Hari Aum.
I'd like to share some suggestions on how to maintain our mental health during the pandemic (these suggestions are based on a mental health course I completed in the last couple of years).
Many of us are living in countries that are in lockdown. We are spending more time indoors and less time with people that we usually see. The news is mostly negative. All together this combination of events can make many of us feel more worried, stressed and even depressed.
We have to accept the situation as it is. As the saying (by the Buddha) goes, "This too shall pass".
Until then, I suggest the following measures to help maintain our mental health:
1. Focus on the good in life: the good in yourself, in your family, in society and in the world at large. There is a lot of good in the world despite all its challenges.
In the world of mental health, we know that negative thoughts produce negative feelings. Conversely, positive thoughts produce positive feelings.
There is no use focusing on/discussing the negative stuff in life unless one is planning to do take some constructive action based on this (e.g. to help the situation). Engaging in negative discussions without any purpose will only make us feel unhappy.
Reflecting on one's own negative actions with an aim to avoid repeating this in the future is a positive step. Equally, discussing something negative that has directly happened to us with the aim of processing this and letting it go is a positive step-- and family and friends can help each other with this.
Happiness and positive thinking is also good for our immune system. There is evidence that being stressed and angry reduces our immune system and increases our risk of various illnesses.
So try to focus on the good in life and stay as positive as possible.
2. Consider a gratitude diary: think of at least three things you are grateful for every day (or at least a few times a week). There's a saying that you don't know what you had until it's gone. Focusing on the good stuff that you are grateful for will make you feel happy.
3. Comedy: there is truth in the saying that 'laughter is the best medicine'. Consider taking a break from the news, and watch something funny that makes you laugh. (Obviously laughing at/mocking real people is negative and bad for our mental health).
4. Take care of the body: eat and sleep well, take moderate exercise (indoors or outdoors based on local government advice) at least three times a week. Physical fitness helps mental health.
5. Do something nice for somebody every day: this brings out the best in us. It makes us and other people feel good.
6. Remember you and everyone else on Earth is immortal in reality. Follow all precautions and advice from doctors and the government. But also remember the words of the Gurus and saints of the past and present. We are immortal, the children of God. Let us therefore remember God and repeat His/Her names and mantras for the protection of ourselves and all beings, so that we can soon realise our immortal nature. Immortality is a fact of our life. Not a theory. Let us pray to God to make this knowledge our reality, our living experience. This is the reason for our birth on Earth according to the Gurus. Let us never forget this. To do spiritual practice and realise that we are already immortal is the reason we have come here.
This weekend is a sacred one with Good Friday and Easter. Let us utilise this time well in spiritual practices. Let us keep some time aside (even just half an hour or so) for mantra japa. And before, during and after every mundane activity, let us remember God and repeat His name. This way we keep the thread of divine remembrance throughout our daily activities and make everything into a sadhana.
May God bless and protect all of us, our families and friends, and the entire world.
Om Namo Narayanaya
Om Sri Gurave Namah.
I'd like to share some suggestions on how to maintain our mental health during the pandemic (these suggestions are based on a mental health course I completed in the last couple of years).
Many of us are living in countries that are in lockdown. We are spending more time indoors and less time with people that we usually see. The news is mostly negative. All together this combination of events can make many of us feel more worried, stressed and even depressed.
We have to accept the situation as it is. As the saying (by the Buddha) goes, "This too shall pass".
Until then, I suggest the following measures to help maintain our mental health:
1. Focus on the good in life: the good in yourself, in your family, in society and in the world at large. There is a lot of good in the world despite all its challenges.
In the world of mental health, we know that negative thoughts produce negative feelings. Conversely, positive thoughts produce positive feelings.
There is no use focusing on/discussing the negative stuff in life unless one is planning to do take some constructive action based on this (e.g. to help the situation). Engaging in negative discussions without any purpose will only make us feel unhappy.
Reflecting on one's own negative actions with an aim to avoid repeating this in the future is a positive step. Equally, discussing something negative that has directly happened to us with the aim of processing this and letting it go is a positive step-- and family and friends can help each other with this.
Happiness and positive thinking is also good for our immune system. There is evidence that being stressed and angry reduces our immune system and increases our risk of various illnesses.
So try to focus on the good in life and stay as positive as possible.
2. Consider a gratitude diary: think of at least three things you are grateful for every day (or at least a few times a week). There's a saying that you don't know what you had until it's gone. Focusing on the good stuff that you are grateful for will make you feel happy.
3. Comedy: there is truth in the saying that 'laughter is the best medicine'. Consider taking a break from the news, and watch something funny that makes you laugh. (Obviously laughing at/mocking real people is negative and bad for our mental health).
4. Take care of the body: eat and sleep well, take moderate exercise (indoors or outdoors based on local government advice) at least three times a week. Physical fitness helps mental health.
5. Do something nice for somebody every day: this brings out the best in us. It makes us and other people feel good.
6. Remember you and everyone else on Earth is immortal in reality. Follow all precautions and advice from doctors and the government. But also remember the words of the Gurus and saints of the past and present. We are immortal, the children of God. Let us therefore remember God and repeat His/Her names and mantras for the protection of ourselves and all beings, so that we can soon realise our immortal nature. Immortality is a fact of our life. Not a theory. Let us pray to God to make this knowledge our reality, our living experience. This is the reason for our birth on Earth according to the Gurus. Let us never forget this. To do spiritual practice and realise that we are already immortal is the reason we have come here.
This weekend is a sacred one with Good Friday and Easter. Let us utilise this time well in spiritual practices. Let us keep some time aside (even just half an hour or so) for mantra japa. And before, during and after every mundane activity, let us remember God and repeat His name. This way we keep the thread of divine remembrance throughout our daily activities and make everything into a sadhana.
May God bless and protect all of us, our families and friends, and the entire world.
Om Namo Narayanaya
Om Sri Gurave Namah.
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