Stress can be emotionally exhausting. As a rule, we tend to overthink our problems and concentrate on them too much when, in fact, we are consumed by things we can’t control that either have already happened or are about to happen.

Meditation produces the sense of awareness of what is happening right now, like your breathing, and helps find peace in the present moment. During the practice stop thinking about the past and the future and focus on the ‘now.’ Concentrate on the immediate sensations, the smells and the sounds that surround you, on your breathing and posture. And you will see that instead of running away from stress you may be able to become a passerby, float above your worries, thus putting them into a new perspective. Slow and mindful breathing helps you observe and understand your feelings better, see the things for what they really are.

Beginners find it particularly hard to concentrate and let go of their unpleasant thoughts. Through meditation, you can transform negative energy into positive thinking. At the beginning of your meditation process try focusing on one positive thought or a feeling that brings back fond memories. Some people visualize a happy place or a familiar object that has pleasant associations. With your eyes closed, think about it in every possible detail. Imagine the colors, the textures, feel the warmth. You will notice that you are gradually submerging into a stress-free state. Should your distracting thoughts choose to come back, instead of pulling away, gently replace them with what you’ve been focusing on at the start of your meditation.

If you are a beginner, it often helps to find a quiet place where you won’t get constantly interrupted. With continuing practice, you will be able to meditate at any given moment, even in high-stress situations.