Long-Term effects

Some people get spectacular results very fast, others, like myself, become aware of the beneficial results over a period of time. I had even doubted any progress. So how do I know that I'm relaxing more, that I'm not reacting, that I'm achieving better result? The old latin saying "contra facta non sunt dicta" (There are no words against the facts) is my proof.
I started off keeping a daily diary. When I compared entries at the beginning of the period to those at the end of the period I noticed huge changes. This awareness led me to look at how I was no dealing with stressful situations. In a huge percentage of the situations I noticed that I was being so much more proactive and that my level of stress was now practically zero.
How did I achieve this? I used LifeFlow along with elements of the Linden method

Dealing with Stress "off stage"

I'm constantly intrigued by the number of stressful people claiming that they must begin dealing with their stress as soon as it surfaces. It sounds like going to war without training and expecting to be successful in a total alien situation!
Years ago I watched a film documentary on Manchester United. A certain David Beckham was just beginning his career at the club. After the team finished it's training stint, David appeared with a bag of balls and two small circular targets which he placed in top corners of the goal posts. He then spent the next hour "taking shots" at the targets from a variety positions and locations on the pitch.
In spite of the belief of the afore mentioned stressful people to the contrary, we CAN play at "taking shots" to conquer stress. It is really important to our success that we do it.
I have found meditation to be an effective medium where I can "take shots". LifeFlow brings me into the meditative state where I can perfect my shots again and just like David, it becomes a totally natural skill. I like LifeFlow because I can combine it with a huge variety of other holistic methodologies. It enhances the speed and effectiveness of these methodologies

Heavy Duty Stress

At work over the last few months, I have had to deal with people who are frightened by the intensity of their stressful experience. They are in that place where they begin to believe that they are mad, they begin to mix up natural occurrences with spirituality which frightens them even more. This has led me to search for answers and solutions. Along the way I found the Linden Method. The method claims huge success and bases its philosophy on the fact that this level of stress is a learned behaviour. It then seeks to tackle this learning and implement training for peace.

Getting Results

Many times I think we can approach methods to relax and be calm as goals in themselves. We can become lost in the rights and wrongs of how accurately we "copy" the directives of the guru. Really, they are only tools to facilitate living, to facilitate a more meaningful life. That's why I like using music designed for meditation as a tool. It is very easy to link into life and create deep change very quickly. I work on the basis that my imagination cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary. Music can embrace all other methods to intensify their effectiveness.

Relapsed Alcoholic and Stress

Today at work, I listened to a relapsed drinker whinge in self-pity as he justified again and again his present situation. This could be expected as I have found that most "hard" drinkers work out of a core of "me". Not only is it "me" but it is compounded as "poor me". This makes life very stressful for the individual.
How to break this unhealthy focus on self? A great way I have used myself is meditation because meditation helps create that safe place where I can confront all my stress symptoms with courage. Meditation reaches the core where self-obsession resides, so it easily creates deep and permanent change.
"He only is wise who devotes himself to realizing, not reading only, the ancient relevations. Solve all your problems through meditation. Exchange unprofitable religious speculations for actual God-contact." - Paramhansa Yogananda

Monotony

I have always lived in my head. this has been the source of untold stress. Over the years many people kept telling me that I needed to relax, so I have participated in many many courses. Along the way I became intrigued with the "alpha state". I believed that I had learned the secret. However It was only when I began listening to the LifeFlow series that I understood how little benefit my previous efforts had afforded me. Now, I can choose the state/level I wish to achieve and simply use the appropriate music to entrain my mind to that level.