Exhale Your Stress

Deep breathing is often the fastest, easiest way to get immediate relief from stress. You can do it anytime, anywhere. When you find yourself feeling anxious, scared, angry, frustrated or just generally stressed out, try taking a few deep breaths.

To begin, breathe in slowly and deeply gently pushing your stomach forward. You want to breathe in from your diaphragm which is below your chest. As the air comes in, you’ll feel your chest swell. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then slowly release the breath. If you can, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. If you can't do this, that's okay, just breathe in and out in whatever way is comfortable for you. Give yourself several seconds to fully release the breath and to breathe normally a few times, then take in your next deep breath. If possible, do three deep breaths. If you are able, five deep breaths can be even better.

Taking a minute to focus on your breathing and taking in the deep breaths is very powerful. You will feel your breathing slowing down and you will get calmer. If you can, stop whatever you are doing and bring all of your attention to your breathing. Even if you must continue with whatever you are doing and your attention is divided, try the deep breathing anyway. It can still make a huge difference.

Perhaps, the best thing about this breathing technique is that it works immediately and the more you do it, the more effective it becomes. Not only will the sense of peace come more easily and quickly, but it will last longer. You’ll also find that sometimes you can even calm yourself with just one deep breath. In the middle of a difficult situation or conversation, you’ll be able to use deep breathing to bring you back to a more centered and relaxed place. As soon as you notice that you’re starting to feel irritated or stressed, take a breath.

Deep breathing is a great way to start meditation. It’s also a good way to transition from one activity to another. It clears your head and helps you to change your focus. Even when you aren’t feeling stressed, it can be helpful to take a minute once or twice throughout the day and just take a few deep breaths.

Copyright © 2009, Lisa Wagner

Creating a Day of Purpose

The sound quality isn’t as good as the CD or digital download, but it’s an easy way to check out a meditation from my new album.

Why are you REALLY angry?

Feeding anger about things we can't control is distracting, and while that is sometimes exactly why we do it, it doesn't make our lives any better.

The above sentence was a closing comment I just made on a message board and I think it is something we all need to be reminded of from time to time. Maybe the reason I've noticed this with people so much recently is because I need to remember it. (I do get that.) In the hopes that my introspection will help you, here are some reasons why I get into misdirected anger ...

1. Being angry about something I can't control distracts me from dealing with something I want to ignore. I should be dealing with it, I can have an impact, but I don't want to deal with it so I divert my energy onto something else that is futile and drains my thoughts.

2. Being angry that others are not doing what they can/should be doing to address their problems is both a distraction (see #1), and it is a way of consoling myself ... at least I don't that, I would do that differently etc. Their problems may be ones I have and/or are willing to address, so I can pretend that I deal with all of my issues since I deal with THOSE issues.

3. Distracted anger keeps me angry. If I delve too much into why I am really angry, I'll find that I feel hurt.

Anger masks pain, and until I am willing to deal with the pain, until I am willing to know my real intentions, until I am willing to move forward, it's just easier to stay angry and the best way for me to stay angry is to be angry about something I can't control.

There is no end to that anger.

Copyright © 2009, Lisa Wagner

Miracle Thought

If you are a student of A Course in Miracles, if you enjoy listening to Marianne Williamson, or you just want a five minute boost in living a more miraculous life - check out Marianne's Miracle Thought podcast, new each weekday. It's available through iTunes or get all the info from her site www.marianne.com.

It's a joy and a blessing.

Ultimate Relaxation iMix

Ultimate Relaxation

I have a new guided meditations CD now available on iTunes. It should be at Amazon in April 2009. Here's a little about it:

Ultimate Relaxation and Daily Renewal: Nourish Your Mind, Body and Spirit

This collection of 10 guided meditations includes beautiful music, ocean waves and falling rain. They are designed to help you manage anxiety and stress from the moment you awake and begin your day, and each one contains a unique focus providing you with several different ways to relax, and eventually drift off to restful sleep at the end of your day.

Sunrise: Morning Renewal - This gentle awakening helps you to begin your day with peace and clarity, leading to a more peaceful and centered day.

Creating a Day of Purpose - This meditation brings clarity and purpose to each day, even those filled with quiet, simple actions.

Calming Waters for Anxiety Release - Learn to detach from your anxious thoughts and release them while listening to falling rain.

Mental Oasis - Let this short meditation help you to find an oasis of tranquility in the middle of a hectic day.

Silencing the Mental Chatter - Silence the runaway chatter racing through your mind.

Midday Break - Enjoy this short break in the day for a quick renewal.

Releasing Anxiety - Release the anxiety you are feeling in the moment, as well as sources of more persistent anxiety.

Decompress and Release the Day's Stress - Release all the thoughts that have collected throughout the day.

Ultimate Relaxation - Experience deep relaxation from your day at a beautiful beach.

Sunset: Falling Asleep - This meditation will guide you to relax your mind and body, and drift off to sleep.

Copyright © 2009, Lisa Wagner

He Wishes For The Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W.B. Yeats