Let’s be honest: We live in a stressful world. Especially considering the concerns over the coronavirus, the upcoming elections, and the state of our country. It is easy to feel like giving up. But now is not the time to give up or let go, but a time for nurturing our mind, body and spirit.
Mark Walman (from Layola Marymount University) and Andrew Newbert M.D. (from Jefferson University Hospital) join together to write an article in the July 2020 Science of Mind Magazine. Both men are world-renowned for the neuroscientific research on spirituality and consciousness. In their article, they lay out some simple spiritual practices to help our mind, body and spirit to work through stress.
They tell us that something as simple as yawning can relax a stressed-out brain. Yawning increases blood flow in your brain and cools now the busy neurons.
Next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, try following more of their tips:
- Mindful eating of healthy food
- Move gently and slowly, yawning into any minor body pain
- Pause and take a break for 10 to 60 seconds every hour or more to focus on a pleasurable task
- Focus on a deep inner value to help anchor yourself
- Write out your negative thoughts and mindfully gaze at them. This causes your mind to discover your negativity and allow you to think more positively
- Tune into your intuition for insights whenever you are struggling — which will increase your self-confidence
- Take time for playfulness and curiosity into your tasks to stimulate the motivation networks in your brain
- Concentrate on building your economical and social wealth — which increases your happiness
- Slow down and mindfully listen and speak to other
- Laugh and smile throughout the day
Although Walman and Newbert’s practices are helpful when I am stressed or overwhelmed I turn to positive affirmative prayer to nurture my mind, body and spirit. Just stopping what I am doing and spending time relaxing and centering into Spirit within helps — and that is even before I begin to pray.
Positive affirmative prayer is probably different from the prayer you learned as a child. The difference is using prayer to affirm what we want in our life rather than asking God/Spirit to change the circumstances or feelings.
In a few weeks, I plan to release a free e-course talking specifically on using positive affirmative prayer to nurture peace and fulfillment in life. If you would like to be one of the first to receive the e-course as soon as it is launched, you can sign up here:
Early Sign up