As I and many others have often emphasized, there is a simple procedure that will required to reduce stress and anxiety significantly. This procedure will also lead you to great inner peace if faithfully performed.
The procedure is to spend a mere 10 minutes a day watching your thoughts, with a view to realizing that you are a motionless, constant witness to them, bereft of agitation and anxiety.
And how do you perform it? Let me repeat what I wrote some time ago:
Sit quietly somewhere, close your eyes and watch what’s going on in your head.
- As soon as you “think” something, try and locate the answer to the question, “Who was aware of that thought?” try and feel the answer, not voice it in words
- Perform this process on a daily basis on several thoughts (10 minutes a day will do).
- Gradually you will realize you are separate from all your thoughts; you will in other words realize that they are objects and the basic you is an observer. Since emotions are nothing but thoughts, the basic you is separate from them as well. Since the basic you is separate from your emotions, it feels no sadness, happiness, frustration or any other emotions.
- Please be aware that at no point am I saying that you should suppress your thoughts. They are the product of your brain and should keep flowing, only you should watch them like you would watch birds flying by.
The more you perform this process, the more peace you will find in yourself.
But hey, what’s the big deal in being utterly peaceful for 10 minutes a day? Now we come to the point of this article…
What’s important is that you apply what you learn in those 10 minutes to the rest of your day.
The best time of day to apply it, of course, is during times of stress or anxiety. When you find you’re struck by them, “put your money where your realization is”… remind yourself that what’s stressing you out is your thoughts and that the basic you is their motionless witness; feel the basic you while the thoughts flow in its benign presence. Remind yourself that that flow of thoughts is just the result of your brain doing its thing.
Following this process will prevent you from transforming into an adrenaline-crazed monster. You also won’t do any of the damaging, insane things angry people tend to do.
If this sounds far-fetched to you, try it like I did. It’ll work for you like it worked for me.
To your peaceful, happy life,
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
completely agree with you here. but 10 minutes is a little too much to expect for a beginner. usually, we start with just a minute or two because concentration is not there. but if they can make it to 3 to 5 minutes, it’s OK. in fact, i think time should not be used as an indication. i often feel that the less i think about time, the better i feel because time is the biggest stressor for me. now, to YOUR happiness and peace….’marsha’
Hello, Marsha, hope you are well. Your point about distraction is well taken.
Interestingly, it doesn’t matter if you are distracted, because what happens is, over time, you gradually stop being distracted. Osho (Rajneesh) says so as well… I think you should try 10 minutes a day for 14 days. If you don’t see your concentration steadily increase, I’ll skip a meal to make amends and donate an equivalent amount of money to the hungry…