I’ll be honest—when I recently got laid off, my brain went into full-blown chaos mode. My schedule, my plans, my confidence—poof. Gone. One minute, I was living in a predictable routine, and the next, I was staring at my ceiling at 2 AM, wondering if eating peanut butter straight from the jar counted as self-care.
It was rough.
My wife, bless her, has been holding down the fort while I put every ounce of energy into building our business. But between the stress, anxiety, and feeling like I had lost my footing, I knew I needed something to pull me out of my mental spiral. Enter: Mindful Meditation.
Now, before you picture me sitting cross-legged on a mountaintop with incense burning, let me clarify—I’m still me. I’m not a monk (though I did make some pretty cool Buddha wall art during this whole journey, but more on that later). Meditation wasn’t some magical fix, but it has become a tool that genuinely helps me reset. Here’s how I pulled myself back from the brink of full-time doom-scrolling and found a little peace in the chaos.
1. I Built My Own Schedule (Since No One Else Was Doing It for Me)
One of the hardest parts about losing my job was the lack of structure. My days suddenly felt like a weird, endless loop where I had all the time in the world and yet somehow got nothing done.
I realized that I needed a daily routine—something to anchor me. So, I sat down and created my own schedule.
- I wake up at the same time every day (even when my bed argues otherwise) I shower and dress like I'm going to work.
- I block out time for work, meditation, and—yes—some HULU (because of balance).
- I make sure I move my body, even if it’s just walking around the block.
Having this framework gave my brain some much-needed stability. And let me tell you—discipline feels a whole lot better than drowning in an existential crisis.
2. Mindfulness: Catching My Brain Before It Runs Away
Ever catch yourself huffing and puffing or taking deep breaths when you're upset? This is your body naturally trying to calm down. Ever catch yourself spiraling into a mental black hole of what-ifs? What if I never land another job? What if this business doesn’t take off? What if I have to start eating PB&J for every meal?
Yeah. Me too.
A technique that I use frequently is something called box breathing. Box breathing is when you get comfortable, sit up straight with your hands folded in your lap, and focus on breath work by slowly inhaling through your nose for five seconds, holding for five seconds, exhaling slowly through your mouth for five seconds, and repeating this until you feel relaxed.
Mindfulness is all about being present—not stuck in the past or worrying about the future. It’s about actually paying attention to what’s happening right now instead of letting my brain take me on a rollercoaster of doom, just let that ish go!
When I start feeling anxious, I pause and:
- Focus on my breathing. (Inhale, exhale, repeat. No overthinking allowed.)
- Notice what’s around me—sounds, textures, sensations.
- Remind myself that right now, in this moment, I’m okay.
Turns out, the present moment isn’t so scary after all.
3. Body Scanning: Because Sometimes Stress Hides in Weird Places
At first, I didn’t realize how much stress I was holding onto physically. My shoulders? Tense as a brick wall. My jaw? Clenched like I was preparing for battle. My stomach? Doing backflips for no reason.
This is where body scanning meditation became a game-changer. It’s basically a slow, head-to-toe check-in with yourself. You mentally scan each part of your body, notice where you’re holding tension, and consciously release it.
Sounds simple, but it’s ridiculously effective. After doing this, I felt lighter—like I wasn’t carrying the weight of my stress on my back anymore.
4. Creating My Buddha Wall Art: A Meditation of Its Own
One of the coolest things that came from this journey was a piece of laser-engraved Buddha wall art that I created.
At first, it was just another project. But as I worked on it, I realized it symbolized everything I had been learning—patience, mindfulness, and focus. The process of making it became its own kind of meditation. Every cut, every detail was a reminder that I was still creating, still moving forward.
Now, it hangs in my workspace as a reminder: this chapter isn’t the end. It’s just a transition.
Final Thoughts: Meditation Won’t Fix Everything, But It Helps
Look, I’m not saying meditation turned me into some Zen master who never feels stressed. I still have tough days. I still worry. But now, I have the tools to manage it.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, give it a shot. Here’s what worked for me:
Create a routine – Structure helps, even if you have to build it yourself.
Practice mindfulness – Catch your brain before it takes you down a stress spiral.
Try body scanning – Your stress isn’t just mental; check in with your body, too.
Find a creative outlet – Whether it’s art, music, or something else, creating can be healing.
Life is unpredictable, but I’ve learned that I can find focus and calm—even in the middle of chaos. And if I can, so can you.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a schedule to stick to (and possibly a new wall art idea to design). You can check it out here on my website- https://statelinewoodshine.com/
Have you tried meditation? What helps you stay grounded when life gets crazy? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts!