This is the third and final part of the series on “How to Kill Worry”. Worry and fear are such damaging emotions that even the Bible has counseled us against falling into these negative habits.
Jesus found it necessary to warn us about the damaging effects of worry when he tells us: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” – Matthew 6:25
He tells us what to do to avoid worry: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
We have seen how high levels of cortisol in the blood can keep you perpetually charged-up and in a high state of anxiety. In a state of stress and anxiety it is highly unlikely that you would be able to think thoughts of strength and happiness, let alone control your mind.
With a worried mind you operate on a lower level of vibration that can only attract more negative circumstances into your life. This is the fractal effect of worry, where the mind then runs in an uncontrollable, ever expanding loop of negativity, bringing more and more negative events into your life.
So how does one go about developing the trust that is needed in order to establish a strong relationship with the PRESENCE within?
A Powerful Meditation Process
You have already taken the first step with the breathing process described above. When you reduce the amounts of cortisol going into the blood, you are calm, relaxed and able to think clearly.
We will now use a combination of ancient wisdom and modern knowledge in order to establish a process of powerful meditation through which we expand on the benefits of physical well-being and peace that floods the system when we practice the above breathing technique.
Meditation brings peace of mind, raising your vibration levels to the higher, more powerful realms of mind that will attract good health and positive circumstances.
Dispel Worry With Tummo
The technique that I give here draws from the ancient and highly versatile Tibetan practice of Tummo meditation. We can simplify and adapt it for our specific use without losing out on any of the empowering benefits.
While continuing the breathing exercise above, focus your awareness down to the stomach at the level of the navel. Guide your consciously to feel your stomach expand and fill out as you breathe in. Feel it slowly draw inwards as you breathe out. Continue for a few moments, reaching for an effortless rhythm. In order to establish the rhythm, you may even count to ten as you breathe in; then hold your breath in, to a count of ten. Breathe out to another count of ten; and hold, for a further count of ten.
Tibetan monks would actually practise this meditation rigorously till they could control their body temperature at will. Their technique involves the visualization of a ball of fire at the very justify of their being that spreads its warmth outwards. Adepts in this form of meditation are able to voluntarily raise their body temperature to an extent that they can dry wet blankets wrapped around them.
Now let your breathing become easy and constant, but unobtrusive. You will want to focus your mind on the things you wish to include into your life. You don’t want your breathing pattern to intrude into the process.
Your easy and revitalizing breathing process will serve as the structure within which, your mind will work its magic in your life.
Focus on the things that make you happy. See pictures in your mind as vividly as possible. The only way you can do that is by being relaxed and not trying to strain at it.
Just follow your thoughts easily without trying to set goals or targets concerning what it is that you wish to fix. Or that you wish to achieve.
Contemplate. Observe. Enjoy the feeling of discovery. Do not try to force anything. The only will power you need is to focus on something pleasurable and to dwell upon it as long as possible without straining at it. Let each thought or picture flow. Observe it. Try to study it, right down to its tiniest detail.
If you find yourself getting distracted initially, do not worry. Go back to focusing on your breath as it moves in and out of your nostrils. Enjoy the cool sensation as fresh air flows into your nostrils. Experience the difference in sensation as the warm breath flows outwards.
The only way you can continue the process in an effortless manner is to observe the picture you see in your mind, as if you are on a journey of discovery. Try to discover details about it by immersing your attention and awareness in it, fully. Dig deeper, as if you are examining it in its full physical existence.
Try cutting it into half to see whats inside. Discover whats inside, as if you are actually seeing into a physical manifestation of it for the first time.
Try to awaken that feeling of joy and expectation that comes with discovery. That is the feeling you need to chase. Soon, your imagination will catch on to the spirit of what you are trying to achieve. You will be amazed at the spontaneous response that comes from within, as soon as you become aware of it.
With Thought, You Can’t Repair; Only Replace
Remember, you cant fix what is broken. You cant change what is there already because, the moment you focus on what is there already, you are back to strengthening its imperfect existence.
The only way is renewal.
In fact, I discovered that this is part of what the Bible is trying to tell us in this passage: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2.
The simple truth is that you cannot create something that is in existence already. Its a pattern that has already been created. It is already a part of this world. By focusing on it, you only strengthen and prolong its existence in all of its present imperfection.
We can even learn from nature on the matter of renewal. Observe a tree by the time winter comes in. It sheds its leaves to the point where it looks completely bare and almost dead.
Nature has this finely-tuned process where the existing seems to go into a state of suspended animation. There is no more focus on the tree to give it continued life in its present state. It seems like all sustenance has been withdrawn from it as its external appearance deteriorates. It goes into a state of decay as it sheds its leaves and seems to dry out. Its former glory is soon forgotten.
But the structure of the tree is retained. What we dont see on the outside is that it is being transformed from within, through a process of renewal. Thus, the process of renewal is an internal process. It has to start with the thought and the intention of renewal.
As I have said above, in our lives, we cannot create perfection by focusing on the imperfection of something that is in existence already. But, we may definitely renew something that is in existence already by taking the most perfect picture of it that we can imagine and then trying to discover every aspect of its perfection in a process that may only be likened to a loving, appreciative, admiring contemplative experience of it. The more enjoyable the process of contemplation, the more realistic the experience becomes.
The nature of the creative law of mind is that it has to respond and that it will deliver exactly what is asked of it. The presence within, has to respond.
Jesus words seem to confirm this to us in Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
But Jesus also clarifies to us that we will receive exactly what we ask of the inner mind and so, we also have to ensure that we do not dilute our feelings of expectation with the negativity of the undesirable element of doubt.
He tells us in Matthew 21:21 – “If you have faith and do not doubt you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
The reason for this is that the tool of imagination that we use in our interaction with the inner mind is completely objective or impersonal in nature, like any other energy or force. Hence, the responsibility lies with us to be clear in our objective, in order to ensure the correct objective result.
A very striking similarity that we see in our lives today is to do with that most commonly used tool of modern times, the computer. There is a common perception that the computer can only give us back on the screen exactly what we type in and hence the saying: Garbage in; garbage out.
This quite aptly describes the need on our part to be ever vigilant and always clear as to what it is we want to see in our lives.