One of my favorite radio programs is "Speaking of Faith" hosted by Krista Tippet. On the show last week, Krista interviewed experts on Alzheimer's disease - the dreadful disease that slowly unravels and destroys the memory of the patient.   There was a particularly touching story of a lady who was very upset that her husband could not recognize her any more. Every time, she went to see him, she kept asking him who she was and he kept repeating he did not know her. However, one fine day, her husband said " I don't know who you are . . . but I know that I love you very much"!

That answer took my breath away. It appears that love is an emotion that is buried deep inside our subconscious- way below the physical brain. Our memories may go away but love remains for a long time. Love and other emotions are often below the 'rational' thinking part of our mind - like stress, anxiety and worry.

Love, therefore, is a very powerful stress reduction tool for us. One Buddhist meditation techniques is referred to as the "Loving Kindness" Meditation. It involves relaxing the body and focusing on sending and receiving love to the people around us and by expansion to all the life in the world and universe. I find it a very powerful meditation technique . . . and so do many of my program participants.

In your daily life, you can use love to relax and find peace in many ways -

1. Spend time with your loved ones -. This may seem like common sense but often we are so busy meeting our work and other life deadlines, we miss out on the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones. I am, sometimes, guilty of brushing off my five year old's request to play games when I am busy with work or other activities.

2. Images and Memories - Take the time to think of your loved ones - are your grand parents deceased? Do you have beautiful and loving memories of them - relax and enjoy those memories. Take the time to replay your child's first words or walk, look through your wedding videos and look through your friends' letters. I love old photo albums.

3. Call and write to your loved ones faraway - In the 1980s the phone company AT&T had a series of TV commercials - "Reach Out and Touch Someone" {See Youtube clip}- about calling your mother or grandmother. In those days of letter writing, people complained about the lack of personal touch of a phone call. But today we see the short messages in texting and emails - I wonder if quantity is as important as quality in communication.

3. Volunteer your time - work in a local soup kitchen, help with food delivery (Meals-On-Wheels Program). The very act of helping other people often brings down our levels of stress.

How do you feel love? Does it help you cope with the challenges of your life? Let me know.

Check out the interview with Alan Dienstag below:
https://onbeing.org/programs/alan-dienstag-alzheimers-spiritual-terrain-memory-2/

Alzheimer's disease has been described as "the great unlearning," a "disease of memory," a "demise of consciousness." But what does it reveal about the nature of human identity? What remains when memory unravels? And how might such insights help Alzheimer's sufferers themselves?

Photo by Ajay Royyuru - http://tinyurl.com/WorksByAjay 

Sometimes, my meditation workshop participants ask me why I don't discuss stress analysis or try to find the root cause of their stress. “Would that not be a logical way to eliminate or reduce the stress?” they want to know.

 My answer is two fold:

1. Stress occurs at very low (primitive) level of our brain. In many cases, we respond almost instinctively (one of my friends calls it a "knee-jerk" reaction) to unique triggers.  We realize we are stressed-out or angry almost after the fact.  Irrespective of our triggers, challenges or problems, our body almost runs the same script for stress. It may be tightening of the stomach muscles or shoulders or any other physical pattern that we have "trained" ourselves to.

2. Stress often depends on our own unique perspective and values.  Another person (unless he or she is very close to you - like a spouse, parent, sibling or a close friend) cannot really empathize or feel the pain with you.  As an instructor in meditation and mindfulness, I definitely cannot be in a position of judgment about your values and problems.

So what is the solution to stress?  The important and immediate response to stress is becoming aware of the stress, anxiety and pain in your body.  You can then, use a variety of stress reduction techniques to manage your stress by physical and mental relaxation.  As you get more relaxed, your mind reaches a more empowered state.

 Don't you feel that you can solve problems better when you are in a more relaxed and energized state?  The key goal of any good stress management system is to bring your mind to such a state where you can rationally work through your problems and challenges.  When you reach a very relaxed state, you can actually trigger your "Right" or the creative side of the brain to bring forth effective solutions that even your logical or "left” side of the brain cannot think of!!

Stress analysis is an important part of stress management and you can enhance that by logically studying your challenges and following a disciplined problem solving plan. But all that comes later, after you have managed your stress to levels at which you are comfortable.

Here are two articles you may find of interest:

• Here is an effective way to determine your stress levels
  
• How to reduce your stress levels in an instant!
  

Happy Meditation!