If you’re looking for serenity, look away from your television.
Serenity like this is out there for you.
The trouble with television is that beyond a few peaceful screen savers, all you’ll see is a lot of mayhem and madness. After just one newscast you’ll be lower than a snake’s belly. Anxiety and stress will go through the roof. You’ll be convinced that we’re all doomed by disease, economic failure, civil strife, and on. That’s why I avoid morning news programs. For me, it’s a lousy way to start the day.
Serenity is in short supply these days, particularly in our house. In addition to the global pandemic, life has thrown an endless supply of crises at our family. Not just everyday challenges, but major life changing issues that don’t have apparent solutions. I guess Covid-19 is in that realm, but I think there will be a resolution in the years ahead.
I’m not so sure about one of my challenges, the steady deterioration of my damaged spinal cord from a broken neck. I’m now walking with crutches, and a wheelchair may be around the corner. Enter the need for some serenity.
Guided Meditation Can Help.
My doctor, Katarina Waters at the University of Utah, recommended guided meditation as a way to deal with anxiety and stress, gain some serenity and also help control the leg spasms that plague my sleep. She specifically mentioned Mindbliss.
Mindbliss is an app that features 370 guided meditations and music intended to help you regain your serenity, deal with anxiety and stress and generally just make you happy. The curator for Mindbliss, co-founder Sammie Hor, calls herself “Chief Happiness Officer.” When you sign up, you hear from her a lot via email.
She’ll be checking in on your progress, sending you tips, new ideas and encouragement. It’s very well done and feels sincere, as if she really is writing to you. Overall, the site is excellent. After a brief free trial, I signed up for $12 a month.
Push Aside the Skeptic.
Has it worked for me? Not yet. I’m having a hard time letting go and allowing the
breathy, hushed voices of the presenters to take me away from my problems and across
the golden beach, shimmering water or wherever else they want me to venture. My skeptical,
pragmatic self says, “yeah, right whatever.” But there are dozens of presenters,
so I’ll keep at it.
In a conversation with Mindbliss co-founder and CEO Derek Lawliss, he said it’s not unusual to be skeptical. “Don’t expect too much at first,” he said. “Just consider it a break from the everyday grind.” He suggested also starting out with listening to some of the music available on the site. I did, and it was relaxing and cleansing.
I’ll keep working on the guided meditations. Millions of people can’t be wrong. It’s a huge, growing movement and it’s exactly what the world needs right now. You don’t need to kill your television to gain some serenity. Just spend less time with it.
Mindbliss is an app for your phone.