Practices for calming the heart and mind?

Well, darling, through all of the difficulties that I've been through, I've found that simple deep breathing and meditation clears and calms my mind, and allows me to overcome anxiety and stress. I try to do both loving-kindness meditation and mindfulness meditation (mindfulness is harder for me), and I find that both allow me to refocus beyond the immediate stress I'm experiencing.

For my community, I contribute to a number of organizations with money, and a few with time. My family knows that I am available to help them or to just listen to them at any time.

As far as mortality, well, darling, that's difficult - I'm far too curious about what happens next in this life to ever want to stop being here, and I don't like the idea of all of the fun of living coming to an end, but I remind myself that it is inevitable and I try to get past that. I do engage in a little "wishful thinking" about how much I want to live again, this time meeting my beloved early so that we can spend all of our lives together, rather than meeting so late in our lives as we did...but I don't think that is what will happen. I try to take joy in the people around me, to let my loved ones know that I love them and that they are in my heart...to me, remembering loved ones and celebrating and taking joy in those memories is the best immortality we can have.

I don't think that walking away from religion means losing the kinds of practices you point out - I've studied a number of religions and philosophies in my path and I've taken something from most of them. I think that I don't have much difficulty separating belief and practice because I don't start with the belief - I've studied as an outsider, so I don't believe that the practice is inextricably entwined with the beliefs.

Very good question, darling!

(((Colin)))

Thank you, Nikon, darling!! Your description of 'your place' was compelling...it calmed me just reading it.

(((Nikon)))

I go to a place where I can watch nikon sun baking in the long grass by the lake, but seriously breathing is the best of calming exercises that I know the ritual being six seconds breathing in through the nostrils, and six seconds breathing out through the mouth repeat until calmed. If nothing else this stops the hyperventilation or short breathing that accompanies anxiety.

Another thing I gleaned from a conversation with a Thai Monk, where I explained that I could not sit and meditate on my navel. His answer was that I could walk by the sea, or watch a waterfall, birds in the sky. As long as I gave that activity my total absorption then I would gain the benefits of meditation. But how do I concentrate? To which his answer was "If your mind wanders that's OK just gently come back to the waterfall". Only the very practiced can instantly empty their minds, for the rest of us it is a series of stages.

Death well I dont really think of it on a personal level, it is inevitable and I will never know it has occurred so I just dont worry about it. My loved ones including one of my sons? I celebrate their lives, I remember their smiles, laugh at their sense of humor. I have photos and personal items from them that remind me of their lives their death is but a moment and while I grieved, I now remember their smile.

I try to meditate when I am feeling stressed or anxious. I try to recall the many situations of people I may or may not know and it displaces my stress and anxiety to worrying over others. I try to be an objective shoulder to cry on for others. I participate in non-profit organizations for children in our area. Death and mortality is a hard one, but I try to remember that it is inevitable and in my heart I hope that all sufferings, injustice, and lies will evidently be diminished and in many ways it keeps me focused on something beyond myself and my pain and suffering. I'm an other, I claim no religion.

1) I go internal and meditate or talk to myself and externalize.

2) I'm at a time in my life where I can give a lot back to my community, so I do, I'm a volunteer junkie.

3)I've eluded my own death many times and I'm a hospice councilor so I made my peace with dying a long time ago.

RScott

I am a Christian, but that is not a religion it is a relationship. It is not about me trying to reach up to God and try to make sense of this life or the circumstances I am facing. It's all about God reaching down to me. He sent His Son Jesus to die for me so I can be completely forgiven, healed, blessed, at peace. When I remind myself that it is no longer up to me, I can be a peace. When I know that the Bible is true when it says that God is for me and who can be against me? I know it is just a matter of time before everything works out for my favor. To be totally honest with you I don't know how people can calm themselves down when they are feeling anxious without Jesus. Everything else is just wishful thinking, and you know in your heart you truly don't have anything to "stand" on to reassure yourself everything is going to be okay. But maybe when people get to the end of themselves, that's when they cry out to Jesus to be saved. The good thing is Jesus died for everyone! He loves you. All your peace for this life is found in Him... and all your peace in death is found in Him knowing that you have a sure place in heaven waiting for you. I hope you find the peace you are searching for... the true prince of peace.. Jesus. Have a blessed day.

1. Meditate, pray

2. I do whatever I can dependent on the situation.

3. I know in my heart that when we die we go to a better place, that's enough for me.

The only thing that calms my heart is the truth, and that's why I'm a Christian. Nothing else makes any sense if you're "in the fire"...trust me. Have you ever heard of anyone converting to atheism in prison? Or anyone who's dying who says "dang I'm so glad I'm an atheist"?

(((Jayden's Aunt))) Gave a great answer.

I have a place I go to in my mind, a perfect place, of my own choosing, mine is by a lake, I'm laying in longish grass, alone, a feint breeze, in a dip between some hills, in the Lake district. Imagine your own, where, what it looks like, what you would be doing, then visit there in your mind whenever you need.

Repent of sin and Receive Christ as Savior..

i meditate