Relax, Take it Easy

Relax, Don't Do It

     Learning to relax and let go is one of the hardest things we have to achieve today. Ironically we find ourselves saying things like we have "to find time" to meditate or "make time" for ourselves or "schedule" some down time.

     In this post I'll be looking at how we can draw inspiration from our surroundings to find the opportunity to stop and use our environment to help de-stress.

Animal Attraction

     We have animal companions for all sorts of reasons. Above all it gives us the opportunity to care for another living entity. We like to think we get unconditional love in return but anybody who has ever lived with a cat will know this is not always the case. A cat will, however, give you a great example of how to chill out and relax at the slightest opportunity.

     Even if you live with a cat who wants little physical attention from you, their willingness to flop down in the sun and snooze is a relaxing sight in itself. The bonus is that if you've got the time when you're at home sharing their space, you can synchronize your down time with theirs and take a little nap too.

     The way a cat grabs these opportunities to nap is such a good way to understand that small breaks help us keep stress levels low. If the cat will jump up and sit on you for a few strokes then all the better. It's been scientifically proven that stroking an animal, particularly a purring cat, will lower blood pressure.

It's a Dog's Life

     Dog's are a bit more demanding than cats. Somehow they'll always find a way to end up parked under a hand that may be available to give a few strokes or tickles.

     The added advantage of the dog is that they'll almost certainly always offer you unconditional love. Get the lead from the hook by the door and you'll really see that expressed in a display of excitement and affection. And what a great way to de-stress even more. We now know that the act of walking is a great stress buster and will help us work through mental issues. The fact that the dog prompts us to take a walk is a fantastic opportunity to get out into nature and reconnect with what matters.

Disconnection

     Because our animals have no sense of time or the pressures of a human life, we can disconnect from those same pressures by stepping into their lives. The stress free moments of sitting quietly in a chair and enjoying the sun, stroking a purring cat or walking a faithful dog are no more than a thought away.

    It's no good doing these things and then worrying about the time you're spending doing them. Disconnect from everything else. It pays to practise disconnection in many ways, but meditation and using sounds to clear your mind are two of the best ways to start that process.

Focus on Not Focusing

     That may sound like a bit of a contradiction. To have a clear mind we need to focus our attention on letting go. To relax we have to focus our mind on the parts of our body we want to relax. Our conscious needs to tell our unconscious to let go. We have to give up the idea that we can control everything. We have to learn to focus our attention elsewhere than the the scheduled events of our hectic lives.

     We don't need to be pet owners or animal lovers to enjoy the relaxing effects of an animal's uncomplicated life. If you're in the city look up to the sky and watch the birds. If you're in the country look out at the fields and watch the cows. If all else fails, go to the local aquarium and watch the tropical fish. The energy from their colours will also be pretty amazing!

     Whether we focus on the turmoil of our lives and our problems or whether we clock off for a while (I use that term deliberately) the problems and schedule will still be there after a pause for breath. The difference is that our minds are in a better state to deal with them.

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