We are in a window of tremendous change globally. Life will never be the same. The old ways must fall away, so that new promising vistas for our future can open up.

Though there are positive signs that good changes are in the works for the health of our planet and all of her inhabitants, the transition we are experiencing to these better times are challenging many of us to the core and to our very limits.

Change is always uncomfortable, but dramatic and all encompassing change like we are all experiencing can be especially troubling and leave us feeling vulnerable and afraid.

Stressors help us to adapt and evolve. Through facing challenges we can become stronger and more resilient. Weaknesses come to the foreground, where we can more easily see them, and be changed or eliminated to make way for new ways that support the greater good and health of all.

Here are six tips for gaining and deepening your inner strength and engendering peace during these times of great worldwide change.

#1 Meditation

If we are to make peace in the world, we must first make peace in ourselves. - The Dalai Lama

The number one tip for developing inner strength and experiencing inner peace, at any moment in time, is meditation. The good news is that meditation happens naturally when you just let go of every ‘thing’ and just allow yourself to experience that you are here.

When you simply let go of all thoughts, feelings and emotions and don’t think about anything, or focus on anything, you are in your natural state of presence. In other words, meditation is your natural state of being. Who you are is an infinite space of pure awareness without any noise from thoughts, feelings and emotions. You are only stillness and silence. Love and peace are your essence.

No effort or doing anything is necessary.

Allow yourself to just experience that you exist, that you are here, and everything happens automatically.

We were all taught in early childhood to identify with the mind and body as who we are. By meditating and experiencing your natural state of presence you come to know that you are not your body or mind. The body and mind are miraculous and wonderful vehicles for your natural Self to express itself and to experience phenomenal life, but they are not who you are.

Life is love and is always happening perfectly for you.

“Life’s too short to live as a projected idea, or self image, about who you think you are, or how your life should be.”

Research has shown that if you meditate daily for a minimum of 10 minutes you can decrease stress, depression, anxiety, improve heart health and increase your capacity for relaxing and enjoying life just as it is in this moment. 

Research has shown meditation improves your happiness quotient and the quality of your life.  All levels of your human experience can improve with regular meditation (mind, body, spirit and emotions). 

Meditation in the West now has millions of converts, including Oprah. Meditation has been shown to help ease chronic pain, anxiety, depression and stress, as well as boost your mood, improve immune function, heart health and resolve pregnancy issues.

It is well known that meditation, even for a short period of 10 minutes, reduces stress levels and alleviates anxiety. Research has shown that stress is linked with many health issues. So, when you reduce stress, many health benefits follow.

For those concerned about decreasing attention spans meditation is great news. A study, by Italian neuroscientist Giuseppe Pagnoni, found that meditation not only alters brain patterns, but also increases ability to focus and may help improve cognitive ability.

Meditation is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to feel well and live a happy, productive life. It can help you eliminate negative thoughts, worries and anxiety. All of which can prevent you from feeling happy.

It also benefits you by slowing down your breath, quieting your mind, and feeling peaceful in the moment which is beneficial for your physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Another study published in PubMed showed that meditation has a positive effect on decision making. 

A Canadian research study showed that using meditation as a cognitive form of therapy provides as much protection against a relapse of depression as antidepressant drugs. All the patients in  the study were initially treated with antidepressants until they were symptom-free.

As a matter of fact meditation has been shown to help regulate emotions in mood disorders. It is now commonly used to treat mental health disorders, addiction, and everyday stress, as well as heal physical complaints and promote better sleep.

When you explore and develop greater Self awareness your intuition and thinking are more clear and you can more easily identify signs of stress, or other imbalances in your body, mind and emotions and harmonize them before a crisis develops.

#2 - Warm Bath

• Research shows that a warm bath can boost serotonin levels as much as exercise. A warm bath also helps cleanse and detoxify your body and entire energy system.
• Serotonin has been called the happiness hormone.
• Serotonin regulates mood, appetite, and sleep.
• Serotonin improves cognitive functions like memory and learning.
• Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, advocated a warm scented bath daily. 
• A daily habit of a scented bath promotes regular restful sleep which is essential for overcoming depressive states.

Play quiet, peaceful and relaxing music, or just allow yourself to enjoy the silence, as you soak in a warm sea salt bath. Allow yourself time to rest and just be. If any worrisome thoughts surface just allow them to fall away; don't engage with any worry at this time.

Instructions

• Relax in a warm bath until the waters cool.
• End with a cool-warm shower.
• Wrap yourself in a large bath towel or bathrobe and relax afterward for 10-15 minutes, if time permits.
• Be sure to hydrate with pure, fresh water during and after your bath.

#3 - Gratitude

Be grateful for everything, no matter how small. A grateful heart is one of the best protectors for keeping you peaceful, strong and resilient.

Many studies have been conducted on the positive outcomes of gratitude therapy. Here are just a few:

Studies show the positive effects that gratitude has on our well-being.

Gratitude intervention study for well-being and mental health.

The Best Life Study - Breaking the Cycle: The Power of Gratitude.

#4 - Media Fast

This means limit, reduce, or even completely eliminate exposure to outside sources of information. Watch, listen or read ONLY media input that is urgent or high priority. Choose media input that is nurturing and empowering. Choose your media wisely. Choose input that uplifts, soothes and inspires you.

Media Sources

• Television
• News
• Email - set-up an auto-responder letting people know when you will next be available.
• Social media - where you have limited control over information exposure.
• Movies, music and books

#5 - Positivity - Look for the Good

It’s not what happens in your life, but the meaning you give to what happens, and how you choose to respond, that gives you your results.

Are you asking, "Why me?"

Or are you asking, "How can this be a gift? How can this help me?

You can choose to frame every circumstance in your life as positive or negative. Ultimately only time will tell because something that appears entirely negative may result in enormous blessings for you later on. And vice versa, what seems a great blessing may turn into a worrisome burden later on.

Life is a never ending cycle of up and down events.

#6 - Feel Your Feelings

Your feelings just want to be felt. Think of your feelings like a young child wanting your acceptance and reassurance. Being the loving parent and taking time to feel your feelings is one of the most wonderful acts of self love you can give to yourself.

It's simple, just BE with your feelings, whatever they may be. Self love and acceptance of your feelings results in profound and deep healing of your emotional body.

Gestalt therapist Fritz Perls was quoted as saying, "Anxiety is excitement without the breath." So practice breathing acceptance into your feelings.

Some emotions can feel very intense and threaten to overwhelm us. However, these “bad” feelings only last momentarily when fully embraced.

When you resist your feelings, or medicate your feelings with food or other distractions, you short circuit their purpose and prolong your experience of short term discomfort. Resisting our feeling can result in needless suffering.

Next time an uncomfortable feeling comes up practice breathing into it and just BEING one with it. Allow yourself to experience your feelings fully and see what happens.

Inner Strength & Peace EO Blend

Frankincense/Olibanum (Boswellia carterii) - Warm, sweet, balsamic, resinous, woody, exotic and sensual

• A 'Holy' oil since ancient time when it was considered more valuable than gold
• Promotes integrity with Self
• Helpful for enhancing meditative and spiritual practices
  

Himalayan Cedarwood (Cedrus deodora) - The aroma is rich, sweet-woody and balsamic.

• Fortifying effect on the nervous system, mind and emotions
• Helps bolster courage and self confidence in times of great change
• Excellent for balancing excess conditions

Ylang Ylang III (Cananga odorata) - Sweet, floral, balsamic, exotic, sensual, earthy.

• High Sesquiterpene content gives antispasmodic, calming and sedative action
• Useful for dispelling fear, depression and anxiety
• Healing oil for men to help open intuition and develop feminine side of their nature
• Plant hormones promote cellular regeneration and healing
  

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - Fresh, herbaceous, spicy, warm and radiant

• One of nature's most potent warming, cleansing and stimulating aromatic oils
• Believed to bring courage to the one using it

Inner Strength & Peace EO Recipe

To a 5ml (100 drops) colored glass euro-dropper bottle add:

• Cedarwood - 30 drops
• Frankincense - 30 drops
• Ylang Ylang III - 30 drops
• Thyme - 10 drops

Cap bottle tightly and shake vigorously to blend oils thoroughly. Allow to synergize for 8-12 hours, or more, before using. May dispense 1-3 drops on a cotton ball or smell strip for direct inhalation, or use in your aroma diffuser, or as an aromatic mist, or in the bath (suitably diluted in a carrier like unscented liquid Castile soap).

READ Related Article, Stay Peaceful & Calm Releasing Emotional Attachments Meditation +EO Recipe.