There are some days where I feel perpetually stressed and anxious. In fact, on these days I bet my insides look worse than the guy with the coffee. :-)
My goal is to do at least one relaxing activity a day until I have formed the habit of serenity; I want my default mode to be one of joy. I no longer want little things to disturb my being and throw off my day. I want to live such that I reflect St. Teresa of Avila's maxim: Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you...
Here is a list of simple things that I found helpful in calming the body down:
| Watch a sunset | Go to the beach | Be positive |
| Sing a song | Pet a cat | Tell a joke |
| Listen to music | Be silent | Take a nap |
| Talk to a friend | Take a walk | Go barefoot |
| Have a cup of tea | Count your blessings | Smile |
| Take a break | Do it now! | Stretch |
| Write | Hum a tune | Practice patience |
| Get up early | Exercise | Say a prayer |
| Forgive that person | Prioritize | Give a hug |
| Throw/kick a ball | Play with a child | See an inspiring movie |
| Practice Kindness | Say "No" | Set Limits |
| Eat a snack | Read a book | Give a blessing |
| Light a candle | Laugh out loud | Do a puzzle |
| Give a gift | Draw/pastel | Give a compliment |
| Take a bubble bath | Avoid negative people | Take a deep breath |
| Ask for what you need | Go to bed on time | Organize |
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These prayers have been very healing for me as well:
Simple Prayer by Fr. Swamy Ch. Balashowry:
Come Lord Jesus, come into my life, bless me, help me, heal me.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; within your wounds, hide me; let me never be separated from you; from the evil one, protect me; at the hour of my death, call me; and bid me to come to you; that with your saints, I may praise you forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for Inner Healing
Dear Lord Jesus, please come and heal my wounded and troubled heart. I beg you to heal the torments that are causing anxiety in my life. I beg you, in a particular way, to heal the underlying source of my sinfulness. I beg you to come into my life and heal the psychological harms that struck me in my childhood and from the injuries they have caused throughout my life.
Lord Jesus, you know my burdens. I lay them on your Good Shepherd’s Heart. I beseech you—by the merits of the great open wound in your heart—to heal the small wounds that are in mine. Heal my memories, so that nothing that has happened to me will cause me to remain in pain and anguish, filled with anxiety.
Heal, O Lord, all those wounds that have been the cause of evil that is rooted in my life. I want to forgive all those who have offended me. Look to those inner sores that make me unable to forgive. You who came to forgive the afflicted of heart, please, heal my wounded and troubled heart.
Heal, O Lord Jesus, all those intimate wounds that are the root cause of my physical illness. I offer you my heart. Accept it, Lord, purify it and give me the sentiments of your Divine Heart.
Heal me, O Lord, from the pain caused by the death of my loved ones. Grant me to regain peace and joy in the knowledge that you are the Resurrection and the Life. Make me an authentic witness to your resurrection, your victory over sin and death, and your loving presence among all men. Amen.
Healing the Family Tree
Heavenly Father, I come before you as your child, in great need of your help; I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglect and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lord. But I also ask you to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns, and defects in body, mind and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders.
With your help I sincerely forgive everyone, living or dead members of my family tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of your divine Son Jesus, and in the power of his Holy Spirit, I ask you Father, to deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the evil one.
Free all living and dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every contaminating form of bondage. By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father, and by the shed blood of your precious Son Jesus, I beg you to extend your blessing to me and all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative effects in future generations of my family tree.
I symbolically place the cross of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation; I ask you to let the cleansing blood of Jesus purify the bloodlines in my family lineage. Send protective angels to encamp around us and administer your divine healing power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special power to our family members’ guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very moment, and let it continue as long as your sovereignty permits.
In our family tree, Lord, replace all bondage with a holy bonding of family love. And let there be an ever-deeper bonding with you, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to your Son Jesus. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its tender, warm, loving presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest that love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
