by Pragito Dove: Being calm isn’t always easy, let alone when chaos erupts around you…

You have to cultivate a practice of being calm – and that practice must be consistent.

Consistency is the key here. More important than the length of time your practice is, do it , every day. Three minutes every day will bring you the results you want quicker than one hour of your practice once a week.

Here are eight tips to help you on your way:

1.  Make a decision to create calm in your life – even when life gets chaotic. This decision is powerful in helping you maintain your daily practice. Know that this is possible to achieve, even if it seems impossible when you start. Keep going and the results will come. Don’t give up. If you forget one day, start again the next day.

2. Breathe consciously as often as you remember. Take three deep breaths when you get up, in the shower, waiting for your coffee, driving in traffic, sitting at your desk…whenever you remember throughout your day. Three deep breaths.

Ignore negative thoughts from the mind trying to undermine your practice. Breathing is the cornerstone of remaining calm, relaxed and at ease. Your body is anyway breathing. The key is to sync up your mind to your body, so they are working together, rather than at odds with each other.

When the body and mind are disconnected, stress is created. Breathing is the simplest, easiest way, to reconnect your body/mind. An added bonus – breathing is free!

3. Take time for yourself – every day. To stay sane, you must take at least a few minutes, 15 – 30 minutes or more is better, to be with yourself. Go outside, take a walk, look at the sky, the trees, the flowers, listen to the birds. Allow the stress of the day to slip off your shoulders and savor some moments of joy.

4. Process your emotions. If you are upset about something, or with someone, give yourself time to recognize the emotions and allow them. It’s important not to stuff emotions, and also not to start yelling at someone who has hurt you either. Rather, wait…and then, when you feel more calm, express how you are feeling to a friend, family member, or, if possible, to the person who upset you.

5. Listen to relaxing music. Whatever music you enjoy, listen to it at least 5 minutes every day. Music has a powerful ability to relax the body, mind, heart, and soul… and bring joy. You can have it on in the background whilst doing other things, or you can dance, sing, with the music. It doesn’t matter what the music is, just that it is music that you enjoy and that relaxes and uplifts you.

6. Practice gratitude. When life feels like a struggle, it’s easy to get caught up in looking at everything that is wrong. Practice gratitude. I promise you, there is always something to be grateful for. Write down 5 things every day you are grateful for – simple things like breathing, walking down the street, enjoying the fresh morning air, your morning coffee.

7. Savor moments of joy. As you practice gratitude, you become more aware of the moments of joy sprinkled throughout your day. Laughing with a work colleague, taking your dog for a walk, sharing a look of love with your beloved, watching your kids play. As you nurture these moments of joy, they will grow, until feeling joy becomes your new normal.

8. Listen to your body. If your body is thirsty, drink; if hungry, eat; if tired, sleep/take a nap; if restless, go outside and breathe the fresh air, jog, walk, run. A relaxed body helps the mind and emotions calm down.

These 8 tips give you a framework for each day, so that when chaos hits, (which it will!) you have your framework already in place to help you remain calm, and relaxed. You’ll find creative solutions to your challenges arise, easily and naturally. You’ll be aware you are resting in Divine Order, knowing that all is well, and all will be well. You are safe, blessed, and loved.

Your essential nature is peace, love and abundance. You have received a wrong conditioning telling you life is difficult, hard, and chaotic. As you cultivate your practice of calm joy, and gratitude, your true nature begins to become more obvious to you, and that which is false in you dissolves.

To help give you greater confidence in your ability to stay calm, no matter what, join us for my Practitioner Certification Meditation Training.

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