Wednesday, March 2, 2016

How to Create a Feeling of Hope



This is in response to a question a friend asked me: "How do I handle it when my student attempts suicide?"  She didn't mean how to handle it professionally, but how to handle it personally.  How do we stay strong when others we love are hurting deeply?  Hurting themselves?
I certainly don't have all the answers, but this is what I do.....
  1. I focus on being grounded and pray for help.
  2. I do S.K.Y. (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) breathing every morning.  I love this type of breathing and highly recommend the "Art of Living" breathing workshop if you can afford it.  If not, deep meditative breathing can be helpful (that's another blog for another day:)
  3. When I am really needing to feel hope due to a specific situation going on, I listen to Dr. Mitchell Gaynor's Meditations for Sound Healing Cd.  He has a meditation on it called "Meditation for Creating Hope."  I LOVE that meditation! (I love the entire cd.)
  4. Gratitude thoughts:  I think of every little thing I can be grateful for.  As I do this I start to feel these "happy thoughts" literally start flooding my brain with positive "chemical."  Below are some examples
    1. I am so grateful for this soft couch I am sitting on.  It cushions my body so wonderfully.  I am very grateful to have this couch.
    2. I am thankful for my nice soft bathrobe.
    3. Speaking of that, I am grateful for these comfy slippers I have on.  I remember when my brother gave me these slippers.
    4. I am so grateful for such a thoughtful brother that lovingly gave me these slippers years ago.
    5. I am grateful that my brother loves me.
    6. I am so grateful for our relationship and how my brother has enriched my life.....etc.
  5. Tapping (EFT) can always be helpful.  But I don't want to tap all the time:-)
And that's what I do.  Below is Mitch Gaynor's Meditation for Creating Hope.