Zen is a term that describes a feeling of peace, oneness, and enlightenment.
It also describes a key in of Buddhism in which meditation is used to stay present and non-judgmental.
Zen is practiced diligently over a lifetime.
Figuring that out is the first step in finding more zen.
Here are 10 ideas for how to choose stillness amid the chaos.
Close your eyes.
When faced with a stressful moment, stop and count to 10.
It worked when you were little, and it works now.
Take deep breaths with a mantra.
First, find your breath.
Dont move so fast that you take it for granted.
Find moments in your day when you could breathe while taking note.
And if you’re free to, addletandgoto the breath.
Then exhale the breath out your nose from top to bottom, saying to yourselfgo.
Repeating thismindful breathing with a mantraincreases your focus and contributes to a feeling of balance and grounding.
Do something silly.
As we get older, we tend to do fewer silly things and we smile and belly-laugh less often.
Let’s change that: Have a spontaneous dance party in your undies tomorrow morning.
Skip instead of walking.
Do something that helps you find joy each day.
Laughing is good medicine; happiness is the place where zen lives.
Walk or bike instead of driving.
When was the last time you took a walk instead of driving?
Or grabbed your bicycle and headed out for your morning coffee?
Curate your morning routine.
Finding some you time in those quiet early hours can set the tone for your entire day.
Take a five-minute pause (dhyana).
Meditation can happen in just a few minutes, and those few minutes can be life-changing.
Set aside five minutes each day to do a mini-meditation session.
Set reminders for NOW.
We move so, so fast with so, so many appointments and meetings and responsibilities.
Put a daily reminder in your calendar to help you stop and notice NOW.
Let go.
Holding on to anything (really,anything) means you arent present and wide open.
Choose zen.
Every action is first a thought.
Every thought has an intention.
Set a clear and positive intention to find zen in your everyday life.
Think it, say it, and do it.
But chaos makes life interestingand developing a zen ability to weather the storms is a valuable, life-affirming practice.
