Have you ever ruminated on a problem in your life? Okay, that's an unfair question!

Haven’t we all found ourselves “thinking things over” when in reality we were stewing over a problem? When we focus on a problem without an uplifted consciousness, the problem becomes more problems! As Swami Kriyananda says in his song “Come Gather Round”:

Some people think
To harvest happiness
By weeding troubles,
Easing every stress.
The trouble is
That troubles never end:
Get rid of one,
And you face its friend!
Mm-m-m and you face its friend.

How do we overcome problem-consciousness? There is a story from the life of Swami Kriyananda that offers a very simple answer. When Swami first met Ananda Moi Ma, he asked her for some personal advice for his spiritual practice. She responded:

“Always practice japa. Keep your mind busy chanting God’s name, and you won’t have time to think of anything else. Say, ‘Hari! Hari!’”--here she clapped her hands joyfully once, as if to indicate that everything of this world disappears with the thought of God—"or any other mantra you like. Filled with His joy, you will laugh at all dangers.”

–Visits to Saints of India by Swami Kriyananda

How inspiring to think “you won’t have time to think of anything else!” As a saint once said, "God is simple. Everything else is complex.” Rather than ruminate on our problems, the saints say, “Ruminate on God.”

As we think, so we become. Why not focus on God?  We have problems, He has answers. We are a good pair! Why not give them to Him and fill yourself with thoughts of Him? End your ruminations by ruminating on Him alone.

Paramhansa Yogananda shares an inspiring poem to help us do just that called, “God! God! God!” When you find yourself in problem consciousness, don’t get upset. Calmly shift your attention and inwardly chant any name of the Divine you like. You can try Yogananda’s poem “God! God! God!”

God! God! God!

From the depths of slumber,
As I ascend the spiral stairway of wakefulness,
I will whisper:
God! God! God!

Thou art the food, and when I break my fast
Of nightly separation from Thee,
I will taste Thee, and mentally say:
God! God! God!

No matter where I go, the spotlight of my mind
Will ever keep turning on Thee;
And in the battle din of activity, my silent war‐cry will be:
God! God! God!

When boisterous storms of trials shriek,
And when worries howl at me,
I will drown their noises, loudly chanting:
God! God! God!

When my mind weaves dreams
With threads of memories,
Then on that magic cloth will I emboss:
God! God! God!

Every night, in time of deepest sleep,
My peace dreams and calls, Joy! Joy! Joy!
And my joy comes singing evermore:
God! God! God!

In waking, eating, working, dreaming, sleeping,
Serving, meditating, chanting, divinely loving,
My soul will constantly hum, unheard by any:
God! God! God!