My first suggestion is to turn the news and TV off. Even as I sit here at my computer writing this article, I suggest to minimize your time on the computer. In other words, turn off the chaos that is swirling around us and “Center Down.” By that I mean, refocus on what is really important to your life; your family; your friends; your community; and the world as you would like to see it rather than as the controlled media is trying to program.
There are several exercises that help to center down. The first is through the world of music. I have written several articles about the wonderful effects of music on our minds and bodies, but the main thing to remember is to find music that quiets your heart and soul, and spend time with it ministering to you. I find that some of the listeners of my harp music will just have it playing in the background all day - every day - and they tell me that their days go so much better and are much calmer and more enjoyable. This kind of music will even help your brain produce more neurotransmitters to help you feel more at peace and calm. Even more importantly, my music will help you to close out the noise around you and bring your mind into control; to create the world that you see with your mind’s eye.
Some of that effect is from the pure enjoyment of the music, and some of it is actually from the frequencies that are carried within the music. I have talked with many musicians and audiophiles, and many agree that the 444 Hz tuned music (which gives the 528 Hz C note) is more helpful for creating this environment, which is what I record my harp music with. Some would argue that the 432 Hz is equally qualified, and I would not disagree with that. The key here is that the music be designed to bring our minds and bodies into a better tuning/harmony. Choose what makes that happen for you.
The next exercise that I find very helpful, is to get out into the natural world. Find places that have natural beauty that has been untouched or minimally impacted by human influence. Find a beautiful river or lake; a scenic mountain top; a craggy canyon; a forested valley; or any other area where your eyes rest on natural colors and shapes, your nose smells the wonderful scents, and your ears hear the symphony of the wild; and sojourn there until your spiritual cup is full. Linger long enough to smooth the ruffles of the hectic demands of the workaday world, so that when you must return, your focus will be restored.
I take my camera with me to record some of these sights and observe from different angles and framings. This helps me to appreciate the experience even more. It also gives me something to take back and remember when I need to refocus. Sometimes, I take a mini retreat by spending time with some of those photographs. Some of them even make it onto one of my walls as a framed piece that can help connect me at a glance when I need it.
Another area that I think is important to consider and take control over is that of your nutrition. We are drifting away from a healthy nutritional level with many important essential nutrients missing because of advertising influence from the Standard American Diet (SAD) food industry.
This contributes to suboptimal health and compromised immune systems that leave us open to disease and chronic conditions. I believe that it is important for us to learn how to supplement our nutrition so that our bodies and minds can function at top level and allow us to make better decisions and choices. If our minds are not working well, we will be much more susceptible to being influenced by negative sources.
One more factor is that of meditation, which can take on many forms. Often, this is combined with either one or more of the above suggestions. For me personally, I find that the focus of my meditation is in contemplating my Creator.