Fear is one of my favorite topics. Much of my time has been spent understanding this emotion and how I can overcome my personal fears. A sense of personal empowerment, accomplishment, and fulfillment surges with each fear I face.
The most important fact about fears that we should always bear in mind is this: Fear is not a rational response to whatever challenges stare at us in life. And it is all in our mind, within us, and not anything external to us.
The purpose of fear is to protect us from life threatening circumstances. For example: to run away when there’s a bear chasing us, or to be careful when handling live electric wires.
Fear can cause us to make an irrational response to challenges we face. Fear imposes limits on our minds, removing our clarity and leaving only negative thought patterns. Fear causes us to act emotionally because we panic, our mind shuts down and we respond instinctively to protect ourselves and our egos.
Fear hinders us in situations where there is no direct threat to life, but we might perceive a threat to our life as we know it. Fear of failure is one of the most crippling emotions that can limit your potential in life. Fear of social censure makes one feel lonely. Fear of heights takes away the joy of reaching mountain peaks and touching the clouds.
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If meditation is new to you, this article suggests several ways how you can start today. These suggestions are all based on my personal experience testing out various techniques over the years. I have personally found these to be helpful and hope that they can add value to your wellbeing.
1. Zazen or what swamiji calls “Just Sit”. From Zen techniques and also used in transcendental meditation. This is the simplest technique of meditation:
Find a comfortable place. Sit with your back straight. It’s important that you are not lying down or slouching as you might fall sleep. Make sure you won’t be disturbed by closing the door and turning off or placing the phone in silent mode.
Let your hands rest naturally and comfortably in your lap, or on top of each other.
Close your eyes.
Start breathing deeply and fully, eventually to a natural breathing rhythm.
Focus on your breath and nothing else.
When a thought comes, acknowledge the thought, let it pass, and go back to focusing on your breath.
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Orin OptiglotIt is the moment of decision that your destiny is shaped.~Anthony Robbins
Life can oftentimes feel overwhelming, especially when we face many options, pending decisions, and countless unknowns. Making a decision can seem daunting, and even scary, when you consider the long list of impacts your decision will have. We feel clouded in mind-created confusion and incapacitated by the fear of the consequences. It can be easy to get caught in the turmoil of reaching a conclusion, however I know you will find that a decision is as easy, or as complicated, as we choose it to be.
Our life path is shaped by the decisions we make in every moment. If we are not conscious in the decisions we make, then we feel as if we are endlessly drifting in our unconscious bubble, feeling helplessly hopeful, yet afraid to face the unknown. Burst the bubble, take control, and decide to be decisive.
The perceived ability to make a clear decision comes with the choice and belief that you are Decisive. Clarity has power and making an unquestionable decision gives you energy. This absolute energy will attract the resources and support you need to carry out that decision.
When you are clear and sharp on your decision, others will not second guess you; instead, they’ll back you up.
There is no magic in developing the ability to be decisive. It is simply a mindset; a mental attitude that comes with practice and persistence.
The following are techniques I personally use to gain clarity. I have found them to be helpful in helping me become more decisive.
Chapter One of “Meditation is for You” by Swamiji Nithyananda says “…without exception, every single goal points to the same thing – a yearning for the state of bliss.”No one can say “I don’t care being happy? Or I don’t want to be in a state of blissfulness.”
However intellectual and sophisticated the term is, and when we express it, what we are all seeking is nothing but achieving peace within ourselves and the feelings of blissfullness. Only the ways we search for it is different. It could be through money, power, or relationships. It could also be through all the comic and tragic dramas of our daily lives. It is the single motivating force of our lives.
“Meditation is nothing but a preparation to rediscover the state of Bliss that is already inside you,” – Swamiji Nithyananda
If the above two quotes are tricky for you to personally relate, then try to remember the moments when you’ve experienced extreme beauty. As such moments, we suddenly “become still, wordless and totally aware. And that moment is meditation.”, Nithyananda
Much of what I experienced with feelings of peace, calmness and bliss this past year is attributed to my exploration with meditation techniques. I’ve explored techniques expressed by Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Falun Dafa and Swamiji Nithyananda. I’ve also tried techniques with sound, visualization and have tried both Tibetian and Zen meditation.
The benefits of meditation is well documented, here are some that I’ve experienced personally to achieve focus and concentration:
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Krisztina Tordai
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