My "best way", may not necessarily be your best way, so what i share in opinion and experience of working for me, is just that. Working for me. Simply try different ways until you get to experience/ know the best "way"/ technique that is best for you.
I have done various things that have contributed. Music (not songs), Tai Chi, Walks in nature, bike riding.
I have strayed a bit in the past few years, but i know that what has worked for me when i was meditating. I few ways i have done this. One part h as been working on calming down feeling state from anything going on in life, or outer world of form. I discovered certain music when i was doing Tai Chi some years ago, that allowed me to feel my way into a calmer and flowing state of feeling and being.
When i mention Tai Chi, i need to clarify. I don't know how some people refer to it as a Martial Art. At least the places i have been to here, they were exercises with a focus on the energy, and its movement within. Moving ourselves with this energy. The Tai Chi itself also contributed to some degree to the evolving into the meditation i use to do each morning.
Sound has worked for me. Listening to certain flowing types of music (not songs) helped me purposely shift into a calm and non distracted feeling place. It is from that distractionless (of the outer world of form) place, that one can purposely begin to feel in new ways about whatever you are creating. It is like an painting artist will start with a blank sheet. We create new things. Feeling new truths into being. Thoughts, words, or whatever works for the individual, are ways to affirming ones way into a new truth of what "is". The real creating is the creation of being that we become in ourselves, and that we feel as true. The world of form then simply reflects the inner world of our being.
As i see it, affirmation is affirming so as to solidify a belief within oneself of what "is", of what is "true". What you feel to be true. Affirming can be words for some people. For some people it can be affirming through being visual. For others it can be in some other way. There is a term in Neuro Linguistic Programming, there is something (i think it is called) "preferred representational system" Google it if you like. That might get you closer to determining what is "best" for you. I believe that is why some people are so convinced their way is universal, but it doesn't work for everyone.
In regards reducing stress, you need to discover this for yourself. A fellow work colleague goes fishing. I asked him why and he explains he forgets about everything. it is just him, the dog, and the sea. He gets to relax.. He doesn't think of it as mediation, but i know that's what is is for him.
So, just recapping on part this thing about mediation. The relaxing and excluding the outer reality and all of that, is just the first part. Its like starting off with a blank start, and then it makes it easier to create the new feeling part
Sorry for being a bit over repetitive. I am a bit rushed and wanted to get this out, as it is Christmas day at this end of the earth at the moment. Big day out at my sisters place.
Good luck on your journey.
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