It is easy to calm down quickly. No matter what is happening around us, we should not be overwhelmed by stress or anxiety. It is important to learn how to calm down quickly, as negative emotions can easily develop. The longer we hold on to them, the harder it will be to break free. Zen provides many ways to break free from evil. This article is based on Zen principles and value-added counsel. It offers fun and practical steps to calm down, feel good about yourself and find that peaceful place in the storm.
Open the Heritage House Inside
Zen's students are told: “Open the treasure house inside.” This is a reminder that we are all given a lot of resources hidden inside. To achieve our innate abilities, we must stop looking everywhere and forget to rely on others. Instead, we are told to spend time each day committing to what is going on inside. We focus our attention on the inside, discover who we really are, and stop denying ourselves and others. As we do this, we begin to open the museum inside.
Listen
We are what we think. When we stay focused on one person, in a thought or situation, it is easy to get caught up in thoughts that are focused on us, that are too focused. The more we focus on what is positive or negative, the more power we have over our lives. This can easily be avoided.
Control your attention and focus. Spend time each day improving your concentration. This is also called meditation (or zazen). Sit with a straight back, do not move, follow your natural instinct. Let random thoughts come and go. Do not pressure them, but do not let them hold your attention. (At first you may be surrounded by many strange thoughts and feelings, but if you just pay attention and return your attention to your breath, these will soon die). Count your breath from one to ten, and repeat. Do this for at least 10 to 15 minutes without moving. We motionless stop the so-called monkey mind.
Stop Monkey Mind
The mind of the monkey is the mind that jumps from one to the next, fear, demand, criticism and ruin of our lives. It is part of us, causing grief and fear. By taking the reins of our focus, by not paying attention or not responding to the many negative things that the monkey's mind throws our way, we become more balanced and calm. As we do this, we are less likely to be overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy. Instead, we find a quiet place in the storm that we can always turn to for comfort and strength.
Focus on the Strength and Not the Weakness
As we focus on our strengths, not our weaknesses, little by little, fear, anger, and depression disappear. Rather than struggling with problems, we learn to find solutions. This is achieved by working with concentration. The question we always put before us is: Where do I focus this time? Am I focused on problems or open up new solutions and ideas? Do I know where I am right now, or am I missing somewhere in a dream? Am I grateful for what I have, or am I constantly focusing on the bad that I feel others have done to me?
Life continues to innovate, and we face new tasks, challenges, opportunities and solutions, day by day. Are we connected with this ever-present reality? Are we focused on the gifts we regularly receive, and on how we can give back to others? By choosing to control our focus, we eliminate the root cause of our suffering - the mind of the monkeys we have run.
Take Positive Action
Once we have taken the reins of our focus, we put it on top of what we find, what we should be thankful for. Then it is easy to take the next step and naturally realize what others need from us, what we should give, how we can give back. Then we do it. We take action. We have no doubt. We focus on simple, everyday, upbuilding activities for ourselves and others.
We spend time each day doing “ministry”, finding ways to give of ourselves, making their days easier and happier. As we focus on giving and encouraging others, something wonderful happens - our own anxieties disappear, and we, ourselves, are filled with joy. Before long, we are filled with something far more valuable than happiness — self-respect.
The main source of stress and anxiety is low self-esteem; feeling bad about us. The most powerful way to eliminate this is to have a healthy amount of self-esteem. As we fill our lives with wholesome activities, self-esteem grows naturally. It does not come from developing self-esteem, but it is the result of living a life worthy of respect. In this way we grow up to be able to deal with any situation that life brings.
When we are able to do that, we not only become more relaxed, but we also enjoy every aspect of our day. We feel that life is a gift we receive; and it becomes a gift to life too.
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