Meditation to help overcome fear and stress

Lately I've had some times where I've felt so scared and overwhelmed. Be it an imminent "thing" or a life change, sometimes I have felt my heart pounding and the sweat poring out of my skin and it has been so consuming I have felt trapped. I have been trying to bring meditation into my life, and in the 3, maybe 4 instances lately where I have felt myself starting to succumb to stress, anxiety and general "Oh my GOD why is life putting me in this situation?!" moments, I have tried a quick, spontaneous meditation.

Maybe it's more breathing exercises but I see it as meditation. I have closed my eyes, taken a deep breath in, held it for as long as I can, then released. I've done this 5 times then I've envisioned myself connecting with the earth. Then I ask the Earth for help, for guidance, for strength. Whatever in that moment I feel I am lacking, I have breathed slowly and asked for help. And the crazy thing? It's helped. It has brought me back down and given me clarity. I don't know whether it's just taking time out to be with myself, to calm down, to just be. But this little spontaneous meditation has been so helpful and nurturing when I've needed it.

I love the guided meditations I have from my art course, and would really like to devise some of my own - who knows, maybe even record them to play back at another time. So I think my next thing to go on my to-do list (this is the Master to-do list, of which I have several more todo lists living inside of it!!!) will be to learn how to structure meditations. I've found a lot of youtube videos for meditation and creative meditation as well as spying a meditation centre near my mum's house so the next chance I have I am going to have a calm, meditation exploration day!

Art journal spread about feeling calm

Bath time bliss: Caring for and loving yourself- often neglected but essential for your health

I find it very hard to just be still, breathe and be with myself. I get twitchy if I spend 24 hours alone, I struggle to be patient and I get so overcome with ideas I rarely can finish projects. However, this is me. I must learn to accept all of me, and part of that is learning to be calm with myself and care for myself.

One of my favourite times with "me" is bath time! A bit sill I know, but I like to take an hour out, slip into a really hot, beautiful smelling bubble bath and escape for a bit with a trashy magazine, a glass of wine and peaceful music.

I love my baths, I really do. They give me time to shut off from the world and just relax, without feeling guilty or distracted. Just me, the bubbles and the magazine! I'm trying to be more regular with taking time out, although with a full time job and so much to do in the evenings and weekends, it can be hard, however the more frequently I do this, the more I realise how essential it is for my well-being and peace.

Taking time out to have a bath might seem like a small thing, but over time, this will build into my many small things, making a more peaceful and happy me.

(image copyrighted to original artist)

Sunset and Rumi

I took this photo a while ago and I was so moved by the contrast of the deep, moody dark clouds and the burst of pure joy from the sun as it set for the day. It reminded me of one of my favourite quotes, by Rumi...

"The wound is the place where the light enters" - Rumi

The Journey of Purpose

I discovered a great facebook page/ youtube channel today, The Journey of Purpose TJOP, which had the below video on it of Jim Carrey giving an inspirational speech, of which the first quote really resonated with me and I have used in a piece of art inspired by a Life Book lesson "What Does your Heart Say?".

Enjoy, and be inspired by the greatness within you, within your heart and within your soul.

“My soul is not contained within the limits of my body 

my body is contained by the limitlessness of my soul”

What Does Your Heart Say? - crop of mixed media piece