Instant Cure For Anxiety | Quick Tip Entry # 4

It seems that everyone deals with anxiety nowadays. And for good reason.

We live in a faced paced society. We are more connected with electronics than each other. Our diet isn't the best. We are living to please other people (i.e.; our boss, spouse, parents, etc).

These are a lot of things to change. It could take months or years. And maybe some people can't (or won't) change them.

That's OK. For now, I have an easy and instant solution for anxiety.

Odds are, you're feeling anxiety because of something that may happen. You're thinking about work the next day. You're worried about your exam next month. You're nervous about Tuesday's presentation.

It's OK to feel anxiety over these things. It means you care. If you had a neutral reaction, you may not prepare for your exam or show up for work!

But anxiety is still not a nice feeling. Especially when it keeps you from living in the present moment...

I think I hit the nail on the head that time. "It keeps you from living in the present moment".

My response to that? Put yourself in the present moment. Turn off electronics and get rid of distractions. Sit down and really put all your attention on what is happening right now. The sounds, sights, taste, smells, and feels (LOL). Tell yourself that you are in the present moment.

It takes some practice. You may feel a little uncomfortable at first. But once you really grasp what it means to be in the present moment and do it on a regular basis, you will start to feel better.

For me, it feels like my anxiety instantly disappears. It may come back again a little while, but I'll just bring myself back to the present again. :)

And remember. Just because it doesn't work the first time doesn't mean that it will never work. It's a practice. Keep at it.

Ang

Check out the link to my past previous:

Easy Way To Overcome Difficult Times

If you're interested in learning more about anxiety, check out the following links:

Why You Will Never Be Completely Free Of Anxiety

Does Your Job Give You Anxiety? Don't Distract Yourself... Do This Instead!

Don't Have Time To Meditate? Read This!

Guys, I'm not going to lie. It's a beautiful day here in Newfoundland. The first hot day of the season. I have a list of topics of things I'd like to blog about and for today, I picked one short and sweet.

 I (use to) often schedule time to meditate. I would allow 20, 30, even 60 minutes to meditate. I would do this when I could be left alone. If there were any distractions, that would be an excuse to skip out on meditation.

 It's fine if you want to schedule a meditation time. I still do as well. But if you're looking for the perfect moment to meditate, it's not going to happen very often. The good news is that there is something else you can do. You don't need to schedule a time; you don't need the perfect moment. All you need is a moment. And your breath. It's called mindfulness meditation. This is when you become 100% fixated on what you are doing and your surroundings. If you have a passion or hobby you take part in, you may understand what I am talking about. You sort of "lose" yourself. Time passes and you don't realize. Your attention has been on what you are doing.

 You can do this literally with anything. Taking a shower? Pay attention to the sound of the water running, how the water feels when it's on your body, the smells from products you may use. Doing the laundry? Notice how the clothes feels in your hands and pay attention to how you fold it. Periodically bring your attention to your breath. Breathe deep from your diaphragm. Don't worry your mind wanders away. Bring it back to your breath and what you're doing. Do this 100 times if you have to. And there you go! You're living in the present moment. It's that simple.

 Also, distractions can be used to your advantage. Put all your attention on them. Even if they are unpleasant or annoying. They deserve love to!

 Now you have no excuse!

 I would love to hear from you. What do you do to meditate?

 Have a great day (even if the sun isn't shining),

 Ang

Here is a link to a more in-depth tutorial on how to meditate:
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/04/meditation-for-dummies.html

Edit no. 1: I'm not sure why this is saving as one big paragraph when I actually put paragraphs in it. I'm new to all this and I'm not tech-savvy so please be patient. :)

Edit no. 2: I have figured out why my paragraphs weren't spacing. I was writing in HTML instead of compose. It's a learning experience right?!

How To Enjoy Your Trip To The Fullest

I have been having a deep desire to travel this past couple of years. I have had a couple of dreams recently that I was going to England and Germany. I'm currently looking into going somewhere within the next few months.

Traveling is also very daunting. Especially when you are going solo or with people who are not experienced travelers. Last May, me and my brother, out of almost no where, booked a flight and accommodations to go to California. Naturally, when the date of our flight got closer, I became worried and I wondered if I made a mistake. Should we have went with more people? Are we safe? How will we get around? What if we get lost? Should we have waited for a better time?

Let me tell you. If you have the money and resources to travel, there will never be a better time. Yes, it is intimidating but it is also an incredible learning experience and an opportunity for growth. It's always a matter of perspective.

Looking back on my visit major excursion, I made a couple of mistakes. Not mistakes that made me regret my trip. More like, mistakes that held me back from enjoying my trip to the fullest. I will definitely keep these "mistakes" is mind next time I travel. But for now, I would like you to read them. I hope they resonate within you and help you make the most of your next trip (and life, in general).

1. Go With The Flow

While it's important to have a plan (i.e., places you would like to see, the hotel you are going to stay), try not to obsess over every detail. This can take you out of being in the moment and that is kind of the opposite of a vacation or get-away, in my opinion. As long as you are being safe, have a cell phone, and a GPS or map, don't be afraid to get "lost". Explore a little. You will never know what you may find. These make the best stories and memories!

2. Try Not To Feel Out Of Place

When I first arrived in the Los Angeles, I felt that everyone was looking at me thinking "there's a Canadian girl here". This can be especially so if you do not look like the people around you. Which made me feel more vulnerable when I was in Korea Town. In actuality, no one is judging you and who cares if they do. These feelings only prevented me from truly enjoying the moment. Be confident in yourself and have fun. And ask yourself what your reaction would be if you say a tourist where you are from. I'm sure it would not be a negative reaction.

3. Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes

The general routine in California is much different than where I'm from. I was scared I would make a mistake and look like I was being disrespectful and I felt stupid if I asked a question. Not only did this stop me from doing things that I would have liked to do, it also took me from the present moment. Don't worry to much if you make a mistake or need to ask a question. If you do this you are really making the most of your trip, in my opinion.

4. Do Not Be So Obsessed With Time

I was always so afraid we were going to miss our bus. Because of this, we ended up leaving some places before we really had the chance to explore them. Is it really a big deal if you miss a bus? There will always be another. A cabs are readily available as well. Breathe. Take your time. Explore and enjoy.

With all that being said, it's still important to be a smart traveler. Plan and prepare well in advanced. Have a taxi number in your phone. Don't go anywhere alone at night. And if something doesn't feel right, don't do it. But there is a difference between being unsafe and being obsessive.

These suggestions are based on my experience of one recent trip. I'm sure I could easily write an updated or revised list after another experience.

I hope this helps.

I wish you a wonderful vacation :)

Ang

This is when I was in Santa Monica. I really wanted to stay longer, but I was afraid I would miss my bus and never get back to my hotel. Why I didn't go there another day I have no idea.

How I Maintain A Minimalist Life

I wrote an article recently about the true meaning of minimalism. I have been interested in minimalism and I have been trying to obtain this lifestyle of quiet sometime. If something in my home doesn't add value or purpose to life, I will get rid of it.

Reducing the amount of stuff you have in your home is not hard but it can be an ongoing task depending on how much you accumulated. I have been working on reducing what I own for quite some time now (maybe a year or so?) and I'm still working on it. I know getting rid of your possessions is intimidating, but fear not! I have developed a method for maintaining a minimalist life that I would like to share with anyone who may be interested.

1. Clean Out Your Home On A Regular Basis

Most people seem to clean out there house twice a year: during the spring and winter. I go through my closet and other areas of my home almost on a monthly basis. I will go through my stuff and get rid of things I know I don't use or don't want. Knowing that in a few more weeks I can do this again makes getting rid of what I have a lot less intimating. I would rather take months to get rid of stuff that I know I don't want as opposed to rushing the process and getting rid of items I may regret tossing.

2. Put Your Items In Storage

If you come across some items that you are unsure you want to get rid of, put them in a box or a bag and put them away in storage somewhere. A place where you can't see it. If a few months pass and you have completely forgotten about that item, there is a very good chance it's something you can do without. Then you can toss it on your next cleaning day.

3. Stop Shopping

There is seriously no point in taking any of my recommendations if you keep shopping. Even if you shop with the intention of being mindful, there is a good chance you are going to bring in useless garbage at some point of another. The quick fix to this is to reduce how often you shop!

4. Be Mindful Of What You Get Rid Of

I have a two flashlights in my home. I hardly use them, but I won't toss them. They came in handy when our power went suddenly for 24 hours!  Are you getting rid of that lamp because you have no use for it? Or because it isn't aesthetically pleasing? You don't want to get rid of things only to go buy something similar to it again. That's a waste of money and resources.

On a side not, when I say to "get rid of stuff", I don't necessarily mean throwing it in the garbage. I would recommend you donate, re-gift, or upcycle your stuff. That way they have a better chance of getting the home they deserve and staying out of our landfills!

I hope you find my suggestions helpful. If you have any of your own, I would love for you to share!

Happy cleaning!

Angie

Minimalism (unplugged)

Minimalism is taking the internet by storm and naturally, I'm interested. I have been trying to live a minimalist life for a while now and it takes time! I have 26 years of stuff that I have accumulated. It's hard to get ride of these things. But with time, you will notice your living space is a little less cluttered. And what a feeling that is. Space in one's body, mind, and physical space has always been something I live by.

If you do a YouTube search on minimalism, you will probably see things like "my minimalist room tour" or "minimalist room decor" or "how to dress like a minimalist". Isn't it ironic? Contradictory? Since I started watching these videos, I noticed I have been collecting more stuff. I need a table that looks like this or a article of clothes that looks like that to be a minimalist. I realize now that's total crap.

I watched a documentary the other day called "Minimalism". It was two men promoting their minimalist lifestyle in it's true and natural form. Now, they can literally fit all their belongings in one bag. That's intimidating to a lot of people including myself. But the documentary reminded me exactly what minimalism truly is. It's not about a fashion statement or showing off the lack of things one has. It's simply letting go of things that serve you no purpose or that has no value. That's it. It also teaches people to be mindful consumers. It's important to look at your purchases objectively. Will this item bring meaning to your life? It is helping you learn and grow? Will you love it 10 years from now? 

But minimalism will mean different things to different people. If you love art, it's totally OK to have paints, pens, markers, brushes and canvases. You love to paint and that brings value in your life. This can apply to anything. Are you a maximalist and can't imagine getting rid of your possessions? That's cool too!

I'm not blaming social media for my shopping. But it's easy to get a little too caught up in trends and forget the meaning behind them. 

I'm going to leave it at that. I think it's time to clean out my closet again. 

Ang

Meditation For Dummies

No, I don't think you (or anyone) are dummies. But I found this title appropriate because most people think meditation is a lot more complicated than what it is.

Let me ask you something. How do you (generally speaking) meditate? What comes to your mind? Maybe you feel you need to get a pillow or blanket, sit down with your legs in full lotus, back straight, eyes closed. Maybe you think you need candles, dim lighting, music, chants and prayers. And there is a good chance that most people think they must clear their mind of all thoughts. 

Sure, these things can be done during meditation. I'm sure many people do. But they are not a requirement. Meditation is much simpler than what you may think. And that, in itself, is what makes meditation, well, meditation. Simplicity is key. 

Can you breathe? Yes. Then you can meditate. 

But isn't meditation suppose to be about clearing your mind of all thoughts? That is a goal of meditation, yes. But if you go into meditation with the expectation that you are not going to think, you are likely to get frustrated and give up.

I find this comparison helps people understand a little better. Let's say someone asks you to do 3 pull ups. If you do not work out and you have poor upper body strength, you are probably unable to this. But that does not mean the potential isn't there. If you started going to the gym and practiced, you will be able to do 3 pull ups in no time. Your brain works in a similar way. You need to "exercise" your brain in order to obtain a clear, conscious state of mind. 

Also, what happens when I tell you to NOT think of a pink elephant. Odds are, you thought of a pink elephant. I can promise you that the harder you try to suppress a thought, the more that thought is going to push back into your mind. That's my experience, anyways.

I'm going to share with you some tips that can help you with your meditation practice.

1. Get comfy

Whatever this means to you. I usually lie down. I find that if I sit up, I squirm to try to get comfy. Some people prefer sitting in chairs. Try different positions to see what works best for you.

2. Show gratitude

It doesn't matter to who or for what. It could be for the person who held open the door while you were carrying a bag of groceries. It could be for the glass of water you're drinking. I find that showing gratitude helps to center me and it brings me to the present moment. 

3. Let go expectations

You may have heard stories of people's experiences during and after meditation. If you go into meditation hoping and anticipating that something will happen, not only will it probably not happen but it will take you from the present moment. This is the opposite of what meditation is. Let go of any expectations. Just be in the moment and go with the flow.

4. Find something to focus on

This could be your breath, music, your body, a prayer or mantra. Anything. 

5. Let your mind wander

Yes, I said it. This is probably the opposite of what you heard. Now, I'm not saying to actively think and run with it. What I mean is that it's okay for weird and wonderful thoughts to occur. If they do (and they will), acknowledge your thought, set it aside (not literally), and with open arms, let the next thought come to mind if it so chooses to. Repeat this process it. Accept it and move on.

6. Bring you focus back

When you acknowledge that you are thinking, set that thought aside by bringing your focus back to your breath, mantra, etc that we discussed in tip 4.  

Step 5 and 6 will occur in cycles. With practice, you will have more focus and concentration and less thoughts

Don't give up! Continuing your practice even when it seems impossible is when the magic happens. 

Be present and accepting. Go with the flow. Most importantly, enjoy the process. 

Ang