Relieving Stress and Anxiety (Meditation Practice)

Where have you been placing your attention these days?

Learning to calm ourselves in the midst of a storm with compassion and stillness is a practice. It takes time. Where we place our attention shifts our focus. There’s a healing power to our attention,  especially when we bring that attention to our ourselves and to our bodies in particular, we discover a capacity to soften, to let go.

With so much going on in our worlds right now, it’s natural to think that we just want all of this to be over and then we can all get back to our real life…

For many, there’s a lingering sense of heaviness and unease that comes from the weight of anxiety and stress.

You may notice how this longing for things to be different and disconnect that arises is showing up in yourself or others around you. Signs of being uncharacteristically impatient, reactive or passive aggressive. Or it may reveal itself as an unsettling feeling that you’re in constant catch-up mode despite your best efforts.

But in reality, how hard are you being on yourself?

Redefine Your Relationship with Anxiety

Recently, I was listening to Tara Brach, Ph.D, psychologist, author and respected meditation teacher and she explains our relationship to anxiety well. She reminds us that when we feel threatened, we feel frightened. Our primitive brain takes over shifting into flight, flight or freeze mode to protect us. But it reacts fast and as a result, we lose a sense of who we are and this is where we suffer and get stuck.

Take a moment and begin with enquiry.

What’s triggering anxiety for you? What are the situations that are most challenging? It could be projects that you’re working on, relationships, career, community, society or the world?

Take a breath to bring that in close. The enquiry in itself opens up the capacity to become aware and soften. Make a mental note or write your thoughts down.

This longing for things to be different draws us away from what is actually happening right here, right now.

The power of our attention affects our thoughts, actions and where we choose to place our energy – influencing our next steps.

If we bring attention to the anxiety that arises within us, learn to give it space, rather than pushing it away, and gently explore what it feels like in the body through mindful meditation then we can experience a powerful shift. There’s a sense of freedom and clarity that comes through practicing presence and awareness.

Relieving Stress Through Mindful Attention

If we bring attention to the anxiety that arises within us, learn to give it space (rather than pushing it away) and gently explore what it feels like in the body through mindful meditation then we can experience a powerful shift. There’s a sense of freedom and clarity that comes through practicing presence and awareness.

It’s important to take time to check in, to let go and ground ourselves so that we can meet our life, participate in a way that is meaningful and healthy for ourselves and others.

To help you explore this, I’ve recorded a short 10-minute meditation for you to practice with.

Let’s take time this week to check in, to let go and ground ourselves so that we can meet our life, participating in a way that is meaningful and healthy for ourselves and others.

Reach out and let me know what has shifted for you.

Karen x

P.S. Do you live in the Luzern and central Switzerland area? Would you like to cultivate simple (but effective) habit changes and a positive shift towards a healthier lifestyle while focusing on getting more movement in your body?

If you are saying “Yes” then consider joining me for the next Deep-Dive Immersion experience. We begin in October. I would love to work with you in this small group and tailor the program to meet your needs. It is one of my favourite and most popular offerings. You can learn more and register here.

Please Note: Due to requests, I’m also offering an evening or weekend alternative. Email: karen@karenkurzmeyer.com for more information.