Let us face it, in the old days stress was the thing that stopped us getting mowed down by mammoths and saber tooth tigers.
It also alerted us to imminent danger and self preservation. Gave us the nanosecond response to the dual, falling rock or oncoming chariot.
Today we still need these guards against the surprises life throws at us but major difficulties arise when we find these natural responses muddled up with the unnatural responses we throw at ourselves and others through non fight or flight reactions.
Reactions inappropriately constructed cause a build up of undissolved tension, irritability, lack of concentration, feeling tired and having trouble sleeping. These are the classic modern signs of stress build up.
If you do not know
how to deal with a situation, it becomes stressful. The old fight and flight mechanism tells you are in a threatened situation. Trouble is, you are not going to run, as the danger is all in the mental perception of 'danger'. What we need is a quick logical appraisal of what really is going on.However the very natre of stress, makes our rational mind turn to irrational thoughts and solutions. This just makes things worse.
What we need is something to get back our balance in body and mind.
The best tool that we have is our breath.
The moment we focus on our breathing we take our distraction from the trouble into the present moment as personified by our breathing. You see, we can never breath in the past or future, just now. This then keeps us locked into the moment.
In the moment there is no worry no trouble, just now.
It really is that simple.
Try it and see how it feels.
It can only feel good, because any thought of it feeling bad is related to something outside the present moment and that is just taking us to a place of fear either past or future.
See how it works.... go for it and practice it avidly.
There is a deal of contentment in them there breaths.
Quote of the Day:
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Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. - Ovid
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