(February 2, 2012 at 12:55 am)passionatefool Wrote: Being an atheist now, I seriously doubt that prayers work, it never did before. But I felt like its something imprinted in my mind from back then when I was extremely religious, praying was a daily everyday thing. Now everytimes I get anxious,nervous, scared, worried, or something horrible happened -which it does happen quite often with all of it together- I find myself having urges to pray because it brought comfort before, it was a temporary escape from reality. I refuse to do it now because it felt wrong, wont bring me comfort. I dont believe in it anymore, but now I find it hard dealing with my stress, over-worrying, paranoid and anxiety problem, it makes me feel like throwing up sometimes. Actually I dont know how to make myself feel like everything is going to be okay.
Meditation is an excellent replacement. It allows you to collect your thoughts and relax.
Focus on an endless void or a peaceful place that makes you at ease, it should take concentration but not be taxing. When a thought enters your mind acknowledge it positively then focus deeper on it or simply let it slip away should that be your wish.
Once you're done meditating you should feel centered, focused, constructive. You will be drawing strength from within while fostering new strength in the form of self-belief. This makes you better able to cope with what trials life may throw at you.
When life does go wrong, as it sometimes does, quietly acknowledge that while you may not always be able to control consequence or circumstance you can control actions and that in the end is what will define you.
Thats how I replaced prayer anyway.
