| p>Here's a very appealing word: "relax." It even has a | | | | bright pleasant thoughts to the forefront. |
| nice sound to it when you say it out loud, slowly: | | | | How is that hypnotic, you might ask? As you're |
| reeee-laaxxxx. Stretch it out, elongate. That's what | | | | walking, program your mind in new ways. Think of |
| we'd like to do in our lives with relaxation as | | | | reasons why you CAN do something, rather than |
| well-stretch it! More, I want it. You want it. It's | | | | why you can't. Focus on what you want, not what |
| something we all need more of, relief from the | | | | you don't want. This shift in attitude will break the |
| stresses and tensions and anxieties of everyday | | | | negative loops going on in your mind, and allow you |
| living. These stresses are ever present and can take | | | | to see positive approaches and solutions. Also, avoid |
| an enormous toll on our physical and emotional | | | | the word "try" in your mind and your language. |
| well-being, can even lead to illness. | | | | "Trying" implies failure. Imagine your goal as fully |
| Here are a few tips/ideas for utilizing the power of | | | | accomplished, don't "try," DO. |
| your own mind and imagination to reduce stress. | | | | As a wise, wise man once said, "Drive your own bus." |
| They'll help you to achieve relaxation, physical | | | | Take responsibility for your own feelings, your |
| rejuvenation, peaceful and optimistic feelings, and | | | | emotions. Other people and external forces can't |
| clarity of thought and focus. | | | | "make you" feel a certain way. You hold that power |
| A favorite technique, which I utilize in my | | | | and freedom for yourself. You're not a victim. You |
| hypnotherapy practice: breathe out a negative, | | | | choose how you want to feel. Choose to feel |
| breathe in a positive. This is an exercise in imagination. | | | | wonderful. I particularly like the expression: "like water |
| Sit comfortably and allow your body to relax, close | | | | off a duck's back." Focus your imagination on the |
| your eyes, and focus on your breathing for a few | | | | duck image, imagine you have that resiliency yourself. |
| minutes--in through your nose and out through your | | | | Let the anxieties and negative emotions roll off you, |
| mouth. Breathe in a positive feeling: such as | | | | they're a liquid and you're water repellant! |
| relaxation, or calm or contentment, breathe out a | | | | Or you might imagine your worries floating away. |
| negative feeling: like stress, anger, or resentment. | | | | Blow on a dandelion flower and watch the spores fly |
| Imagine breathing in a golden light that moves and fills | | | | and imagine that those are your worries on the |
| you, breathing out a dark smoke. You'll find that the | | | | breeze, vanishing! Here's another image to use: either |
| good feelings spread and permeate throughout your | | | | in your mind or in reality, write out your worries, the |
| entire body. | | | | things that are causing you stress. Write them on a |
| Here is a tried and true, wonderful stress releaser: | | | | piece of paper, then roll it up and attach that paper |
| fresh air, and exercise! Go for a half hour walk | | | | to a helium balloon. Now, let it fly! Watch it rising and |
| outdoors. There are sure to be some great places | | | | lifting, getting smaller and smaller, and less significant. |
| for this in your neighborhood. Focus on nature, the | | | | Finally, it's a mere dot, a speck in the distance, then, |
| beauty of the scenery, the sky, and let the fluid | | | | it's gone! Your problems will become more remote, |
| motion of your body calm and relax you and bring | | | | too. |