the mind clutter that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm and relaxation"(Parsons,1997). This form of meditation is known as the concentration, or "one pointed', type of meditation. Another form of meditation is called mindfulness. In this meditation style you begin by utilizing one-pointed attention to cultivate calmness and stability, but then you move beyond that by introducing a wider scope to the observing, as well as an element of inquiry. "When thoughts or feelings come up in your mind, you don't ignore them or suppress them, nor do you analyze or judge their content. Rather, you simply note any thoughts as they occur as best you can and observe them intentionally but nonjudgmental, moment by moment, as the events in the field of your awareness. This inclusive noting of thoughts that come and go in your mind can lead you to feel less caught up in them and give you a deeper perspective on your reaction to everyday stress and pressure"(Kabat-Zin,1993).The final form of stress management that we are going to look at is the lost art of having fun. As adults, we need this ability to shift our awareness from rational and logical concerns to a level, which is freer and centered on the moment. People who can shift appropriately between the "there and then" to the "here and now" are good at reality testing and adapting to the demands of the world. They can draw on both their thought processes and their ability to take effective actions. We can't really appreciate fun without the counterbalance of work and the responsibilities of living. And we can't truly value our work until we incorporate fun into our lives. Pleasure guides us to better health. When experiences are enjoyable, we want more of them. Our bodies tell us that sleep, reproduction, eating, companionship and exercise -- to name just a few of our more common daily activities -- are enjoyable. We can actually relieve stress ...
