Amir is a trained psychologist and educator with an interest in mind-body-heart medicine. He has been practicing and investigating how silence and stillness plays a role in our well-being and happiness. Amir is a heartfulness and mindfulness trainer, holding workshops and retreats internationally in close collaboration with Heartfulness Institute and other centers of excellence. He lives with his wife and two children in India.



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Amir H. Imani

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    <h4><span style="color: #6f98c7;">AMIR IMANI</span> explains the root cause of stress and what we can do to remove
        it.</h4>
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    <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">What is the ABC of stress reduction?</span></h3>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">This question takes us to the root cause of stress, and the one effective way out of
        it. The very root of stress is really the lack of compassion and kindness we have towards ourselves. This is the
        A of the ABC of Stress.</p>
    <h4><span style="color: #ff6600;">A. The root of stress</span></h4>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">It may sound odd, but if we dive deep inside when we are really under pressure, we
        will see that it is not only the toothache, or the upcoming mortgage payment, or the feeling low and depressed,
        but the fact that we do not want to feel the pain or the worry that makes us suffer.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">The closing of ourselves to life and what we are going through at difficult times is
        what causes us the most pain. Put it this way: it is not only the stressor that determines our level of
        suffering, but the quality of our relationship with it.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">Here is an example: first consider a day when you wake up early in the morning,
        spend some quiet time with yourself, walking, reading, breathing and stretching, before starting your working
        day. Then take a day when you jump out of bed and hit the road, hurrying all the way through your day. Your
        reactions to life and what it brings you are different. I welcome you to test it. An incident of, say, somebody
        cutting you out on the expressway will affect you differently on those two days. Perhaps on the first day you
        have more space for life. This brings us to the question: what can I do to deal with stress in a better way?
        This is the B of the ABC of Stress.</p>
    <h4><span style="color: #ff6600;">B. What can I do?</span></h4>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">The answer is in the question. If the root cause of suffering is the lack of
        kindness, then the remedy is compassion and gentleness towards ourselves at all times, even when things are
        really stressful and out of our control. Having a soft corner in ourselves for the bad and miserable to come,
        stay and leave, maintains a degree of balance and reduces suffering tremendously. It is like being in the midst
        of a storm, but not getting lost in it; being in the water but not getting drowned. This is possible if we
        permit ourselves to be the way we are moment-by-moment, no matter how unwell we feel.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">How can we do this? This is the C of the ABC of Stress.</p>
    <h4><span style="color: #ff6600;">C. How can I do it?</span></h4>
    <p style="text-align: justify;">Cultivate heartfulness and compassion. Take time to practise opening up to ourselves
        – to the way we are and the way we feel, in whatever way it works for us. This gives us the ability to do so
        even when things are not that good in our lives. There are numerous ways of training the heart to rest and
        return to its original state of openness and acceptance. Here are some of my favourites:</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;">A slow and silent walk in nature, with no aim in mind. Just walk
        and take in nature the way it is through our inner and outer senses.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;">Sit silently and in a relaxed way with the mobile phone switched
        off. If you wish, you can bring the attention to the heart very gently and allow the heart to be the way it is
        without forcing anything.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;">Lie down, staying awake, and pay attention to the way your body
        is, however it might be from moment to moment.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;">Eat a meal with your awareness in the present with the food.
        Stay with how it tastes and feels to be nurtured by nature, thankfully.</p>
    <p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 60px;">When feeling peace and gratitude, share these feelings with
        others by allowing the heart to open up and send joy and calm to all beings.</p>
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    <h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by AMIR H. IMANI</h4>
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