“Help Me!” – Tools For De-stressing

So often when we feel overwhelmed, these two words come to mind. Sometimes we cannot pinpoint what it is that is causing the turmoil in the first place and so helping ourselves becomes difficult. If you are feeling like screaming ‘help me!’ then the following tools are here to help you free yourself of any anxieties and find real joy again. They will compliment your beliefs or lack thereof, whether you are atheist, religious or agnostic and can help with stress you may be experiencing. They can also help you discover your own real love for yourself and the world, without the suffering.

Byron Katie’s ‘The Work’ is an incredible tool that questions any stressful thoughts and guides you inside for your own answers. These four questions and a ‘turnaround’ help us to realise the peace that lies underneath any false beliefs that we hold and would be my most highly recommended tool for real lasting peace. The work can bring clarity, a reduction in stress, alleviation in depression and more energy. If you’re feeling unhappy, stress, ashamed, guilty, angry, fearful or any form of negativity the work is for you. Visit The Work online to use the free worksheets or to see Byron Katie working with others through their stressful thoughts.

Another great place to visit online is the ‘The Option institute’, founded by Bears and Samahria Kauffman. Although their work is mainly done on-campus, they do have great resources through their books and free webinars. Watch one if you want to feel that childlike inspiration again. My personal favourite is the uplifting webinar on ‘Your Life’s Purpose’, which can be found in the videos section of their website. Their enthusiasm is contagious!

A book called ‘The four agreements’ by Don Miguel Ruiz is a practical guide to being happy and discusses the four agreements to live by: Be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, never make assumptions and always do your best. After finishing the book, expect to feel lighter, freer and enthusiastic about life again.

Eckhart Tolle, author of ‘The Power of Now’, suffered from depression for many years before awakening to the voice in his head. He realise that the ‘voice in his head’ was not who he was, that he was the peace behind the thinking mind. He sees peace and joy as our natural state.

Tolle talks in detail about how we are either dwelling on the past or obsessed with the future, when the present moment is all there is. He recognises the exhaustion of the mind’s inner dialogue that seems to run without our permission. Tolle teaches us how to live in Acceptance, Enjoyment or Enthusiasm and that if you’re not experiencing one of these modalities you are suffering in some form.

Reiki is a Japanese technique used for helping to reduce stress and allow the body’s natural healing to take place. Dr Usui rediscovered Reiki and understood that it was important to heal our mind at the same time.

His five Reiki Principles are as follows:

Just for today, I will not anger,

Just for today, I will not worry,

Just for today, I will do my work honestly.

Just for today, I will be grateful

Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

These tools for understanding your mind all lead to the same road, gratitude. As Byron Katie said, “Gratitude is what we are without a story.”

Simply questioning your mind is powerful enough to leave you with peace. Positive thinking is what is left underneath the stress.

If you do not feel yet ready to talk or write down your tensions, know that you are doing your best. Accepting yourself exactly the way you are is a good place to start; all you are asking of yourself is to lessen the stress and unload any burdens off your shoulders.

Wishing you a peaceful and joy-filled life.