3 Powerful Ways to Calm your Mind

Do you ever feel like your mind is in a chaotic frenzy? It’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts when you have a busy day. That’s why it’s important to learn how to calm down and become more mindful in your daily life. Here are three ways you can calm your mind and respond better to stressors in your life.

1) Find your center space

In order for this exercise to work you need to find some quiet time where you can concentrate on nothing but breathing. Once you’ve achieved a centered state, start thinking about everything that is going on in your life. Think about all of the problems and issues that need addressing. Try not to make any judgments – just let your thoughts flow. After you’ve listed all of these problems and challenges, clear your mind and focus on breathing again. Now imagine that somewhere within yourself there is a place where all of these problems exist as energy – call this place “the center space.” See if you can feel the energy emanating from these problems and see if you can draw them into your center space until they disappear. Once they’re gone, allow yourself to float back into the world and open your eyes. As you practice this exercise regularly and with greater intensity, watch as things in your life start to change for the better.

2) Gently let go of your thoughts

The moment you become aware of your thoughts, you have the choice to let them go. It is a powerful way to calm your mind that you can do at any time. It works when you are in the middle of an argument or when you are just sitting quietly at home. First, become aware of your thoughts – the story you are telling yourself right now. Notice where the story is taking place (in your head or projected out into the world). If it seems like a good idea, gently label your thoughts (for example, “judgment,” “worry”). Sometimes this act alone can bring awareness into the moment. The third step is to gently begin to shift your attention away from that thought and bring yourself back to this moment. What sensations do you feel in your body? What sounds do you hear? What sights do you see?

3) Stay in the moment

Meditation is one of the most effective ways to learn how to control your thoughts and stay in the moment. One type of meditation that can help with this is mindfulness meditation. When you meditate, you focus on the present by focusing on your breathing or repeating a mantra over and over again in your head. Mindfulness meditation will train your brain to stop thinking about events in the past and stop projecting into the future. Practice this form of meditation for 10 minutes a day and increase it as you get better at controlling your thoughts. You may also consider starting a gratitude journal. Instead of focusing on negative things, spend some time each day writing down all of the things you’re grateful for. Writing down everything from simple pleasures like coffee in the morning to bigger blessings like good health makes it easier for your mind to focus on positive things.