Peace can seem unattainable, especially when there are so many things to worry about or accomplish. The mind is going in a 100 different directions, and if it doesn’t slow down, it can feel like a train wreck is happening inside your head. The “thought train” goes off the tracks creating, what I call, Consciousness Chaos. This is a state of utter confusion. Nothing makes sense and it is hard to make even a simple decision, like what to eat for dinner.

When life feels out of control, take a moment to breathe to slow down chaotic thoughts. Sit still in a chair or lie down. Breathe in through the nose for a count of five and breathe out for a count of five. Feel peace slowly start to enter in the inhale and release your stress in the exhale. Be still and try to hold this tranquility for a few minutes. Closing the eyes may help minimize distractions. By refocusing our attention to our breathing, we can slow down our thoughts and lower stress.

Another technique is to focus on a tree, a flower, a candle flame, a picture, or something that brings you peace. Or go for a slow walk observing the environment—the birds, the plants, the green grass. When we redirect our attention, we can decrease anxious thoughts. Beneficial choices do not appear in a chaotic mind. Decreasing stress helps more favorable resolutions to enter our awareness.

Find a technique that works for you so the next time you start entering Consciousness Chaos, you can slow the thought train down before you go off the track. It is easier to find peace when you are still on the track versus being derailed. Peace, or at least diminishing stress, can be found, even in the most crazy times.

“To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.”

— Jill Bolte Taylor