7 Ways To Achieve Peace of Mind Amid COVID19

World Wide Corona Virus Cases:

      1 ,7 1 0 ,1 4 8 and counting

                  Deaths:

       1 0 3 ,5 0 6 and counting

Early March 2020 my kid’s exams got over, they were looking forward to rewind after a month long hard studies. They were busy making plans to travel to their grandparents house to enjoy their summer vacation. Everything was looking very good.

Come mid March the scourge of Corona virus started getting closure to our city. So far the disease had not impacted our country and was primarily localised to China and few other countries. With the spread of this disease the government took a proactive and wise decision to lock down the country for 3 weeks.

The  disease spread like a wild fire throughout the globe, except for a few countries. It humbled mightiest of the nations, and crushed their pride to dust. It infected rich or poor, black or white, male or female alike. Enormity of the impact can be seen by the figures of people infected with virus and deaths it caused.

Most of us are living in the atmosphere of fear, be it fear of contracting disease or the fear of loosing job or loss of our business etc. The daily wage earners are the worst hit. They are not able to go out to earn for their families. If  the disease doesn’t get them, the starvations will. The life in isolation has also given sharp rise to rift among the family members.

Under the given circumstances, the present is scary and the future is hazy. People need inner strength and tranquil mind not only to face the current challenge but also to resume a new life once the life comes back to normal.

For this, one needs to make use of the time one has to cultivate peace of my mind and tranquility. I am putting down a few strategies for a peaceful mind, which are tried, tested and proven:

Mindfulness

Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness means being present in the moment. Take one day at a time, take an hour, a minute at a time. Be aware of the task you are doing, give your undivided focus to it. Don’t think or do anything else except the task at hand. Behave as if this is the most important work of your life. This task can been anything; reading, listening to music, dish washing, or any official work. Nature of work does not matter, what matter is your undivided 200% focus on it.

Gratitude

The situation is bad but it not hopeless or out of control. We can still find so many thing in our lives to be great full for. Make a list of all the things which you are great full. Every morning when you wake up or at night before you retire for the day or whenever you have time, express your Gratitude to God for all the good things in your life. It could be; your good health, your loved ones health, access to food, means of livelihood etc. The attitude to gratitude will develop a feeling of positivity in you.

Exercise

A sound mind resides in a sound body. It is just not a cliché, it is a fact. Any type of physical exercise will not only help one to stay fit but also is a great stress buster. Exercising regularly will also improve your immunity.

Meditate

Meditation is the the panacea for stress and mental turmoil. There are so many variations of meditation. One can take out 30 min each in the morning and evening for meditation. Choose a place which is silent and without any distraction.  You may choose to sit on ground cross legged or sit on a chair. Close your eyes and focus your entire attention on your breath. When you inhale you must concentrate on the opening of your nostrils and feel the sensation of air entering in. Likewise, while exhaling concentrate on sensation of air flowing out. Just concentrate on your incoming or outgoing breath. Once in a while you will find yourself lost in thoughts which is normal, just bring yourself back to focusing on your breath.

If this sound difficult, you can practice chanting mantra during meditation. There are many online guided meditation videos available which can be used for meditation. Irrespective of the method you use, mediate every day.

Observe Silence

This one would be really difficult for many of us. If you are at home, practice silence one whole day, at least morning till evening. Don’t speak to any one, not even through mails, messages or writing on paper. During the day you can do introspection, make plans for the future etc. Going speechless for a day will make your mind calmer.

Accept It

Whenever an unpleasant event hits us, our first impulse is to get into a denial mode. We are not at all ready to accept the unfavourable circumstance and keep stressing over it for hours or days together. 

To attain peace, accept the unpleasant event, make peace with it don’t resist. Your resistance in accepting  will only increase your own stress level. Once you are at peace with the event you can peacefully plan your next course of action. This way you shall be responding to the situation rather reacting to it in an emotional fit.

Think of Others

During such difficult times  it is very normal to become self centred. However the more you think about yourself only, the more fearful you become. Think about other people known or unknown who have been adversely affected by the ongoing difficult situation. Pick up the phone or text a friend or a relative  you have not spoken with for long. Volunteer your services for the good of society. Help needy people with food, medicines or money. If you are not able to do any of these pray for them and bless them with all sincerity. The moment you loose yourself you will find yourself.

Spread positivity, bliss, hope and humanity around you. 

Remember: Tough time don’t last but tough people do.