I have acquired a simple calming practice that works very well so I’d like to share it.
To begin, close your eyes and be still. Take a few moments to let your thoughts subside and let go of any tension in your body. Start to take a few breaths in through your nose and feel your diaphragm expand with air each time you breath in. It is not necessary to take real deep breaths, just focus on your breathing. Each time you exhale, be aware of your breath as it slowly leaves your body. Imagine any stress leaving you as the air escapes.
It’s as easy as that.
Repeat this process until you feel fully calmed.
Some of my favorite quotes on breathing…
“When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.” ~Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika
“Focusing on the act of breathing clears the mind of all daily distractions and clears our energy enabling us to better connect with the Spirit within.” ~Author Unknown
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart: I am, I am, I am.” ~Sylvia Plath
Below is my list of 30 Simple Ways To Express Joy. Joy is a state of being so I titled the post accordingly. You can be joyful doing anything. My list is merely a collection of ideas I’d like to offer you. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments.
1. Be in The Moment – Become aware of your surroundings and accept the current circumstances. When you are fully present you will notice that there is nothing but “Now”.
2. Sing- Hum or sing along to any song that resonates with your truest self. Personally, I’m not the greatest singer but that doesn’t stop me from having some fun every now and then. Singing is a great way to tap into a more joyous state of being.
3. Laugh-”Laughter is the best medicine”, don’t forget to laugh every now and then. Not only does laughing feel good but it also has scientifically proven benefits such as relaxing the body and boosting the immune system.
4. Forgive- When you forgive someone you celebrate the unity and oneness of life. You let go of past hurt, allow another to be free, and acknowledge the present. Forgiveness is an act of love.
5. Give- There are many ways you can give. You can volunteer yourself by offering your time and effort. You could also donate money to a charity or in support of a cause. Sometimes the best gift you can give is your presence.
6. Smile- Along with laughter, smiling also has proven medical benefits. It can help you to change your mood and smiling is said to be contagious 
7. Be Grateful- Express your care and appreciation for anything in your life, especially the things which you may normally under-appreciate. Feel the gratitude deep inside of yourself.
8. Feel Good About Yourself- It’s easy. Just decide that you want to feel great and then do it. I also enjoy working out in order to feel good. It keeps my body in shape as a reflection of my health.
9. Cry-Allow yourself to cry. Whether you cry tears of joy or sadness, it is okay to let out your emotions. Sometimes crying is the best remedy to feel joyful.
10. Write-Writing allows you to record and process your current thoughts and emotions. You get all your feelings down and are always able to refer back to your writing.
11. Listen- If you are not too keen on singing, you can still listen and enjoy the beauty of music. Another way to listen is to offer your ears to someone who wants to talk.
12. Teach- Provide your guidance, support, help, wisdom and experience to someone.
13. See the Perfection- Cherish your life. Even the things you may not appreciate are a part of the perfection. (How To See The Perfection of Everything)
14. Commune With Nature- Go on a walk by the beach. Take a hike up a mountain. Garden. Meditate under a tree. Celebrate and connect with the energy of life.
15. Dance- Learn a new dance or perform an old one with friends. Bodily movement can be a great expression of joy.
16. Sleep- Enjoy the refreshing feeling of a full night’s sleep. Know that you deserve it.
17. Cook or Clean- Cook a new recipe and make a nice meal for your family. Tidy up and organize your belongings. Clean with a friend and have a good time doing it.
18. Take Things One At a Time- Deal with things one at a time so you can fully appreciate them for what they are. Do not think ahead to the next thing until you have finished the first.
19. Take a Walk- Enjoy some fresh air outside. Consider walking alone, with friends and family members, or with the family pet.
20. Relax- Enjoy some time alone without any distractions. Take some time each and every day to relax.
21. Play- Enjoy a relaxed game or just play around.
22. Draw or paint- Artistically express your feelings through drawing or painting.
23. Breathe- Take a few deep breaths in and feel your diaphragm expand as you take in the air. Then let it all out, releasing any tension you may have.
24. Dream- Take some time to dream. When you dream you allow yourself to access a realm of limitless potential.
25. Explore- Explore a new subject or or go on an adventure of some sort. For you that may mean something as simple as taking a bicycle ride or venturing on a ride out of town.
26. Be Intimate- Have a warm and friendly interaction with someone.
27. Create and Re-create- Use your ability as a human to create and re-create whatever you may choose.
28. Be Friendly- Start a friendly conversation. Say “Hi” to everyone you meet one day.
29. Be Hopeful- Re-invest in hopefulness and positivity.
30. Be Fascinated- Find something that amazes you and learn about all its intricacies.
Comments? Please share.
Beliefs Sponsor Actions
Your beliefs about something sponsor how you act. For example, if you believe on some level that you are not worthy of living a long and wondrous life then you will make choices that demonstrate this to the world. However, if you believe that you deserve to treat your body with respect and care then your actions will demonstrate this instead.
Love Yourself and Love Life
Therefore, in order to live a longer life, you must first love yourself and love life. Once you are able to love yourself and love life, all else will follow. You will begin to make changes in your life that demonstrate your new way of living, your new attitude, your new Being. The great part is that this is not a long process at all but rather it is an immediate one. You may choose right now to start valuing what you have, to start being thankful for your life and to see the perfection and the beauty in all things.
Changes As a Result
Once you decide this, your old habits will naturally change. You will no longer smoke, eat unhealthy foods or abuse your body. Instead, you will cherish your body and take care of it. You will respect yourself and it will be easy to make the right choices. You may not even have to think about making these choices anymore. Instead, you may choose to express your joy and love of life through certain activities like exercising or just being with your body in practices like meditation. These practices will result from your beliefs about who you are and your value of life.
Raising Your Awareness
Yes, this change will come immediately following your new beliefs about yourself and about life. However, I agree that it may take some time to be able to get to this higher place of awareness. The first thing I would recommend is that you start to be very conscious of your surroundings and totally immerse yourself in the current moment. Let your thoughts come but just accept that they are there and don’t judge them. Focus on your breathing and your senses in any moment.
A heightened awareness may help you to be at peace with the current situation you are dealing with and not resist it. In addition, it will help you to get in touch with your whole Being, including your body and spirit and not just your mind. When you start to live in connection with your whole Being you will notice great changes in your life.
A Place of Knowing
You may eventually get to the point when you are so aligned with your whole Being that you will know your body’s needs on a very deep level. At this point, you may not have to think about how you are treating your body. You will just know what is good for your body and what is not.
Three States of Being To Embrace
1. Be at peace
2. Be loving
3. Be joyful
You can embrace these states of being to bring health into your life.
When you are in harmony with these three states of being, health will be easy to have because it will be a reflection of how you are Being.
When you want to experience one of these states, just do it. It is not necessary to think about doing it. When you want to be at peace, be at peace. When you want to be loving, be loving. Decide to giive yourself to others and give others back to themselves. When you want to be joyful, be joyful. Smile, laugh and know that you deserve to be joyous about life.
