| It's easy to calm down quickly. No matter
| |
| | Instead, we discover a peaceful place in
|
| what is happening around us, we never
| |
| | the storm to which we can always return
|
| have to become trapped in stress or
| |
| | for comfort and strength.
|
| anxiety. It's important to learn how to
| |
| | Focus on Strengths not Weaknesses
|
| calm down quickly this as negative
| |
| | As we focus upon our strengths, not our
|
| emotions can easily become addictive. The
| |
| | weaknesses, little by little, fear, anger
|
| longer we hold onto them, the harder it
| |
| | and depression fade. Rather than
|
| can be to let go. Zen offers many
| |
| | struggle with problems, we learn to
|
| pathways to becoming free of negativity.
| |
| | become available to solutions. This is
|
| This article is based upon Zen principles
| |
| | accomplished by working with focus. The
|
| and value-centered counseling. It offers
| |
| | question we always keep before us is:
|
| enjoyable and effective steps to calming
| |
| | What am I focusing on this moment? Am I
|
| down, feeling good about yourself and
| |
| | dwelling on problems or open to solutions
|
| finding that peaceful place in the storm.
| |
| | and new ideas? Am I aware of where I am
|
| Open The Treasure House Within
| |
| | right at this moment, or lost somewhere
|
| In Zen students are told: "Open the
| |
| | in a dream? Am I grateful for what I
|
| treasure house within." This is a
| |
| | have, or dwelling upon the wrongs I
|
| reminder that we are all are endowed with
| |
| | think others have done me?
|
| many resources hidden within. In order to
| |
| | Life continually renews and confronts us
|
| access our innate abilities, we must stop
| |
| | with new tasks, challenges, opportunities
|
| looking everywhere else and forget about
| |
| | and solutions, day after day. Are we in
|
| depending upon others. Instead, we are
| |
| | touch with this ever-flowing reality? Are
|
| told to spend time each day taking
| |
| | we focusing on the gifts we are always
|
| responsibility for what's going on
| |
| | receiving, and ways we can give back to
|
| inside. We turn our attention within,
| |
| | others as well? By choosing to take
|
| discover who we truly are and stop
| |
| | charge of our focus we dissolve the
|
| rejecting ourselves and others. As we do
| |
| | primary cause of our suffering - a monkey
|
| this, we are beginning to open the
| |
| | mind that has run wild.
|
| treasure house within.
| |
| | Take Constructive Action
|
| Pay Attention
| |
| | Once we take charge of our focus, we
|
| We are what we think about. When we stay
| |
| | place it upon what we are receiving, what
|
| fixated on one person, thought or
| |
| | we have to be grateful for. Then it is
|
| situation, it is easy to become caught
| |
| | easy to take the next step and naturally
|
| in the grip of self centered, obsessive
| |
| | become aware of what others need from us,
|
| thoughts. The more we pay attention to
| |
| | what we have to offer, how we can give
|
| that which is negative or upsetting, the
| |
| | back. Then we do it. We take action. We
|
| more strength it has to rule our lives.
| |
| | do not hesitate. We focus upon simple,
|
| This can be counteracted easily.
| |
| | daily actions, which are constructive for
|
| Take control of your attention and what
| |
| | ourselves and others.
|
| you're focusing upon. Spend time each day
| |
| | We spend some time each day doing "deeds
|
| developing concentration. This is also
| |
| | of service", finding ways we can give to
|
| called meditation (or zazen). Sit with a
| |
| | others, make their days easier and
|
| straight back, do not move, follow your
| |
| | happier. As we focus upon giving and
|
| natural breath. Let random thoughts come
| |
| | encouraging others, a strange thing
|
| and go. Do not suppress them, but do not
| |
| | happens - our personal anxiety vanishes,
|
| let them grab your attention away. (At
| |
| | and we, ourselves, become filled with
|
| first you may be besieged by many
| |
| | joy. Before long, we become filled with
|
| surprising thoughts and feelings, but if
| |
| | something even more important than joy -
|
| you simply notice them and then return
| |
| | self respect.
|
| your attention to your breathing, these
| |
| | A primary source of stress and anxiety is
|
| will soon die down). Count your breath
| |
| | low self esteem; feeling badly about
|
| from one to ten, then all over again. Do
| |
| | ourselves. The most powerful way to get
|
| this for at least ten to fifteen minutes
| |
| | rid of this is to have a healthy dose of
|
| without moving. By not moving we are
| |
| | self respect. When we fill our lives with
|
| stopping what is called the monkey mind.
| |
| | constructive actions, self worth develops
|
| Stop The Monkey Mind
| |
| | naturally. It does not come about through
|
| The monkey mind is the mind that jumps
| |
| | artificially boosting self esteem, but as
|
| from one thing to the next, fears,
| |
| | a result of living a life worthy of
|
| demands, criticizes and sabotages our
| |
| | respect. In this manner we grow able to
|
| lives. It is the part of ourselves, which
| |
| | handle any situation life presents us
|
| causes sorrow and fear. By taking charge
| |
| | with.
|
| of our focus, by not paying attention to
| |
| | When we are able to do that, not only do
|
| or responding to the many negativities
| |
| | we calm down easily, but enjoy all
|
| the monkey mind throws our way, we become
| |
| | aspects of our days. We feel like life is
|
| balanced and calm. As we do this
| |
| | a gift we are receiving; and we become a
|
| regularly, we are no longer carried away
| |
| | gift to life as well.
|
| by passing feelings and thoughts.
| |
| |
|
