Finding peace amidst the chaos

My favorite illustration of the Buddha is one where he is seated in meditation, his eyes closed, head slightly bowed, a look of complete serenity on his face while a tornado or whirlwind is raging all around him. The caption beneath the illustration is, "and not a single hair on his head is disturbed."

Many of us can relate to life often being a violent storm, and feeling embattled or worse, victimized and helpless. But is it really possible to find inner peace and calm Buddha demonstrated amidst the chaos of modern daily life? After all, even ten minutes of watching the news these days can make you lose your center, fuel your anger, drag you down and make you want to bury your head.

But does experiencing a peaceful state require blind acceptance of all the chaos going on, burying our heads in the sand or looking away from all the negativity around us to stay sane or is something else afoot?

Buddha was a master at navigation. Through intense meditation, expanding his consciousness and achieving samadhi or awakening, he understood one could be in this world but not of it. He was aware the secret to a successful and peaceful life was to master oneself. He did this by going within and tapping into the cosmic web of life, the wellspring of universal source consciousness to merge with the Divine. This is a state of deep tranquility available to us all. Now I know there are many articles and experts out there convincing you of the difficulty of attaining such a state. But Buddha was born on Earth to help the masses. Not bog us down with dogma.

He also wisely recognized the human potential - - that each of us are powerful co-creators with a unique mission on Earth. And that with the wisdom, clarity, and fortitude one finds by tapping the wellspring within, we can begin to appreciate the world around us with fresh eyes, empower ourselves and help others do the same.

We are masters, really, with the ability to create our own reality. Most of us just don't realize it and so we mindlessly go through life feeling harangued, shackled, and victimized. Feeling thusly, we see the world through those eyes, releasing or maybe even spewing endless streams of negativity, frustration and fear without a second thought or regard for the impact it has on the world around us.

But what if we could realize that our every thought, word and deed only creates more of it, creating our very experience. Every cause and thought (misaligned or not) we release or toss out....gets reflected right back to us.

When we are in a happy state, our environment reflects that. When we are feeling on top of the world, we feel like singing or whistling and our environment sings right along. Likewise, when we are in a foul mood, our environment seems to reflect that. This is because of resonance or like attracting like. Until it doesn't.

The key to sustaining a more positive, uplifted and balanced state of being is to tap the infinite wellspring of universal chi or qi or reiki that is available to us all when we go inward, quiet, and still. This wellspring exists within us and is the doorway to connecting with the larger cosmos and more importantly Source Light/Universal Source consciousness/the Divine.

BREATHE DEEPLY AND GO WITHIN

You can start to access this inner wellspring by breathing deep. Begin by inhaling deeply through your nose while imagining breathing in the healing energies of the universe that exist all around you. Diaphragmatic breathing is best. Breathe in and expand your stomach and ribs so your belly fills with air. Feel it moving everywhere in your body, rejuvenating every cell and fibre of your being. On the out-breath release any stress you may be holding back to love and light. Don't think too hard. Just do it. Let it all go.

Do this for a few minutes until you feel yourself actually start to slow down and grow calm and your breath go deeper. This simple trick also puts you in a more receptive state which is where you need to be to tap that wellspring within.

ELIMINATE THE CHAOS

Now that you've experienced the benefits of deep breathing even for just a few moments, you can now begin to think more clearly and see things from a broader perspective. Still, it's important to go even further by eliminating the chaos in your life that you routinely experience.

If your life is chaotic, or just unpleasant, start by eliminating what is discordant as best you can, one bit at a time. If you're someone who can't stop watching the news, start by watching half of your usual dose of it and spend the remainder of your time thinking or doing something that you actually love. This creates more space in your life for more of the same. Be it relaxing with a good book, working in the garden, doing artwork, writing poetry, or maybe even volunteering at a local shelter...find what it is you actually enjoy doing and start doing it more. A lot more.

Those with high octane jobs or children/teenagers often have unpredictable schedules, but building in some conscious me-time like this can help you gain the traction you need to get ahead of the game. Even five to ten minutes can make a world of difference and change your entire world and outlook. This creates more room or space for you. Like building blocks, you are able to continue building upon this new foundation of yours. You also find you gain wisdom to make other small yet meaningful adjustments in your life that lead to even better choices.

When you find yourself start to lose your center or feel a bit unsettled or anxious, return to your deep breathing while envisioning yourself inhaling in the healing energies of the universe all around you. Then go further.

HEALING WITH NATURE

Another effective method of recalibrating the body back to it's natural balanced state is to consciously connect with nature. Walk or stand barefoot on the grass or if you are lucky enough to live near a beach, walk on the sand with the intention to connect. Allow yourself to feel the blades of grass or grains of sand under your feet as you move about. It will absolutely do wonders for your well-being. More importantly, it grounds you to the Earth. Studies show that people who ground are routinely healthier, happier and live more fulfilling lives. Someone even made a documentary about it called The Earthing Movie which I highly recommend as part of your journey of wellness and self-care.

MEDITATE

Now that you are more familiar with the benefits of deep breathing, going within, being still and quiet, and connecting with nature, I suggest developing a practice of regular meditation to take your journey of self-love even further. Whether listening to music to quiet your mind, or following along with a guided meditation, take steps to develop a habit of meditating as often as you can. Check out the FREE MEDITATIONS and links to meditation music offered on my website.

No matter where you are, how frazzled your life might be at this moment, or maybe you just need a little nudge to go back into balance, start by taking some deep and meaningful breaths to go quiet and still. Take the time to ground with Mother Earth by walking or standing on the ground with your bare feet and making a conscious decision to connect. Make it a practice to meditate often to help you maintain your inner peace and connection to Source/the Divine/All That Is. When you do, you will find your life opening up in ways you never imagined and begin to even experience more joy, hope and Light from within.

Enjoy your journey!