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Activities
When it comes to the subject of actually relearning how to fall asleep
without medication I can offer a couple of suggestions. Many people who
have trouble falling asleep do so because while lying in bed continual
thoughts flood their minds. Their minds become so focused on these
thoughts moving in and out that they just can't relax and quiet the mind
enough to fall asleep. Like a wrestling tag team one thought enters your
mind, you deal with it in the best way you can. Then another one gets
tagged into the ring of your mind, you deal with that one, then another
one or even the previous one gets tagged back in again. That tag team
keeps you in their corner so that you are not able to tag your partner,
that partner being sleep, and get yourself out of the ring. You keep
reaching out to your partner but you are too far to make the tag and so
your opponents keep smacking you around, with you entombed in their
corner, and feeling like there is no end in site.
A tool you may choose to use to get you out of their corner and tag your
partner is meditation. Meditation doesn't so much, at least at first,
quiet the mind, as it first refocuses it on less fear, stress filled,
and judgmental based thoughts and ideas. For example, you may be lying
in bed trying to fall asleep and a thought such as what bills you have
to pay tomorrow pop up. Try now replacing such a thought with a mantra
(short phrase or word) such as "God is love." Simply breathe in "God
is" and breathe out "Love." Do this out loud first and after a while
let it become a whisper and then just the thought of the words. Think as
you breathe in "God is" and think as you breathe out "Love." Equally so,
you may choose to begin this technique with breathing in just the
thought "God is" and breathing out the thought "love." Continue this
process for as long as you can. It is natural for other thoughts to come
in, do not judge yourself for this. Do not question your focus or
concentration, simply let them go and come back to the mantra "God is
love." Breathe in the thought "God is" breath out the thought "love."
The more nights you try this, the better you'll get at it, the sooner
you'll reach a peaceful place and the quicker you'll fall asleep.
Another meditation you may choose to try is a body relaxation
technique. Start by focusing your mind on your scalp. Feel as if a hand
is caressing your scalp. Feel your scalp getting heavier, and as it does
feel it getting more relaxed. Feel it sinking into the bed, as it sinks
in, your scalp gets more and more relaxed. Then move down to your
forehead, do with your forehead what you did with your scalp. Feel your
forehead getting heavier and more and more relaxed. Feel it sinking
deeper into the bed. Continue to go down your body, from top to bottom,
scalp, forehead, checks, chin, throat, neck, shoulders, upper arms,
forearms, hands, chest, stomach, upper legs, calves, and feet. Spend as
much time as you wish on a body part and then move down. Again,
intrusive thoughts that have nothing to do with the meditation will pop
up; again, do not judge yourself for this. Use the time that you might
have judged yourself, to relax, and bring yourself back to the
meditation. You do not have to start at the beginning, just from where
you left off. If an intrusive thought comes in as you are focusing on
your forehead, simply let it go and come back to your forehead.
You may want to start these or any meditation with a prayer. Not so much
a learned prayer, although that is fine, but more of a heart-centered
prayer. Let your heart be your guide; let it lead your prayer and ask
for peace of mind and assistance in the upcoming meditation. Ask your
angels, guides, God, or whomever you trust to assist you in focusing
your mind. Feel this support surround you in its soft embrace.
My friend, it is what your mind focuses on that you will experience. If
unending judgmental, critical, fear based thoughts fill your mind then
you will experience restlessness, confusion, and stress that will have
you tossing and turning all night. If you focus on peaceful, calming
thoughts you will create a peaceful and calming environment where a good
night’s sleep is once again possible.
Read more
Spiritual / Self Development Activities which cultivate the concepts in the book
'You Have Chosen to
Remember'
- including Forgiveness, Embodying Your Godself, Developing Peace of
Mind, and more.
-
All of the proceeds from the book 'You Have Chosen to Remember'
go to the charity StandUp for Kids,
a
501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1990 to help rescue homeless
and at-risk youth. Click here
to learn more about StandUp for Kids.
- If you would
like to
purchase the book 'You Have
Chosen to Remember'
click here.
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If you would like the book but can not afford to buy it
click here.
- If you would
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purchase the book
click here.
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