You know those times where it seems as though nothing is going right and no matter how you try and deal with a situation, nothing good seems to come of it?
I’ve had a lot of that recently. Firstly i had my car vandalised, i wasn’t covered by the insurance so i had to fork out over £300 to get it all fixed. Turns out it was someone who lives above us who isn’t very mentally stable. He is always causing trouble and wrecking the building we live in. We haven’t long moved in and i’m beginning to regret ever moving here no matter how lovely a home we have made it.
We got a phone call this morning to advise us that the person concerned was in hospital and would be released when they saw fit. Back out in to the community to raise more hell!!

The people i have my car with took two payments out of my bank, leaving me absolutely skint. They bank put it back in, only for the car people to take it back out again yesterday. So its going back in again, and if the car people take it i think i may shoot someone.

There are other things going on which are just making life hard at the moment i feel as though i’m never going to catch a break.

Anyway, the reason for my post is i wanted to see how people relax, stay calm and find some inner peace in times of turmoil. I feel as though i’m loosing my mind at the moment, and i just need some time to chill.

Look forward to reading your replies

I'm afraid I would find it quite hard to relax in that situation. I would look for ways out, such as not having a car, but these options are not always available, are they? There are various affirmation type paths where you keep telling yourself you are fine and everything is fine and you are moving towards your ideal life situation with every breath you take, or whatever. They're good at changing your emotional reaction and keeping you focused on the positive. In fact, they're good at moving you towards where you want to be. There's Louise Hay, there's Emotional Freedom Technique, there's another one I can't remember the name of - all fluffy New Age stuff, but it does work.

I think even Buddha would have a tough time staying calm after all that! Speaking of which I remember having a conversation with a Buddhist monk about whether he thought he had chosen a hard way of life. He said he didn't know how people coped with a 'normal' life in the world, and I'm inclined to agree with him.

I stay calm by living under a tree half a mile away from the nearest other people, and not going into town unless I have to. If I am having a really busy time I try to meditate for 15 minutes morning and evening.

Don't think it matters what sort of meditation, and I try to rotate between mantra meditation, OBODs Light Body Excercise, open eyed meditation in the Krishnamurti style, visualisation, and watching the breath so as not to make a habit of anything.

Thats alot to cope with. I must say my answer isnt very good. I live in a house with so many people iv learnt to block out absolutely anything but when im stressed i try yoga or meditating. Both slow your breathing and make you focus within yourself. Another thing id suggest trying is just getting out. Make room for an hour or two just to do your own thing ang get away from it all.

Thank you for your replies - i think in general i just need to take some time out for me and to start focussing again on where i want to me.

I've taken some leave from work at the end of July, hopefully i'll be able to get my brain back on track in that time.

Its a wee bit to deal with, and things aren't really getting any better - but i've just got to remember that there are people out there worse off than me, that usually seems to help bring me back to earth!