Loads of editing ... added a section about meditation - here is the best of it? -
Extra-special bonus! - May 4th 2019 -
Seeing as I am yet again in a buoyant & generous mood ... one tip that gets mentioned in some of the above links is mindfulness meditation
It is not a quick-fix but for centuries certain human beings have been meditating as a way to train their minds and reduce their suffering. I can vouch for its effectiveness from my own personal experience!
Hard to even know where to start - here are some of the benefits you may experience - if you are patient and kind towards yourself -
Benefits of meditation - a few dozen in fact - includes physical & emotional & mental!
If you want to know how to begin, you can try a search for best meditation techniques ...
Mindful is an excellent magazine & online site - also search for stress or happiness or difficult emotions etc!
This page is chock-full of tips & recommendations
A few more meditation tips
Youtube may also help you get the most from your meditation
So just experiment with the various suggestions and find which one seems to work best for you. Here is one book I could recommend from my own experience and hope & pray it doe the same for you as well -
The Lost Art of Compassion by Lorne Ladner
Here is another little taste -
This brings me back to the earlier question of what constitutes a good, happy, meaningful life. When you ask Westerners this question, some answer based on external accomplishments such as gaining a certain amount of wealth, popularity, sensual pleasure, comfort and social standing.
Others answer on a more deeply interpersonal level, focusing on their relationships with family and friends and on making some significant contribution to the world. It's extremely rare for anyone - even Western psychotherapists - to answer this question psychologically. The Buddhist response to this question is deeply psychological: Buddhism asserts that a good, happy life is determined not by anything external but rather by the quality of our minds and hearts in each moment of life. Regardless of what we do or don't do externally, a life spent cultivating wisdom and compassion is a good life.
This review is about another book that may suit beginners -
If meditation was available in capsule form, it would be the biggest selling drug of all time. It has been scientifically proven to deliver highly effective stress relief, boost our immune systems and dramatically slow the ageing process. It has also been shown to make us much happier and more effective thinkers. Given all the physical and psychological benefits, why aren't more of us doing it?
Here is the book by David Michie
This comes from a recent journal entry of mine ...
"An emotionally healthy individual makes sure that their thoughts & words & deeds are motivated by kindness & compassion as much as they can manage. The more you practice the better you can manage ...
"Once upon a time, a man started to wonder whether he should put an extra onion in his pocket."
A LOT of people vigorously debate to prove their opinions & thoughts & beliefs are th right ones to have. I prefer to ask whether they are healthy beliefs rather than worry about which beliefs might be "right" in any given situation.
"A healthy belief system is one that helps you to become a kinder & more compassionate human being."
Wishing you all the very best and always remember to put an extra onion in your pocket!
