If you hear a voice or sound, ignore it.

I'm considering meditating before my shower each morning before school. I've heard this works relatively well. There are many techniques to try, different donominations of meditation to practice. The one I plan to try tomorrow is a 'Heart Centered Meditation' exercise. Here is my derived list of things to do in order to accomplish this sense of calm.
1.) Quiet area, no distractions, no lights. I might have to situate myself in my closet, underneath skirt hems, squahing summer flip-flops.
2.) Get comfortable...lie on back or sit with back toward wall. Palms up, fingers pinched, lightly for traditional touch. Silly.
3.) Relax. Breath deeply, concentrate on exhales and inhales. Try to relax every muscle in body, starting from toes up to face. Focus is the biggest key here, really trying to get into it, really trying to let go.
4.) If you hear a voice or sound, ignore it.
5.) Draw attention to center of chest. Imagine a ball of light, any color you like halfway in your chest, half out. Watch (with your third eye) it grow with each inhale and exhale. Allow it to be as large as you like. Hmm...what color will mine be? Will archetypial colors come into play? I'm thinking softball size...
6.) Ball = healing love energy. Allow it to rub over wounded areas. Let your mind direct it toward those in your life that need your lovely healing. I have to let it go? Selflessness or selfishness?
7.) Once feeling complete or touched, slowly become aware of your surroundings. Stretch. Listen to Keane's "Sunshine" song.
Will update with experience once completed.

Stepping Stones (of sorts)

Recently, all I want to do is crawl into bed, wrap myself up in warm blankets and sleep. I have had a hard time seeking out inner peace due to the stresses in my week, and have concluded most profoundly that I need sleep not only to rest my tiresome body, but my tiresome mind. Through some research, I have come to terms with the fact that with my schedule, I and fellow humans as it is our nature subconciously to seek inner peace, rest, detachment of concentrated human burdens or thoughts, through sleep. But of course I cannot sleep all the time, as I would like -- no, I have obligations out in society to fulfill. I've dug through some anti-stress, striving toward inner-peace articles and came upon this "list" of proposed "stepping stones" as I like to call them toward reaching CONSCIOUS inner peace...more frequently anyway....

# 1: Reduce the amount of time you read the newspapers or watch the news on TV.
I don't know how to feel about this one. I think it's important to know what's going on in your community and world....does finding inner peace really mean sacrificing worldly ties? Wouldn't you feel or look stupid not being in the know? How much are you willing to sacrifice in society to reach this personal peak? Is this why it's hard to obtain? Or not obtainable at all?

# 2: Stay away from negative conversations and from negative people.
This is a nice thought but really, it's simply unrealistic. People are quite naturally pessimists and "gossipists."

# 3: Don't hold a grudge. Learn to forget and forgive. Nurturing ill feelings and grievances hurt you and cause lack of sleep.
Yes, again, a good solid goal.

# 4: Don't be jealous of others. Being jealous means that you have low self-esteem and consider yourself inferior to others. This again, causes lack of inner peace.
Again, a nice tidbit of information but especially hard for me being a dead-on Scorpio. I will rise above astrology though; the stars always lie (you know this right?).

# 5: Accept what cannot be changed. This saves a lot of time, energy and worries.
It's that easy.

# 6: Every day we face numerous inconveniences, irritations and situations that are beyond our control. If we can change them, that's fine, but this is not always possible. We must learn to put up with such things and accept them cheerfully.
Right on. Cheerfully.

# 7: Learn to be more patient and tolerant with people and events.
Patience is a virtue.

# 8: Don't take everything too personally. Some emotional and mental detachment is desirable. Try to view your life and other people with a little detachment and less involvement. Detachment is not indifference, lack of interest or coldness. It is the ability to think and judge impartially and logically. Don't worry if again and again you fail to manifest detachment. Just keep trying.
Agreed, agreed....don't look like a loner though or one without feeling. Wear warm colors.

# 9: Let bygones be gone. Forget the past and concentrate on the present moment. There is no need to evoke unpleasant memories and immerse yourself in them.
Guilty.

# 10: Practice some concentration exercises. This will help you to reject unpleasant thoughts and worries that steal away your peace of mind.
Interesting....

# 11: Learn to practice meditation. Even a few minutes a day will make a change in your life.
(stroking chin)

I'm going to write my own list.