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Self Improvement > Stress Management > Do Less and Accomplish More
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Susan Scharfman
Have you ever tried (successfully) to sit still for a few minutes without
fidgeting, and simply do nothing? I’m willing to wager my Subaru (I love
that car) that few of you can answer yes. Society tells us, “don’t put off for
tomorrow what you can do today.” That oldie has been bred into our
DNA and morphed into the stress of life.
We’re obliged to stay alert for exams, to multitask and work overtime, to
party with clients and be brilliant the next day to impress the boss. We
must echo the latest buzzwords; think ahead of our competitors, be
innovators and visionaries while we gobble our food and dash for the
next appointment while talking on the cell phone. Oops, where’s the
Pepto? What about time with the kids, time to smell the flowers, time for
sex and by the way honey, I love you. So what’s a person to do? Move
to France where food is an art? Move to India where sex is a literature
lesson? Or take refuge in a Buddhist monastery, adopt a guru, do yoga
and just say Ohmmm?
People invest thousands of dollars attending ashrams and lectures with
such inspiring motivational speakers as Wayne W. Dyer, Marianne
Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Barbara De Angelis, Ram Dass, Anthony
Robbins, Marianne Williamson, to mention a few. These are highly
regarded messengers with uplifting messages to better health and a
good life. In fact, if you have the money and the time, I highly
recommend any or all of them.
But if you’re feeling the economic pinch these days, as I am, money and
time are in short supply. Here’s how to “do less and accomplish more”
with no money and a little time—time by your self and for your self. But it
will only benefit you if you do it like brushing your teeth—regularly.
1) Find a quiet comfortable place (home, office, park, under
the stairs).
2) Unless you prefer it, you don’t have to sit on the floor in
Lotus. Just sit with your back straight so your energy can travel up your
spine.
3) Take a few deep breaths and close your eyes.
You are not doing this to admire the scenery. That is called
contemplation (the sea, the universe, your navel) with your eyes open.
You are going to enjoy being with yourself, with eyes closed.
4) Think of a pleasant place or pleasant word. A yoga
meditation teacher might give you a mantra. All these methods make it
easy for you to go inward rather than constantly directing your senses
outward, which we do every minute of the day until we’re exhausted.
5) I prefer simply to follow the breath. First in, then out, then
in, then out. Remember the song from My Fair Lady “…like
breathing in and breathing out…”
As you follow your breath
in and out you will notice the busyness of your busy mind doing its
business. Those are your thoughts. Usually they’re about what’s for
supper or did I remember to lock the door. Don’t try to push them away.
Since this is an effortless process, don’t try to do anything. Trying will
prevent you from settling down and experiencing deep relaxation. Just
be still and listen to your breath. If you find yourself on a thought, just go
back to the breath. Eventually you will not have any thoughts. They’re
still up there somewhere, but you’ve gone beyond them. By resting in
this quiet space you are contacting your own peaceful Self. It is the only
place in the universe where you will find absolute peace. After a few
minutes slowly open your eyes. You will come out feeling more rested
than if you’d had an afternoon nap.That restful awareness is deeper
than sleep and will sustain you throughout your day. You will feel
refreshed, alert and raring to go.
This is what is meant by “doing less and accomplishing more.”
Gradually increase the time you spend practicing this simple technique
by 20 to 30 minutes a day. In quietly contacting your inner Self, you are
experiencing your source, the place of infinite potential. When you come
back into activity, you bring that potential with you and you will
accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible, with less effort, less
stress.
Harvard Professor Herbert Benson, M.D., is the founding President of
the Mind/Body Medical Institute and the Mind/Body Medical Institute
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. He has
taught The Relaxation Response and written many books about it, all of
which you can find by visiting his website. You will be amazed at the
profound physiological and psychological effects of this technique on
aging, smoking and other addictions, obesity, anger, sports performance
and living a successful healthy life, which is your birthright.
Susan Scharfman is a writer/editor at http://www.susanscharfman.com
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