The two that I found most beneficial to me is Love and kindness and the visualization. The love and kindness is something I needed to work on anyway especially since my job requires me to deal with upset people most of the day. When I am upset my tone changes and people can tell and then they are on the defense, but when I am able to stay calm so are they. I am constantly reminding myself that just because I think something is common sense doesn't meant he rest of the world does too. Hard truth to realize but it something I am working on. When I am at work getting upset I usually do some deep breathing and remind myself to show love and kindness and it will actually help myself feel better. It is very difficult not to be on the defense but I am working on it.
Visualization is something I use with a breathing exercise I do that I think I have mentioned in here before, 4-7-8 breathing exercise? You breath in for 4 seconds and visualize a white light coming into you body through each breath and picture the white light healing and doing good, then hold you breath for 7 seconds, and visual a relaxing place, then blow out for 8 seconds ( not easy to do!) and while blowing out visualize a black cloud, this is you ridding yourself of unwanted bad feelings, stress, disease or illness and such, and I do this throughout the day and repeat as many times as I feel necessary to calm me.
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI also chose Loving/Kindness and visualization. I know what you mean about having to work around upset people most of the day. I think in healthcare that is something that we may have to deal with for some time, depending on the field of health care you go into. I also find it difficult not to be on the defensive. Even though I may not vocalize it in person, I might go home with a grudge against someone I feel treated me badly during the day. These loving/kindness meditations have really helped as far as that goes.
Excellent blog post!