Mindfulness: the power of keeping calm in intense moments

Sometimes, when we encounter new situations in life, when we struggle with tight deadlines at work, or have to deal with a difficult person in our personal life, maintaining calm can prove to be a challenge. This is where mindfulness comes into play, together with certain approaches and techniques you can practice to overcome these difficult times.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you remain calm even during the most intense moments in your life.

Do Something Fun Like Playing Video Slots

One of the best ways to distance yourself from a stressful situation is by taking a break and doing something really entertaining. Slots found on an online casino might be just the best way to do that, as long as you play responsibly and do not exceed the time and budget limits you initially set aside for this fantastic activity.

The best online casino to play these fun games is Yoyo Casino. It is an excellent online platform that has a Curacao eGaming license, so you can rest assured that your experience on it is 100% fair and safe. This casino opened its virtual doors to players in 2018, offering a wide range of video slots. While on it, make sure you also look for all the Yoyo casino bonus codes the platform offers, so that you can have even more fun playing these amazing games.

If you are new to the whole gambling scene, it is important to know that most online platforms offer huge incentives for their new players in the form of free spins no deposit offers. Keep in mind, though, that for some individuals, gambling may cause addiction. To avoid such an issue, follow these tips from the BeGambleAware, an independent charity organisation:

• Set a money limit that you are willing to play, and stick to it.
• Also, establish a time limit that you dedicate for this activity in advance, and do not exceed it.
• Do other activities, as well.
• Take many breaks while playing.
• Do not drink or do drugs while gambling, it might make you forget about the time and budget limits you set aside for it.

If you or a loved one has an issue with gambling, seek help from a professional organisation. However, if you stick to these tips and you play responsibly, it will be great fun!

Practice Mindful Seeing

According to PositivePsychology, a one-stop psychology resource, a fantastic technique for regaining calmness and practising mindfulness is the Mindful Seeing technique. It is a very simple exercise that only needs a window with any type of view.

To practice it, follow these steps:

1. Locate an area in the window where a certain view can be observed.
2. Carefully look at everything that you can see. Try not to label or categorise, for instance instead of a “bird” or “roof”, just observe the colours, the textures, and the patterns.
3. Observe if there is any breeze or wind that curves the trees. Make a mental note of all the various shapes from the tiny part of the world you can see from the window. Try seeing these details as if you observe them for the first time.
4. Observe, however, do not criticise. Stay aware, but do not fixate on a certain element.
5. If your mind wanders somewhere else, gently focus again on the elements you see on the window and observe a colour or a shape to come back to the present moment.

Then, at the end of the exercise, notice how you are feeling and go back to your usual activities. You will discover that you will feel much more relaxed, calm, and able to focus on the task at hand.

Make a Gratitude List

Making a list of the things you are grateful for every single day, either written or mental, will help you maintain a more positive attitude and it will massively improve your well-being.

Oprah Winfrey said on Oprah’s Life Class in 2011: “Focusing on one thing that you are grateful for increases the gratitude and rises the joy inside yourself”. Surprisingly enough, when you start doing that, you will realise with each passing day that there are more and more things to be grateful for.

And if you are at a moment in your life when you feel like there are no things to be grateful about, just remember the basics: things like your health, your family member’s health, the fact that you have a place to live, or that simply you can walk, see, smell, or just enjoy a beautiful sunrise.

In time, you will immediately observe that the list of things to be grateful for will increase by each day, like in a miracle. Sometimes, we are so lost in asking for the things that we desire, that we forget we have so much to be grateful for! Just the fact that we are alive is such a great bliss.

Stress is a part of everyone’s lives. While certain levels of stress can be helpful to activate you to achieve your goals, do not let it overcome you and practice these mindfulness and relaxation techniques when you feel overwhelmed. These techniques and methods are simple, and you can incorporate them into your routine so that you maintain a healthy attitude towards life. So, stay positive, have fun, and always count your blessings!