Where I live, we've been getting some much-needed rain. The other day, as I was driving, I noticed that rain can be a terrific stress reliever in itself. Aside from reducing the stress of watering my yard for the day, focusing on the pattern of raindrops falling on a windshield, the sound of the rain, and the fleeing patterns that the drops make as the wipers clear them away can be an exercise in mindfulness--it can keep you focused and rooted 'in the now'. When you're truly focused on what's going on right now, it's not possible to feel anxiety about potential stressors in your future, nor is it possible to ruminate about things that have happened in the past; it's just what's happening right here, right now, and there is no stress.Mindfulness carries many benefits, and raindrops are among the many, many potential anchors for mindfulness meditation. (And mindfulness meditation is one of many effective meditation techniques you can try--stress management techniques that I highly recommend!) Over the summer, I participated in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course (Dr. Howard Blumenfeld is an excellent teacher if you're in the L.A. area!), and learned about some of the wonderful health benefits of mindfulness, as well as several simple techniques to get there, some of which I'm sharing with you. I would advise you to give the practice of mindfulness a try today if you're not already practicing regularly--even 5 or 10 minutes can bring a reduction in stress, and more practice brings greater results for stress relief.
The following resources can help you in learning about and practicing mindfulness--you don't have to wait for another rainy day!
- Mantra Meditation
- Walking Meditation
- Bath Meditation
- Focused Meditation
- Aromatherapy Meditation
- Chocolate Meditation
- Musical Bath Meditation
- Mindfulness Meditation Techniques
- Can't Meditate? Here's What To Do
How do you feel about mindfulness? What's your favorite form of meditation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.
If you’re interested in a new approach to reducing stress, you might want to check out Deepak Chopra’s new stress reducing program; it’s a first of its kind iPhone application implementing a comprehensive program to remove stress from daily life.
I’d love to try it out. I’ll review it soon–I love iPhone Apps for stress relief!