From Stress to Stillness: Tools for Inner Peace

Description

Most stress is created by how we think about things. From Stress to Stillness will help you to examine what you're thinking and change your relationship to your thoughts so that they no longer result in stress. Drawing from the wisdom traditions, mindfulness meditation, psychology, New Thought, and the author's own experience as a spiritual teacher and counselor, From Stress to Stillness offers many practices and suggestions that will lead to greater peace and equanimity, even in a busy and stress-filled world. You will learn: - How we create stress and how it affects the body - How to recognize thoughts that cause stress - How to disidentify with thoughts - How to de-stress - How mindfulness meditation changes the brain - How to meditate and why - Tips for quickly moving into Stillness - How to change your lifestyle to reduce stress Contents Introduction Chapter 1: How We Create Stress and How to Stop Where Stress Comes From—How Stress Affects the Body—The Stress Channel —Our Thoughts Seem Like Ours—Our Thoughts Seem True—Our Thoughts Seem More Important Than They Are—Our Thoughts Tell Stories—Our Thoughts Tell a Story of Lack—Our Thoughts Generate Desires—Our Thoughts Push Us to Strive and Hurry—Our Thoughts Create a Virtual Reality—Our Thoughts Don’t Accept Reality—Our Thoughts Judge and Compare—How to Create Stress and How Not To—Letting Go of Your Mental Baggage— Stillness’s Channel Chapter 2: Stressful Thoughts and Their Antidotes Notice How Your Thoughts Make You Feel—”I” Thoughts—Stories— Judgments—Self-criticism—Self-doubt—Thoughts Related to Dissatisfaction— What to Do—Solving Problems—Shoulds—Strong Opinions—Thoughts About the Past—Fears and Worries—Thoughts About Other People—Ideas of Perfection Chapter 3: Working with Stressful Thoughts and Feelings Your Thoughts and Feelings Aren’t Yours—A New Relationship to Thoughts and Feelings—Noticing Stressful Thoughts and Feelings—Allowing and Accepting Stressful Thoughts and Feelings—Letting Go of Stressful Thoughts and Feelings—Investigating Stressful Thoughts and Feelings— Reframing Stressful Thoughts—Being with Stressful Feelings Chapter 4: Present Moment Awareness Presence—Being Present—Becoming Present—Being in the Body and Senses— Being Willing to Not Know—Accepting Life—Being Grateful—Giving Love— Spiritual Practices—Prayer—Breathing Practices—Meditation—Bridges to Presence Chapter 5: Changing Your Lifestyle Making Time for Stillness— Slowing Down—Making Time for Your Heart’s Desires—Less Is More—Reassessing Your Relationship to the Media—Three Instructions Appendix: Meditation About the Author