Creating A Peaceful Earth ... Relax

This is the second installment of 'Creating A Peaceful Earth' where I will discuss Relaxation.

Demonic Stress

Stress is the cause of most of our ills in our life.  Health, finances and home life are consistent parts of our life that seem to carry an enormous amount of stress.  Does the above list create stress or do we already have stress and therefore create an inability to think through situations that will help us rather than hinder us?   If we didn't have to deal with our health, finances or home life would we be less stressed?

It is my belief that we create stress within our minds before we create stress with our health, finances or home life.  The human mind takes in an enormous amount of information on a very regular basis.  We have five senses that are constantly bombarding our brain with information.  When this much information enters the brain the brain must determine what is relevant and what is not.  It filters the information so that only the pertinent information is stored and the rest is stored in a zip drive like file.  When we take in too much information our brain gets a bit frazzled and tends to create the same state of frazzle throughout the entire body.  This of course creates health issues that can manifest as headaches to full blown high blood pressure and other diseases.

While the brain is trying to decipher which information it needs to filter the body feels the frantic pace at which the brain is working and becomes stressed.  This stress bleeds into cognitive thought.  When the body and brain are both stressed there is very little controlled decision making going on.  When we make decisions while under stress we tend to make a bad situation into an even worse situation because we haven't given ourselves the proper mental thought that a particular situation needs in order to make the best decision.

Relaxation Is The Best

When we feel stressed the best thing for us to do is relax.  This will slow the frantic speed with which our brains are moving and allow the brain to catch up with its task of filtering all of the information.  It will also create an avenue for us to see the big picture and allow the brain to think of alternative positive outcomes that can be executed.  Relaxation is always recommended when a person feels out of control.  Whether they feel a bit out of control or completely out of control relaxation is the antidote to stress.

Yes there are drugs on the market that can relax the brain and the body but these are not without affects to your body.  As I have said in past articles you do not have a deficiency of drugs, the body is quite capable of regaining control but it is up to you to decide to relax.  Practicing regular relaxation is more economical and better for you and your families health.

Relaxation = Returning To A Simple Mindset

Physically stress builds in the body and is evident through muscles tightness or pain, headaches or aches and pains anywhere in the body to brain fog.  Relaxation allows you to sink into what you should naturally be experiencing as a human being.  It allows us to return to a simple mindset and melts away the built up stress.  How do you do this?

How To Relax

There are a few tactics that you can take in order to rid your bodies and minds of stress.  They are as follows:

• One of the easiest techniques is tightening and relaxing each and every muscle in your body.  This can be done by lying or sitting in a comfortable chair.  Begin by taking a deep breath in and tighten your face and head by squinting and pooching your lips, hold this for about 5 seconds or so and then relax by releasing the breath completely and then breath regularly until you are ready to move onto the next muscle group. Continue to move down your body in muscle groups until you have gotten down to your feet.  Remember to breath in prior to tensing the muscles and release the breath when you relax each muscle group.  Once you have worked the different areas of your body tense the entire body at the same time for about 10 seconds and then just relax and let everything go.  If you still feel tension in a a particular area of your body work on that area by tensing the muscles for an elongated time until you can't hold it any longer and then let go.  Often this will relax the most stubborn of muscles.  Enjoy the light feeling that you have created and just let your mind go.  You will be surprised at the amazing ideas that your mind will create once relaxed.
• Calm peaceful music is always an excellent stress releaser.  If you work in an environment that has loud, beat driving music, this may be the stress inducer in your life.  If at all possible change the music to a more peaceful type of music.  No you won't fall asleep with the right type of music and in fact it will encourage your brain to work faster and more efficient without getting stressed.  I personally have a water fountain where I work which gives a calm feel to the work place and everyone who works in the building and those who visit become calm, collected and able to think quickly and accurately with no stress.
• Water is another excellent relaxation tactic.  The body is over 70% water and therefore it loves water.  Other avenues to release stress are hot baths, a Jacuzzi, a hot tub, going to your favorite lake or pool and just floating in it.  If you have a stream near by remove your shoes and socks and let the water splash over your feet.  If you are lucky enough to live near a beach go for a walk on the beach and let the waves lap at your feet.  All of these will induce stress removal and create overall excellent health.

You Are The Ruler Of Your Body And Mind

You are the only one who can reduce the stress in your life.  Drugs or other people will not be able to reduce something that comes from within.  It is your responsibility to take control of your life and decrease the life draining stress that you are experiencing.  Remember stress is also an age inducer.  The more stress you carry the more aged you look.  Relax, take a step back and allow your body to create amazing ideas and realizations without stress and you will stay happy, healthy and ageless.

Dr. Betts