minds to go down the path of negativity, self-loathing, shame, judging others etc. We need to become aware of the negative patterns of thinking we have developed. Negative thoughts are self-defeating. The first step is to identify these patterns and then replace them with positive, empowering thoughts. The battle is in our mind and that is where it is won. 

If we start to feel offended by what someone says, we need to stop and ask the question "What did you mean by that?" instead of blowing up or getting defensive. So many arguments stem from misunderstanding the other person or our own misperceptions and ego.

Since the mind tends to magnify the negative, we have to make a deliberate effort to consciously catch thoughts of worry, fear, anxiety, rumination, and negativity. We have to catch the negative, unproductive thought and then make a conscious decision to think about something else so we can keep our peace, rather than react in an unhealthy behavior such as over-eating, snacking when we are not hungry, raising our voice, indulging in addictive behaviors etc. 

3. Slow down.
Doing too much is another sure way to lose our peace. We rush from here to there because we have packed too much into our schedules.  We make mistakes, forget things, and our blood pressure goes up and our patience goes down. That is how accidents happen; we cut ourselves chopping food, we forget the house keys, we lock ourselves out of the car, we are short with a loved one. These are all warning signs we are moving too fast and in the mindless mode.  

Stop rushing and allowing other people to make you rush.  People have their own agendas. God's timing is slow, haven't you noticed? When we rush, we lose our peace.  Let them go on without you. You don't have to beat the driver next to you. Relax and enjoy the present moment and keep your peace. I know this will take some work, but your heart and your mind will thank you for it. 

Personal Story 
As a single mom, I always had way too much on my plate because it was ALL on my plate. I had to move fast to get it all done. I had little family support and an ex-husband who shirked all his familial responsibilities. It all took a toll on my health. 

Since I retired, I have been working on - believe it or not - slowing down and doing less. I have a sticky note that says "Take the pressure off".  The treadmill concept is a hard mindset to break but keep at it and you will retrain your mind and learn to relish feeling more relaxed and at peace. 

This is a deliberate attempt to be more mindful of my thoughts and activity, to stay in the present moment, and be more connected to myself.  That season is over, and I am in a new season. My advice to you is to not wait until you retire or have a health crisis to slow down. Start living a gentler pace of life today.  

When we move too fast, overdo or overthink, we become disconnected.  I call it the "rat on the wheel" syndrome. We neglect our health. We think we are superhuman and can do it all. Not true. Now I am attuned to the feeling of being hurried or rushed - most of the time -and when I catch myself feeling disconnected, I stop whatever I am doing. I'll get up from my desk. Take a walk. Meditate for 15 - 20 minutes. This practice breaks the go-go-go cycle and gives my brain time to recalibrate.  Slow and steady wins the race and also keeps us at peace, in good health, and in the present moment.

4. Manage Your Energy Field 
Is there someone in your life who constantly complains? Whines? Is angry, hostile, or negative? Do others always come to you to vent their woes? These are opportunities to set better boundaries.

As a good listener, I seem to attract people who need to vent. Sometimes I don't have the bandwidth to listen. Listening well takes a lot of energy that often goes unappreciated. I always thank people for listening to me. People will suck your energy if you allow them to. Now don't get me wrong, that's what friends are for, but some people will take advantage of you if you let them. 

Personal story

I called an out-of-town friend recently to say hello and see how she was doing in this pandemic crisis. When I asked about her mom, she launched into a tirade about her alcoholic brother for like 20 minutes. When I asked her why she was telling me all this, she said "Well, you asked about my mother." Yeah, but I didn't sign up for all the gory details of her personal family problems. I was exhausted. 

Take your concerns to God. Pray more often. Journal. I journal every day, sometimes twice a day. God has plenty of energy to listen to my stuff.

The minute we recognize these behaviors, we need to put a stop to it because one way or the other or we will wind up drained and not have the energy to take care of our own concerns or pursue our own destiny.  If I am on the phone and someone is worked up over something, I give them one warning to calm down. Okay, my mom I give more than that, because she's old. Really, it shouldn't matter who it is. People need to be responsible for managing their own emotions and not pass them to others. Emotions are transferable.

When we have to listen to someone complain, vent, or otherwise spew their negativity on us, we lose energy and that means we lose our peace and joy. Next time you are on the phone with someone complaining or venting, notice how you feel when you get off the phone. Do you feel like getting something to eat when you're really not hungry? Pouring a glass of wine? Or doing some other addictive behavior? These are all stress reactions to help us calm down because we have lost our peace. Their stress comes over to our energy field.

When we get rid of the peace stealers, we will have more peace and less stress, and that, friends, is what leads us to joy. Joy is a result of having peace. It's a process. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto thee." (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy, in that order.

For Reflection 
Who or what is stealing your peace these days? Do you need to set better boundaries? What fear do you need to face and take action on? Who do you need to speak up to?

I hope today's post has shed some light on how to recognize peace stealers and what to do about them. We have to be consciously aware of the thoughts we are thinking as well as who we allow into our lives. In these difficult days, it is even more crucial to keep our peace and our joy.

If this post has been helpful in some way, do join our blog community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts and also a copy of my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Guard Your Peace - Part 1

Life has it's peace-stealers - traffic, to do lists, interruptions, stress, viruses, job loss. Sometimes peace-stealers are things out of our control - the stock market, the pandemic, hurricanes and tornadoes, unexpected legal issues. Other times peace-stealers come in the form of people - coworkers, friends, relatives, acquaintances. The good news is we can control peace-stealing people because we determine who we let into our lives and for how long.  

Peace is a precious commodity. Without peace, we will never get to joy. Friends, there is power in peace but it is up to us to be diligent about keeping it. Today I'm sharing on one of the primary culprits that cause us to lose our peace and that is strife. Strife is a peace stealer and a divider so it is important to recognize it before it gets a stronghold in our lives and in our relationships. Let's learn together how to recognize it, what causes it, and how to deal with it. 

What is strife? 
The dictionary defines strife as "angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict". Some other words for strife are discord, bickering, arguments, quarreling, contention. 

Strife is pervasive in our society. People get into arguments over differing political views, religious views, money, intolerance, prejudice, and racism to name a few. What's worse is when this quarreling permeates our homes and families. 

There is usually someone who always has to be "right", have the last word, etc. Many people confuse the word "right" with the word "opinion" or "perspective". Right or wrong relate to issues of morality, not opinion, perspective, or personal preference which is what many disagreements are about anyway. It is important to recognize the difference. 

Some people thrive on disagreement and insist on proving they are "right" often by raising their voice and trying to intimidate the other person but what is the point of being "right" if you have destroyed the relationship? Others go off on lengthy diatribes about their point of view, acting like they are an expert when it is really a matter of perspective. 

3 Causes of strife
The Bible says that strife is caused by pride. (Prov 13:10). 
"Where there is strife there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."

I think that pretty much sums it up. When we refuse to see the other person's side of things, we perpetuate strife. When we think we are 100% right and the other person is all to blame, this also perpetuates strife. You've heard the phrase "It takes two to tango", right? Both sides have to own up to their part in the conflict otherwise the two demons of ego and pride will divide us. 

Strife is also caused by having a closed mind, which is again a form of pride. We have to be willing to see things from a different perspective. Often we form patterns of thinking. We unconsciously classify people into groups which causes us to judge them prematurely. We attribute our own traits to others and we don't see them for who they really are. Emotions get in the way and logic goes out the window. 

A third cause of strife is the need to control. Every one needs to feel in control of their lives. However. the problem comes when we try to control other people's lives and choices. We each have a control spectrum, which stems from insecurity and fear. Some people are more controlling than others. Here's a personal story. 

Personal story
Years ago, I was dating this Christian guy whom I considered marriage material. I was planning my 50th birthday party and wanted to put together a photo slideshow for the celebration. My then-boyfriend offered to bring over his printer. I told him I had a printer, but thank you anyway. For some reason, he kept insisting I use his printer over and over again. This caused a lot of strife between us. I could not understand why he wanted me to use his printer! Ridiculous to be arguing over such a stupid printer. I think it was a control thing. Side note: when you can't figure out a logical reason for someone's behavior, chances are there is a personality disorder going on such as control, narcissism, BPD, etc. These are crazy-making so stay clear of such personality types. 

Next week, I'll share on the how to manage strife. I've been dealing with it for many years and have done a lot of study on it, so stay tuned for how to guard your peace - Part 2. 

In the meantime, if this post was helpful, do join our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts as well as a copy of my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Also pop on over to Pinterest and check out my many boards on such topics as health, exercise, and weightloss, aging, beauty, natural healing, faith, and much more. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/pins/

Stay tuned for more on how to ignite the power within, find healing, wholeness, and harmony and discover your destiny!

Ariel Paz 

12 Daily Tips for Living a Calmer Life

How are you feeling today? Relaxed? Joyful? Motivated? Or perhaps you are feeling stressed, anxious, or worried? Whether we like it or not, stress is part of life, but we don't have to let it take over and steal our peace and joy. This month, with everything that is going on in the world and in our personal lives, I am sharing on how to have more calm during turbulent times. I hope you will join me as we explore the many ways we can find more peace in our daily lives. 

We can't do much about external events, but we can control our inner lives and peace starts within. This week I'm sharing 12 tips on how to maintain our peace of mind during extra stressful times. Some of them you might already know so this will be a reminder to practice them when the going gets tough and we feel off kilter. So let's get started. 

1. Take a deep breath.
Oxygen helps calm the body and signals the brain to counter the fight or flight reflex. When we are stressed we tend breath shallowly through our upper chest. Try a few deep, long inhalations expanding your belly and your ribs. Exhale very slowly. Feel the immediate calm. Close your eyes if you can and concentrate on breathing through your belly and your ribs. 

2. Make time for solitude. 
Being around people all day long is stressful; all the talking and chit chat can be very draining. I like to remind people that God gave us two ears and one mouth so we would listen twice as much as we talk. Instead of picking up the phone to vent your frustrations, try talking to God or journaling. Solitude is a gift we give ourselves. 

3. Slow down.
The fast pace of life today is not only unhealthy, it is actually dangerous to our hearts, our brains, and our bodies. In order to live in the presence of God and in the present moment, we must slow way down and that means not only our lives and activities, but our thoughts as well. My mind can go a million miles a minute. Ask my mother. It takes awareness to slow our thoughts down and we can't do it if we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. God's pace is slow, have you noticed?

4. Pray and meditate. 
A relationship with God, just like any relationship, is a two-way street. We need to talk and listen. Prayer is talking to God and mediation is listening. Make time to do both BEFORE things get chaotic. If I know I am going to have a busy day, I make even MORE time to pray in the morning. If my mind and my spirit are not properly prepared, there is NO WAY I'm going to stay peaceful and grounded. I remind myself that I am a child of God, that Jesus is always with me, and that all I need to do is trust and obey.

5. Disconnect.
Learn to appreciate quiet. It might feel awkward for a short time if you're used to constantly having the radio or television blaring, or the cell phone beeping and buzzing, but soon you will begin to enjoy it and your ability to hear from God will increase. Guaranteed.

6.  Go for a slow walk.
Even a short 15 minute break on a busy day can get you off the rat's wheel and into a more relaxed frame of mind. I know it seems counter-intuitive but believe me, a SLOW walk will give you time to focus on your breathing and quiet your mind.

7.  Watch the negative self-talk.
Capture the thoughts running through your mind at any given point during the day. Are they positive or negative? Or are you thinking things like "This XXX is going to be the death of me" or "This --- is  driving me crazy" or "I can't handle this". If so, replace that old recording with positive affirmations. You will get it all done and you probably don't have to get it all done right now. You will not go crazy and you can handle whatever life throws at you. There is always provision when you learn to trust God. 

8.  Repeat a favorite prayer, scripture verse, or mantra.

I use Scripture because there is power in it, but you can use whatever phrases you prefer. Whatever is calming to you, memorize it and repeat it regularly.  
Some good ones I use are:
-  "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything."
- "Lord, help me to be an instrument of thy peace."
- "Peace to all. Love to all. Light to all".

9. Keep your focus on God, not the universe. 
Some people believe in "the universe", which is an impersonal external force, but I prefer to believe in a personal, caring, friend named Jesus, who cares about me individually and sees everything that is going on in my life.
Remember this verse:
"You will keep him/her in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he/she trusts in You."  (Isaiah 26:3)

10. Be gentle with yourself.
Realize you are only human. You were not built to do it all. Take a hot bath. Go for a swim or a walk. Treat yourself to a nice cup of hot herbal tea or your favorite coffee. Learn to relax. Put your feet up and read a few pages of that book you've been wanting to finish. Take the pressure off  by scheduling less and relaxing more. This is a lesson I am learning as I am getting older. I cannot do what I used to do, so I need to be gentle with my body and my mind. 

11. Set limits. 
Learn to use that two-letter word 'NO' more often. We all have the same amount of time each day. No one sets our schedules but us. When I was raising my sons as a single parent, I learned things usually take more time and energy than I realized. I learned to build margin into my life so I wouldn't be so stressed out. Check out my blog post on it. 

Now that I am retired, I have time to relax more; to slow down from the frenetic pace of my former life and to relax and feel more at peace but it is hard to break old habits. Don't wait till you retire. Practice slowing down today. 

12. Forgive yourself and others. 
Unforgiveness is one of the main reasons we lose our peace. Ditch the false guilt. Realize you (or they) did the best you (or they) could under the circumstances and tomorrow is a  new opportunity to practice and to let go. Forgiveness is a daily practice. Don't get in the habit of carrying baggage into tomorrow. 

For Reflection 
Which of these tips can you implement today? Are you ready to make peace a priority in your life? Who do you need to forgive?

When we make peace a priority, everything else falls into place somehow. Post a comment and let me know what tips you use to keep your peace.

If you'd like to join our community, plus receive a copy of my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts of encouragement, motivation, and inspiration. Be sure to check out my Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/arielpaz as well for tons of info, recipes, exercise tips. and much more. Also, am so excited to share my new ebook, "Finding Faith in a World of Fear" on pre-order sale now on Amazon.com for a limited time only. 

Stay tuned for more on how to ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time - keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

6 Ways to Free Yourself from Anxiety

Are you feeling anxious? Worried? Fearful? If so, you are not alone. With all that is going on in the world today, it is hard not to feel anxious. So many things are out of our control, but there is one thing thing that is within our control and that is our mind. Many people do not realize we can control our thoughts but we absolutely can. Our thoughts are what cause us to be anxious. So today I am sharing some tips on how to reign in our anxious thoughts and live with more faith, more peace, and less anxiety. 

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is basically worrying about the future. It takes us out of the present moment and into the realm of the "what if"s. We can be anxious about the weather, the elections, our retirement, our kids lives, our health. The list of worries is endless.  

Where are you right now? 
If we pay attention, we will begin to notice we have a hard time living in the here and now. Just yesterday, I mentioned to a woman at the pool what a lovely summer day it was and she replied "Well, next week they are calling for....".
To which I replied, "I prefer to enjoy today."
"That's right. Stay in the present." she said. Apparently she got my drift.

Jesus himself said this "Do not be anxious about tomorrow for today has worries enough of its own." (Matt 6:34).

When we leave the now, we go back to either the past or the future. We lose the joy of today because we are somewhere else mentally, and that place is usually someplace negative or that makes us feel that where we are right now is not as good as "the good old days". 

Personal story 
I remember a Thanksgiving meal I attended at a friend's house. After dinner, certain members of the family insisted on recounting stressful events that had happened years ago. I thought to myself "Why on earth would they bring this up on Thanksgiving of all days?" 

Because it had become a mental pattern for them, that's why. They were used to recounting these tales from the past and Thanksgiving was no different. If you are caught in one of these situations, try to change the subject to something more positive and get the energy flowing in the right direction again. 

Bad things happen, but we don't have to give them life by bringing them up and talking about them over and over. Process the event in your mind or by journaling, take any action you need to, learn the lesson and then let it go. There is absolutely no sense recounting negative events to others. I do my best to not recount difficulties to others unless I need advice on something or I am commiserating about the state of affairs as a mutual joke. We don't need to pollute the present moment by reliving something negative from the past. 

1. Watch out for unhappy people. 
Some people are energy-stealers. These people are unhappy with their lives and they want to suck you into their unhappiness any way they can. I have several people in my life right now who are unhappy. No matter what I say to them to try get them to see things differently, they refuse to change and the patterns keep repeating. At some point, after we have said our peace, given our advice or opinion, we have to let them be. People have to come to their own realizations. In the meantime, don't let them suck your energy. 

Emotions are contagious. When we hang out with negative, unhappy, complaining people we will start to feel negative and unhappy. Negativity drags you down. Don't let negative people make you anxious. Put a positive spin on the topic and watch how much time you spend with them. 

2. Catch Your Thoughts 
Both Christianity and Buddhism encourage us to take control of our thoughts and our minds. When we are aware of our thoughts, we are at the mercy of what buddhism calls "monkey mind". Our thoughts go from here to there and before we even realize it we are dwelling on something negative. This is when we need to catch ourselves. This is where mindfulness comes in. You can search on my blog for my posts on it. We need to take control of our thoughts, not the other way around. 

3. Watch Your Breathing 

When we start to feel anxious, our breathing becomes fast and shallow. To come back to the present moment and calm ourselves, we can start by paying attention to our breathing. Take a few minutes several times a day to just close your eyes and focus on your breath. Pay attention to the rise and fall of your chest or belly. Notice where your shoulders are. Where do you feel tension or tightness? Begin to become more present in your body and your breath and more aware of where you are holding tension.

I like to do some deep breathing along with my prayers first thing in the morning before I get out of bed to ground myself for the day. I'm trying to fit in an daily meditation session later on in the afternoon but so far it's sporadic. I think I might have to add a reminder to my calendar. 

4. Notice the Gift of Today
When I taught yoga, I used to tell my students "Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present". Once today is gone, we can never get it back. Don't allow the negativity or the stress from yesterday to steal the joy of today. 

Living in the present moment is a skill we can all develop. Instead of dwelling on the past or ruminating about the future, how about marvelling at the beauty of today? The trees getting ready to change their wardrobe? The smells of coffee and homemade soup. The sunshine streaming through your windows. The beat of your heart. The deer and the birds.  Each day - no, each moment,  is a precious gift we should not take for granted. 

5. Trust in Tomorrow
This is where faith comes in. We have two choices. We can either live in fear of tomorrow or in faith for tomorrow. I choose the latter. No, it's not being a Polyanna. It's choosing to take a positive outlook on life. It's training our brain. We get what we expect. If we are always expecting something bad to happen, that's what we will get. We have to direct our thoughts and our words towards a positive outcome, regardless of what we see. This is what faith is all about - believing BEFORE we see. 

6. Be Grateful 
Each one of us has so much to be thankful for each and every day. Even through the toughest of times, we can still find something to be thankful for, to appreciate, to enjoy. I think part of suffering is caused by dwelling on the negative. I learned so much from having chronic migraine. Pain can teach us much, so don't regret it or bemoan it. Yes, it sucks, but, like everything, it is a teacher.  What's more everything is a gift both the good and the bad. It is up to us to glean the gift. 

For reflection
This week, try and catch yourself when you leave the here and now. Take time to focus and meditate on your breath. This is a good tool to bring you back to the present. And remember, to notice the beauty all around you instead of taking it for granted.

If you enjoyed this article do sign up for my weekly posts by entering your email in the box provided. Your email is never shared and you will also receive my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" you are sure to enjoy.

Stay tuned for more positive and practice wisdom on how to achieve healing, wholeness and harmony and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Have More Peace In the Present Moment

Every day is both a gift and a challenge. We never know what the day will bring.  Some days go by smoothly and others have things that spring up out of the blue. I consider these events tests. I love a day with no tests, don't you? 

In this season of Covid-19 and heightened stress levels, the challenge to keep our peace is even more crucial so this week I am sharing some tips on how to do just that. 

If you've read my book, "The Power of Faith", you know I've been through some stuff. Since that book was written, I've been through a lot more tough stuff - losing my job, losing my health, losing members of my family. The past seven years have been a tough road to hoe, yet I'm still here and learning as I go from these experiences. 

Personal Story 
So I'm in the sauna at the gym, before Covid that is, and I start up a conversation with the gal next to me. She mentions she does mindful meditation. Interesting. Then she mentions she's done EMDR, which is another type of healing therapy using eye movements, and tells me a short list of her past traumas including sexual abuse as a child, her father killing her mother, and more. Wow. What she's been through makes what I've been through seem like a walk in the park. But she seemed happy and moving on with her life. How is that? 

Practice letting it go

I think we can all learn a lesson from this woman. We ALL go thru STUFF. Some of it ain't too pretty. But we do have a choice. Each day or rather each hour we get to CHOOSE our ATTITUDE. We don't have to dwell on the rude comment, the driver who cut us off, the jealous boss, the inept rep on the phone. Realize you are irritated and then DECIDE to LET IT GO! Keep your peace!

Resist the Urge to Visit the past

When we're young, we live more in the present moment, not thinking about the past or worrying about the future, but this mindset seems to change the older we get. We dwell on past hurts and regrets usually without even realizing we are doing it. Try to catch yourself thinking about a negative event from the past and bring yourself back to the present moment. 

Notice your surroundings

There is always something positive or beautiful to notice. The birds chirping or landing on my balcony. The color of the trees in the fall. The beauty of the clouds. The brightness of the sunshine streaming through my windows. We humans have a tendency to focus on the negative. Our brains wire that way, but we can change that wiring by learning to focus on our blessings and the beauty all around us. 

Take a deep breath 

This is such a simple but powerful tip. Simply pausing a few minutes to breathe will recalibrate our energy and our emotions. Deep breathing brings more oxygen into the body and calms the mind. Practice abdominal breathing. When we are stressed or hurried, we breathe through the chest instead of the belly. Check out this link for more on the breath. 

Say a Prayer

Never underestimate the power of prayer. I have learned that prayer is powerful. Whenever something crops up and I start to feel agitated, I say a prayer. Works every time. We were not made to handle all these stresses by ourselves. God is more than willing to step in and help out, if we let him, that is. Why? Because he wants to make himself known to us. 

A flat tire? Say a prayer. Disturbing news? Say a prayer. Worried about the virus? Say a prayer. Try it and you will see how much more peaceful you feel after. As it says in Phillipians "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in ALL things, with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understaning will guard your hearts and minds thru Christ Jesus". (Phil 4:6) Notice the use of the word ALL. 

For reflection

What types of things upset you? How often do you dwell in the past or the future? Do you practice deep breathing and prayer? Choose a word that is calming to you. I like the word "serenity". It has a nice sound. When you stop to breathe, meditate on that word. Let it soak into your spirit. Memorize some scripture verses that resonate with you. 

If this post was helpful, do share it with a friend. Join our community by entering your email in the box provided and you'll receive my free eguide "7 steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" as well as my weekly posts. Do leave a comment and let me know how this post touched you. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practice wisdom to help us all find healing, wholeness, and harmoney so we can ignite the power within and discover our DESTINY!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

4 Keys to Handling Stress

What stresses you out most? Worrying about problems? Relationships? Agonizing over decisions? We all battle this foe of our serenity and I, for one, am constantly working on having more peace and less stress and anxiety in my life. We each react differently to stressors and have different tolerances for stress so today, I'm sharing some things I have learned about recognizing the causes of stress, the effects of stress, and what to do to manage it better. 

Stress comes in many forms and it's important to learn to recognize what stresses us out so we can nip it in the bud. The longer we let things percolate, the more stressed out we will feel. We need to deal with stressors as soon as we are aware of them. If you are a highly sensitive person, like me, we are affected more deeply by the daily stressors of life such as noise, crowds, bright lights, and drama so it is even more crucial to be aware of our daily stresses.

The effects of our childhood upbringing:
How and where we were raised has a huge impact on our brains and how we perceive and handle stress. As a child of an alcoholic who couldn't keep a job, and who moved our family 31 times, my childhood was very chaotic and out of control. I've had to deal with the effects of being raised in that environment all my life. When we are brought up with drama, turmoil, arguing, and instability, we tend to gravitate towards that kind of environment as adults because that is what feels familiar to us, until we realize that this is an unhealthy way to live. We were not meant to live with drama, abuse, turmoil, and emotional outbursts because all of these take their toll on our physical and mental well-being. We are meant to live in peace.

Physical Effects of Stress:
Stress takes a toll on our bodies as well as our minds. Do you come down with the flu or winter cold every year? Do you have recurring sinus infections, headaches or migraines? Perhaps you can't control your eating urges or other appetites.  Recurring back pain can also be a stress response. In periods of high stress, we tend to revert back to our destructive addictive behaviors such as overeating, drinking too much, and a slew of other unhealthy behaviors.

These are all warning signs of too much stress. I would venture to say stress, in its many forms, is the root cause of most illness and greatly contributes to addictive behaviors and personality disorders.

Causes of Stress:
Stress comes in a variety of forms but I think it is pretty safe to say one of the main causes of stress is other people. We cannot all seclude ourselves off from the human race, but we can learn healthier coping mechanisms,  how to set better boundaries and how to destress in healthier ways.

I believe people come into our lives for a reason and a season and the reason is primarily to teach us the lessons we need to learn in this life. Some people don't feel they have to change so if we want to live in peace and harmony, we must be the ones to adapt. "Survival of the fittest" means only those who adapt, will survive. Over the years, I have come to some realizations that help me say NO to stress from other people, so today I'm sharing three of them with you.

1) Realize you are not a garbage can. 
I'm all for sharing and listening to people from time to time. In fact, I've been told many times that I am a good listener. People feel comfortable sharing their innermost feelings with me. I'm all for friends giving each other advice and being there for each other during the tough times. Sharing promotes intimacy and connection but there is a line. When someone regularly calls you to dump their stuff and their stress on you, something is wrong. Here is a personal example.

I have a long-time friend who, for some reason,  has the need to vent all her frustrations to me as soon as we get together. This same friend will call me up and go on for 20 minutes or more without taking a breath. I know because I have timed her. I have maintained a friendship with her for many years, but have come to realize, I don't have the bandwidth to listen to all that every time we talk. Healthy communication is a dialogue, not a monologue. One of my other friends calls this a "data dump".

I've learned I have to set boundaries with my exposure to her. One time I mentioned I was not able to listen to her venting, and her response was "Are you stressed?" She was the one who was stressed and she didn't even realize it. I'm sure she felt better after unloading all her emotional baggage on me, but taking in someone else's negative emotions is both unhealthy and draining for the listener. Negative emotions are transferable and we have to protect ourselves if we want to maintain our energy and our peace.

One of the signs you can identify an energy-sucking peace-stealer is by the tone and volume of their voice. If they are worked up and irritated,  they are dumping their negative energy on you and you will end up exhausted and depleted. Ask them to calm down and lower their voice; try to change the subject or else, get off the phone or walk away.

2) Realize you are not responsible for other people's financial problems. 
Money is a huge stressor in relationships. Again, I am all for helping other people. I consider myself a very generous person, but at times, I feel taken advantage of . This causes me to feel very stressed as I come from a home where, as a child, I had to worry about whether or not the rent would be paid or the lights would be turned off again. People are so wound up trying to figure out how to get their needs met, they don't bother to think about how their actions affect you. This behavior comes in many forms but today we'll talk about financial needs.

People ask you to loan them money. They get themselves into a financial mess and then they expect you to bail them out. NO! You and I are not responsible for other people's poor financial decisions and that goes for husbands, wives, sons and daughters as well as "friends".

My ex-husband did this to me several times. He always wanted to start some new business venture, and wanted me to take money out of my retirement savings to fund his exploits. This was a tough place to be because we were husband and wife and I felt obligated to go along with him. Eventually the financial fiascos caused so much tension in our relationship, we ended up in bankruptcy and divorce court. There was a lesson to be learned here.

Repeat lessons
God and life will continue to present us with the same lessons over and over until we learn to handle them in a better way - in a way that respects ourselves. After my divorce, another dear relative came to me for money for his business - to the tune of $5,000. Since I was emotionally connected to this person, I agonized over the decision which caused me undue stress which as a single-parent, I did not need. I finally said "No".  Again, this person was looking out for their own needs and sugar-coated the request with pretty promises. As it turned out, if I had said "Yes" to this person, I would have lost my savings and not  had the down payment I soon needed to retain my new condo.

Apparently I still had not learned the lesson. Recently, I had an even closer relative come to me for money. I agonized over this decision for weeks and ended up with a migraine.  This time it dawned on me. If I have to agonize over a decision, if it is not an immediate "YES", it is not the right thing to do. It is a peace-stealer. Say NO right off the bat, keep the stress at bay, and keep my health and my peace!

3) Realize you are responsible for your own happiness but not other people's. 
As Abraham Lincoln once said "Folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be".  Happiness is a choice we each make every day. When I get up in the morning, I repeat the verse "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps. 118:24). This helps me start the day on a thankful and positive note.

If you are living with someone who is unhappy, realize it is their problem, not yours. Don't let false guilt steal your peace and joy. It is very draining to try to keep someone else happy who refuses to keep themselves happy. It takes enough energy to keep ourselves happy and we are only responsible for our own happiness, not our spouse, not our kids, not our parents. Each person is responsible for their own choices and their own happiness in this life.

Some people use their unhappiness as a way to get attention. After all, negative attention is better than no attention at all. I have someone who is constantly complaining to me - about everything. She is miserable and unhappy. I have learned even though I care for this person, I cannot make her happy and have told her so. I put the monkey back where it belonged - on her shoulders.

Realize these types of people are needy and trying to get their needs met from you instead of taking responsibility for themselves.  Make sure you're not one of them.

4)  Practice surrendering. 
This is where God comes into the picture. Only God can carry the weight of the world. It does not belong on your shoulders or mine. Many things in life are out of our control and we need to learn to live and let live. We cannot make other people do what we want, when we want. The only person we can control is ourselves. One verse I use to remind myself is 1 Peter 5:7 which says this:  "Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you." It reminds me that God sees everything that is going on in my world and he has the plan. I don't have to fret or stress. I think if we spent more time talking to God about our problems, we'd spend less time venting to other people about them.

Okay, so there you have 4 keys to enjoying more peaceful relationships. These are practical steps you can take to enjoy more peace in your everyday life. Who in your life is draining? Who likes to dump on you? Who is negative? When was the last time you talked to God?

If you'd like more positive and practical wisdom on how to have less stress and more peace,  join our community by signing up for my bi-weekly blog posts. Enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR DESTINY!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

10 Practical Ways to Keep Your Peace During Stressful Times

Stock market got you rattled? Work stressing you out? Weight out of control? There are so many things that can cause us to lose our peace, aren't there? It's easy to get stressed out in today's non-stop world. Yet there are some things we can do to stay calm and enjoy our day, despite what's going on around us. Today, I'd like to offer up some tips on how to keep our peace during the rough spots along the highway of life.

1. Take a deep breath.
When we are stressed we tend to take shallow breaths. Try a few deep, long inhalations and exhalations and feel the immediate calm. Close your eyes if you can and concentrate on breathing through your abdomen instead of your chest. Oxygen helps calm the body and signals the brain to counter the fight or flight response.

2. Make time for solitude.
Being around people, computers, phones, and lights all day long can be stressful. Talking drains our energy. Instead of picking up the phone to vent your frustrations, try talking to God, journaling, and meditation. Unlike some people, God is never too busy to listen. When we take time to get alone with ourselves, we disconnect from all the distractions going on around us. Solitude is a way to recharge our batteries. Learn to appreciate quietness. It might feel awkward for a short time if you're used to constantly having music or television blaring, but soon you will begin to enjoy it and your ability to hear from God will increase. Guaranteed.

3. Slow down.
The fast pace of life today is not only unhealthy, it is actually dangerous to our hearts, brains, and bodies. In order to live in the presence of God and the present moment, we must slow way down and that means not only our lives and activities, but our thoughts as well. My mind can go a million miles a minute. Ask my mother. It takes awareness to slow our thoughts down and we can't do it if we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. When we slow down physically, we are able to slow down mentally as well. God's pace is slow, have you noticed?

4. Go for a slow walk.
Even a short 15 minute break on a busy day can get you off the rat's wheel and into a more relaxed frame of mind. I know it seems counter-intuitive but believe me, a SLOW walk will give you time to focus on your breathing and quiet your mind. Fast walking perpetuates fast-paced activity and thinking.

4. Pray and meditate.
The time to pray and meditate is BEFORE things get chaotic. Prayer and meditation are the ways we use to connect with ourselves and with God. Prayer is speaking to God and meditation is listening. If I know I am going to have a busy day, I make even MORE time to pray in the morning. If my mind and my spirit are not properly prepared, there is NO WAY I'm going to stay peaceful. I remind myself that I am a child of God, that Jesus is always with me, and that all I need to do is trust and obey.

5. Watch the negative self-talk.
Capture the thoughts running through your mind at any given point during the day. Mindfulness helps us to be aware of what we are doing and what we are thinking. Are our thoughts positive? Or are we thinking things like "This XXX is going to be the death of me" or "These kids are driving me crazy" or "I'll never get all this done". If so, it's time to replace the old recordings with positive affirmations. You will get it all done. You will not go crazy and you can handle whatever life brings at you. Negative, fearful thoughts only contribute to the feelings of stress and anxiety. We are in control of our thoughts. Don't let them control you.

7. Make time for self-care. 
Self-care is not selfish. If  you don't take care of you, you won't be able to take care of anyone else either. Realize you are only human. We were not built to do it all. We are human "beings" not human doings. Ignore the to-do list for a day. There will always be stuff to do as long as we are breathing on this earth. Take a hot bath. Do your nails. Treat yourself to a nice cup of hot tea or your favorite java. Put your feet up and read a few pages of your favorite book or magazine or take a few minutes to meditate and clear your mind. Take the pressure off by doing little things to care for yourself and recharge. 

8. Set limits.
Learn to use that two-letter word 'NO' more often. We each have the same amount of time each day. No one sets our schedules but us. When I was raising my sons, I learned things usually take more time and energy than I realized. I learned to build margin into my life so I wouldn't be so stressed out and rushed all the time. I developed a firm "Don't rush me" ethic. I didn't give it all at the job so I could have something left when I got home. I didn't climb the corporate ladder because my family was more important than any title or promotion. What is sapping your time and energy? 

9. Repeat your mantra.
Choose a word or a phrase that reminds you that you can handle whatever is stressing you out. I like to use verses from the Bible as they are powerful and God responds when we speak His word out loud.
Some good ones are:
- "This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it."
- "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything."
- "Lord, help me to be an instrument of thy peace."
- " I am enough". 

10. Strengthen your spiritual muscle.
Remember you have a power deep within you to help you overcome life's challenges. The power of Faith is a tremendous weapon against stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. When we practice strengthening our spiritual muscle, the circumstances of life will have less power over us.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

Start implementing a few of these tips every week and you will see results. When we learn to make peace a priority in our lives, everything else falls into place. I believe that is because God honors peace. 

If you found this post helpful and would like to join our community and receive my  bi-weekly posts, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Stay tuned for more on handling the stresses of life, and having more peace and joy in our daily lives. Post a comment and share what tips you use to keep your peace and until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Stay in Peace During Stressful Times

November is a beautiful month. The bushes and trees are all dressed in their fall finery. I love seeing the vibrant hues of red, gold, and green from my windows. When the rays of the morning sun fall on the earth, I am thankful for the glory and beauty God has created. Have you noticed lately?

This is also a very busy season of the year. The stores are gearing up extra early it seems for Christmas. The local transit buses are displaying the "Happy Holidays" sign before Thanksgiving had even arrived.

All this extra activity overloads our senses and lowers our immune systems. Many people come down with colds, allergies, and unexplainable illnesses. On top of it all, most of us have to deal with end-of-year work, medical, and tax-related demands. So what to do?

Start the day on a positive note. 
Despite our to do lists and the pressures of life, if we keep our thoughts on the positives and on God,  we will ward off much stress.  I make a conscious effort to focus on the positives and give thanks each and every morning when I first wake up. My favorite verse is "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24) Notice the focus on personal choice - I will. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude is a choice we make which sets the tone for our day. It helps us handle the inconveniences and difficulties of the day and to have compassion for the rudeness of people.

Focus on the presence and power of God instead of your problems.
It's easy enough to let our thoughts drift onto our problems. If we're not careful we'll get ourselves into a funk about this or that relationship or issue. I have been making more of an effort to catch myself thinking. I know I have a tendency to ruminate and that is unhealthy. Isaiah 26:3 says " You will keep him/her in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." In other words, keep your thoughts on God and on his grace and mercy. Some problems are unsolvable in our own strength. If we want to stay in peace, we have to keep our thoughts on the right things. Phil 4:8 says "Think on these things: things that are true, honest, just, pure, noble, lovely and of good report."

Pray about daily needs.
Take today for example. I was walking up the hill carrying, as usual, too many heavy grocery bags. I could have started complaining and whining about the steep hill and the heavy bags -blah blah blah. Do you like listening to complainers? Well God doesn't either.  Look what happened to the Israelites. 

Instead, I prayed for someone to give me a ride up the hill and before I was a third of the way up, a neighbor on the opposite side of the road slowed to ask if I wanted a ride. She made a U turn and pulled up beside me. You can imagine how thankful I was for her! That was God!

"Which entrance would you like to be dropped at?" she asked. Wow, talk about service. She was an angel. The Lord certainly heard and answered my prayer. Now the reason I am sharing this story is to show you how God does hear and answer our prayers. He sees everything we are going through and He hears our cries and petitions but we have to do our part and ask for what we need. We also must  maintain an attitude of gratitude which shows that we trust God to work things out, help us in our times of need, and to make the path clear.

Make time to rest. 
The tendency during busy times is to move quicker, do more, and skip eating right and exercising. This is a setup for the flu bug to attack us come the new year. When we feel the tug of busyness, it is especially important to take good care of ourselves physically and emotionally. It may seem counter-intuitive, but resting frequently will help us not only get through the busy season but do so in
good health and in peace.

Not only do we need physical rest, but mental rest is even more important.  I am implementing daily meditation breaks. I set my phone alarm for 20 minutes and sit myself down on my yoga mat. Close my eyes and just let my mind rest. See my blog posts on how to meditate. I relax my body and let the stress melt away.  Neither our bodies nor our minds were built to run on fast forward.

So, friends, this season, amidst all the hustle and bustle, the irritations and the misfortunes, remember that peace, prayer, and rest are crucial to enjoying this special time.  And remember to be a blessing to someone else!

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Until next time, stay tuned for more practical and positive wisdom on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz