Modern life places a lot of demands on the average person. At any one moment, we could be worrying about finances, workload, family or bills all of which can cause an enormous amount of stress. To achieve a balance, it’s a good idea to bring a little zen into your life. Zen is the art of creating calm in amongst the storm, however hectic and busy the storm is. So, if you need to connect with that inner peace, read on for ways to bring more zen into your life.
Be active
Staying active has a number of health benefits, such as weight loss, reducing the risk of disease, and increasing energy levels. But it can also have a huge impact on your mood. Exercise promotes the production of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine – all known as happy hormones. By staying active, these happy hormones reduce signs of anxiety and instill feelings of balance and well-being. Incorporate a daily workout using cardio, weights, and yoga into your day to stay on the path to mental clarity and happiness.
Keep learning
If you want to bring a balance of joy, peace, and harmony into your life then it’s important to exercise the mind as well as the body. Taking up a new language or learning a complex and dynamic game such as poker can stimulate the brain and enhance the mind. Languages boost brain cells’ potential to form new connections while poker demands mathematical computation and psychological analysis. These types of mental activities are ideal for giving the brain a workout, which makes it more able to process stress.
Meditate
Meditation is a scientifically proven way to reduce stress and provide insight into the workings of your mind. The practice of observing and letting go of thoughts and feelings helps to create more control over them. By bringing awareness to thought processes and actions, it is possible to foster a sense of interconnectedness which makes it much easier to be present in each moment. There are several different ways to meditate, such as:
- Guided meditation apps
- Deep breathing exercises like the Wim Hof Method
- Group meditation circles
- Developing quiet awareness
- Reaching a state of flow through creativity or exercise
Develop a mantra
Mantras are usually used in meditation to help focus the mind, but they are also super useful as a means of positive affirmation. It is simply a phrase or word which you repeat over and over to channel the energies of what you want to achieve. They have traditionally been using in meditation techniques because they are believed to have psychological and spiritual powers. Create your own mantra by working out what you would like to achieve. Is it peace of mind? Success? Prosperity? Self-worth? Once you have an idea of what you want your mantra to achieve, create a short statement around it then repeat your mantra each morning, or whenever you feel you need to tap into that energy. Here are some examples to get you started:
- I will not be influenced by other people’s opinions of me
- My path is a successful one
- I believe in myself
- My mind is a calm oasis
- I take care of my finances
Be kind
Our interactions with others can have a huge impact on our sense of calm and well-being. By taking a deep breath and being kind to everyone you interact with, you will surround yourself with good energy that improves the lives of everyone around you. This also helps to reduce the chances of conflict which can cause a lot of stress.
From exercise and meditation to learning and being kind, there are plenty of ways that you can introduce a little more zen into your daily life. You don’t have to make big changes to see big results, either. Just a few minutes a day will make a huge difference to your feelings of calm and well-being.
