Once when I was gripped by severe fear-driven anxiety, I stumbled on the simple technique of using so-called "worry stones" to calm my nerves, return to peace, get me focused and restore a sense of personal power.

Rather intuitively, I first began rubbing two coins together in my left hand, using my thumb and index finger, to promote a sense of inner peace. Shortly thereafter, I replaced the coins with a small stone. For some reason, I had gravitated to small smooth stones that I found in stream beds, while on solitary walks in the countryside. Now, when I am at the beach or on a hike near a stream, I look for small stones worn smooth by the persistent action of water. Some stones seem more potent in instilling peace than others, and I have fun experimenting with them to see which is more effective in promoting a sense of inner peace. It was only later that I learned that people as far back as ancient times, the Greeks, for instance, used stones to restore a sense of personal stillness. Some call such stones used for this purpose "worry stones." I like to think of them as "peace stones."

As a right-handed person, I found that a peace stone works far better when I use my left hand to rub it. I have assumed that the relationship between the left-hand and the right hemisphere of the brain where mythical, non-linear mental processes occur may explain this. When I’m in an anxious state, my mind often seems to get stuck in repetitive linear thought and rubbing a stone seems to switch my thinking function from this anxious rational thought to the place in my brain that gives birth to dreams, mythology and art.

Whatever the explanation, the practice of using my non-dominant hand to manipulate stones restores me to a sense of peace. I suggest that you experiment with each hand to learn which one brings most benefit to you.