Recipes for Creating Peace

* Do a reality check. Is there a clear and present danger? If so, that's natural fear. Trust it and take immediate action.

* If there is no present danger then you are dealing with anxiety -- fear of something in the future. The first thing to remember is to breathe deeply. People who are in fear tend to take short, shallow breaths.

* Stay in the moment. Pay attention to the body. Use affirmations - "In this moment, I am safe". Check out the situation. Unless there is a clear and present danger, this is a true statement. Look around to find further evidence of safety then tell yourself, "I live in a safe universe." These two affirmations, if used consistently, can help convince the mind of the truth that you are safe in the moment and help to lessen anxiety levels.

* Acknowledge the fear and ask it to lead you to discover the underlying limiting belief or beliefs that are its cause. This can be quite a lifetime adventure in itself. Taking notes can be helpful.

* Change focus. Do something. Get exercise and let the endorphins chase away anxiety and relieve stress. The best kind of exercise for relieving anxiety is difficult enough mentally to keep the mind focused in the moment. Try yoga, dance, tai chi or any martial art.

* Stay in the moment. If you are washing dishes, wash dishes. Use the physical senses to pay attention to the feel of the water, the smell of the soap, the way the bubbles reflect the light. Make dish washing (or sewing or woodworking or any task) into a moving meditation by placing your full sensory attention on what you're doing.

* Practice meditation. Many people find that a daily period of quiet meditation lowers anxiety levels and has a beneficial effect on health. There are many methods of meditation.

* The quality of fear is energetically similar to that of excitement. By re-focusing and re-framing the experience, fear of the unknown can be turned into anticipation of adventure. Transform fear into excitement; allow yourself to feel the excitement and anticipation and use that energy to move you towards what you want.

* Write a 'best case scenario' and a 'worst case scenario'. Let fantasy go wild; get melodramatic. Decide which version you'd rather manifest into your reality and concentrate upon that one to energize it. There is great power in the act of decision.

* Keep a gratitude journal. Before going to bed, write five things each night in your journal that you are grateful about. You can't be in fear and gratitude at the same time. Writing in the journal prior to sleep encourages the subconscious to bring more things into your life to be grateful about.

* Make a sincere effort to clear up conflicts in relationships. This is actually a selfish move. Unresolved inter-personal conflicts tie up our attention and our energy and keep us from experiencing peace. Keep in mind that other people are there to mirror our issues back to us. Accept the lesson, take appropriate steps to resolve the issues and the relationship can change. This is a lifetime study in that there's always something new to learn about relationships. Check out some of the many books, videos, t.v. shows.

* When a relationship is especially difficult and truly stuck, as a last resort you can call a Board Meeting. Here's how it works. For three consecutive nights, just prior to sleep, call upon whatever higher powers you believe in (guides, higher self, saints, angels, subconscious, etc.) to assist you in communicating with the other person. Declare that you are willing to release the need to be right; that you want to say what you have to say; and that you are willing to really hear what the other person has to say. Then go to sleep. If done sincerely over three nights you will usually notice that some shift has taken place.

* As you go about your day, from time to time, imagine sending goodwill energy to strangers as you mentally send the message, "I wish you well". This is fun to do when waiting in line at the bank or supermarket or while stuck in a traffic jam. It may or may not change the situation much but it can change our own mood and the energy around us. When you get right down to it, it's not so much about what happens to us, but how we interpret and react to events.

* The many media messages that bombard us tend to focus on difficulties and disasters. It's a good idea to limit our exposure to these messages. When we relate to these stories by imaginatively projecting ourselves into that scenario, we begin to create the conditions that draw those experiences to us. Again, our bodies respond to imagined danger in much the same way as they do to real and immediate peril. This creates undue stress.

One way to relate with compassion without becoming emotionally drawn in to the media 'disaster movies' is by imaginatively directing peaceful, healing energy to everyone and everything involved, then letting go.

* Much conflict arises from the idea of 'not enough' - not enough money, time, energy, confidence, etc., etc. Money issues are especially fearful because we perceive that our survival is at stake. See Money Affirmations.

namaste,

greenspirit
xxx