5 Ways to Find Your Zen.

There are times in your life when you need to just breathe...or scream. Screaming is not appropriate at work though, so we need to find other ways to manage our stress. This is always easier said than done. We worry, fret, and work ourselves into a tizzy over something that might happen. We ponder, speculate, and look for hidden meanings in the words of everyone around us. Life would be much easier if people just said what they meant...well, maybe. I know I work better that way, but perhaps not everyone does. In the meantime, we need to work with what we are given. This applies to all aspects of life, not just work.

1. Focus on the task at hand. I realize this is easier said than done, but if you really work to train your mind on the task at hand, we can get into our flow. We actually can shift the way we think and remove the obstacles we place in our minds. We are moving away from distractions and really focusing on what's in front of us.
2. All in. Are you all in or only sort of here? Be present. In order to be in the present moment, you have to really pull your thoughts back. Think of your thoughts moving continuously like a river. That is the basis of flow. The ego falls away and you are in the moment. It is almost like timelessness. The end of the day comes and you got so much done that you didn't even realize you were in flow. That's how I feel in yoga. I am in my flow. Flow experiences can occur in different way for different people, but we have strong concentration during the task.
3. Rest. Sometimes, you need a break after a long stretch of working on things. This is something I have a problem with and I am learning to let go. After being in my flow, I know that if I stop, it takes me longer to recover than most people. I learned I need to set a timer since I work from home. In an office setting, you can get up and stretch your legs. Get a coffee. At home, I tend to just get back to work. It's very important to remember everyone needs a break too...even if you are the boss.
4. Simplify your workspace. Do you every find yourself looking for things and they were under piles of paper? Do you not know important dates because you have a calendar system that's messy and difficult? Work to simplify things. Don't over book yourself. Keep meetings to the point. Keep your desk neat and tidy. Work on diving up your task into smaller, easier to handle chunks. If you work from home, do the same thing. Keep an orderly space. It helps clear the mind.
5. Let go of that which does not serve you. This is my favorite one. Gossip? Does not serve you in any way shape or form. Let it go. Truthfulness? Yes. It serves to make your life easier. Weigh your responses before answering. Jealousy over what others have? Does not serve you again. Gratitude for what you have serves you much better and brings about more happiness. Too many possessions? Clutter? Thank the items and give them to someone who needs them. This is way we create space for things we need to come into our lives. Remember, if it doesn't do you any good, you don't need to focus on it in your life. Period.

My good friend said to me "What other people think of me is none of my business." I loved that line and made her repeat it. I instantly thought of ways to apply that to my life. The next time someone says something snippy to me, I will breathe in and out and maybe even make the "ohmmm" sound in my mind as they are speaking. Knowing me, I might even say it out loud until it annoys them. Zen is the practice of "not doing". You are not reacting to things around you when the world might be in chaos. You need to still the thoughts that are going on in your head and think about the bigger picture.

"Life is short. Time is fleeting. Realize the self. Purity of heart is the gateway to God. Aspire. Renounce. Meditate. Be good; do good. Be kind; be compassionate. Inquire, know Thyself."

~Swami Sivananda

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