4 Stress-reduction Tips

Some people keep 72-hour emergency kits filled with easy-to-prepare food, water purifiers, and first-aid kits. Perhaps we also need to keep a stress-reduction kit on hand for times when life becomes stressful and difficult. Here are a few suggestions for the kit:

1. Meditation CD’s. Meditation CD's help the listeners calm their thinking and their bodies. My favorite meditation CD is by Dr. Brian Weiss, M.D. the CD is included at the end of his book, Meditation: Achieving Inner Peace and Tranquility in Your Life. The book isn't impressive, but the CD at the end is priceless. You can purchase the book on Amazon.com for $10.08 (used is much less.)

2. Meditation or peaceful music also reduces stress. Some free music downloads are available on the Internet and other inexpensive meditation music is widely available. Research indicates that meditation music can even calm our brain waves and ease tension.

3. A collection of a few meditations helps us to move our thoughts to a peaceful peace. These verses from the 27th Psalm are calming:

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

The 23rd Psalm is another soothing meditation:

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.

Here is a website that contains some healing meditations: http://www.freemeditations.com/. This meditation site helps you experience greater peace: http://www.freemeditations.com/inner_peace.html. And,this one helps you relax: http://www.freemeditations.com/meditation-to-relax.html. You could copy one of these meditations and put it in your purse or planner to review when you're feeling stressed.

4. The last critical component for stress reduction is to breathe slowly and deeply, focusing your thoughts on a beautiful thought, scene or object. Relax your body, starting with your head and moving down to your neck, arms, and legs. Note where you are holding in tension and release the stress from that area of your body. Feel a healing power move from the top of your head throughout your body down to your toes. Picture this power as a bright light that lifts sorrow, pain, and fear from your heart and body.

These components make up a great (72-minute) emergency kit for stress-reduction. Then, whenever you feel tense, troubled or tired, you can center your mind in a healing place and find comfort and peace.

© Carol Brown