Tackling anxiety through practicing wakefulness

People searching for mindfulness and meditation practice tend to report above average levels of anxiety. We seem to intrinsically know or feel that calm and stillness are what we need more of today. It would seem nearly impossible to find someone in America who would claim we live calm lives. Things are moving too fast and distractions are all around us.

However, approaching an activity with the mindset that it will provide a result increases hypnotizability. Does this mean the activity is helping or the mindset? Does it even matter? Clinical research has shown that it may be the adherence practice itself that provides the results.

Reducing stress by chasing the path and not the goal

Zen, the art of happiness is the abandonment of hope of achieving our goals. Seeking the goal leads to suffering. It is the seeking that should be the point. The path is the goal. Meditation and other forms of self-care should be approached as a path that does not end. It is consistency and discipline that supplies the reward.

Approach the practice as the only thing that matters, with the understanding that there is no hope of reaching the goal. The practice itself is the goal.

Experience every moment with humor and wakefulness. Sit and purify your soul with self reflection. Introspect and adapt yourself until sitting alone with yourself is no longer painful. Make friends with your mind and walk the path with joy.

Breathe your way to better sleep

Find your breath and re-center yourself. Every breathe is a mini-death. Every moment we experience is of immense value. Breathe in peace and breathe out gentleness. Remember it is the practice that is the goal. Persistence is key. Lowering your body temperature can also help. Consistent bed and waking times. Discipline is the path. Experience every moment you can.

Meditation has shown results

Twenty minutes of mindfulness meditation significantly reduced state anxiety in each session that meditation was practiced. – source

How self-care can help you

Although self-care is considered critical to some forms of healthcare, particularly heart failure, it is commonly poor among most patients. Elderly patients, in particular, face a number of challenges trying to engage in adequate self-care. Diabetes self-management is another area where patients are reporting poor results or asking for additional help.

Medicare offers several plans with healthcare tailored for specific chronic conditions such as heart failure and diabetes. If you feel like you or someone you know needs additional help with these conditions, reach out to us and we can see if their plan is specific enough to match their needs. Certain plans may provide additional benefits for self-care.