The world around you is a busy place. Everything seems to move faster and faster and the barrage of input from media and communication devices is perpetual. The world inside your head may be even busier. You may be caught up in an endless stream of thinking: planning, remembering, daydreaming, worrying, commenting on your behavior or the behavior of others, interpreting and judging what is happening, checking in with your TO DO list, and so on. . .

Because of that, you may need a mental break. You’d love to turn off the information overload, even for a few minutes. You may tell yourself to stop thinking so much, but that doesn’t really work. It only makes you more frustrated and hard on yourself.

You may have tried meditating, getting a massage, working out, sitting in the hot tub, or going for a walk outside. These are all great ways to clear your mind. Yet, these options aren’t available in every moment. In this article, I’m going to describe a very simple practice that can clear your mind quickly and easily. And you can do it just about any time and anywhere. It’s called “Sky Gazing.”

You can practice this exercise by going outside and actually looking at the sky, which I recommend, when and where that is possible for you. Or you can practice inside by looking out through a window. If you have a spot with a wide view, all the better. If not, any patch of sky will do. You can even practice in your mind’s eye, by lightly closing your eyes and imagining that you are looking at the sky.

Find yourself a comfortable seated position. Direct your gaze to the sky-the actual sky or your imagined sky. Soften your focus so that you take in as much of the sky as possible. Allow it to fill your peripheral vision, so the sky takes up your entire visual space. Pay attention to anything that is moving across the sky, like clouds, kites, planes, or birds. Notice how they come and go across the vast sky behind them.

Imagine that the sky is like your mind and the clouds or other objects crossing the sky are like your thoughts and feelings. These things come and go, yet the sky remains still, spacious, and clear behind them.

Allow the feeling of the sky to fill your awareness. Let its open spaciousness clear your mind. Let its altitude and breadth elevate and expand your awareness. Allow anything that comes into your mind to dissolve into that open clear expanse.

If you find that your mind is still busy, ask yourself this question: “Who is gazing at the sky?” Notice how your mind quiets as you keep that question open.

Take in the sky and let the clouds and your thoughts float by for as long as it takes to clear your mind and shift into relaxation.

Once you’ve absorbed the sky into your mind, take note of how you feel inside. You may feel more connected to Life or to God. You may feel that everything is alright. You may feel that you’re guided and cared for. You may feel lighter or have more clarity. You may just feel a bit more relaxed. Whatever you feel is fine. Taking a break from your busyness to consciously expand your awareness is beneficial in itself.

Record the feeling of the open, clear, spacious sky in your mind and body, so you can return to that feeling whenever you need to. Enjoy your practice.Are you ready to de-stress, quiet your mind, and relax deeply? Discover how to take your stress management to the next level. For tips and techniques to reduce stress be sure to visit us here: Kevin Schoeninger, M.A. Philosophy

Discover how to take your stress management to the next level. For tips and techniques to reduce stress, visit us here: http://www.mindbodytrainingcompany.com/stress/how-to-de-stress-quickly-on-your-own-time/ Kevin Schoeninger, M.A. Certified Meditation Instructor and Personal Trainer

Author Bio: Are you ready to de-stress, quiet your mind, and relax deeply? Discover how to take your stress management to the next level. For tips and techniques to reduce stress be sure to visit us here: Kevin Schoeninger, M.A. Philosophy

Category: Self Help
Keywords: reduce stress, clear your mind, relaxation, stress management, how to stop thinking