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“Work is not always required. There is such a thing as sacred idleness.” ~George MacDonald

During times of anxiety and community disruption like we are all experiencing today, why is it that we have difficulty easing into a relaxed state of being?  Is it that you feel guilty relaxing when there is so much to be done and so much uncertainty?

But I say this is the ideal time to take a few minutes to just exhale and relax.  You’re not being idle or uncaring.  You’re actually doing the opposite.  You’re showing how much you care for others by caring for yourself.  And in the long run, taking a break will not only enhance your mental and physical health, but your productivity as well.

Sure your to-do list isn’t done.  Spoiler alert.  It never will be.  In fact, it’s not supposed to be.

We can take ourselves so seriously, giving our “tasks” a much higher degree of importance than they really warrant in the grand scheme of things.  No wonder so many people are on anti-depressants.

In the words of Abraham-Hicks:

“Most rarely align with their true power, because it seems illogical to them that there is power in relaxation, in letting go, or in love or joy or bliss.  Most people do not understand that their true power lies in releasing resistance — which is the only obstacle to their true power.”

Another great quote to help reinforce my point about the importance of relaxation is from one of the greatest creative minds in history, Leonardo da Vinci, who said:

“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgements will be surer; since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgement.  Go some distance away because the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and a lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen.”

Time to take a break.  Smell the roses – literally (as I explained in last week’s post).  And one of the more effective ways to relax and balance your life-force is through meditation.

You may already have a meditation practice you enjoy.  There are so many methods to experiment with.  I like the guided meditations from the Getting into the Vortex CD and user guide by Jerry & Esther Hicks.  And I’m a fan of Dr. Andrew Weil’s Mind Body Tool Kit CDs.

Lately, I’ve been listening to several of the guided meditation CDs by Joe Dispenza. I finished two of his books that I mentioned in a previous post.

WOW!  I immediately bought several of his meditation CDs. Life changing for me!

woman watching her breath

Breathing Exercise

If you’re a meditation newbie, you might want to start by just practicing some mindful breathing.  In fact, most meditation practices stress the importance of the breath for relaxing the body and mind so that you are more able to enter the sacred place within your centre.

Even if you’re not sitting down to meditate, this little exercise is great for any time you need a reminder to stop holding your breath and just relax.  This is courtesy of Dr. Andrew Weil.

As you move through your day, be mindful of your breathing. Is it slow and peaceful or do you hold your breath when upset? Breathe from your belly and follow Dr. Weil’s simple technique:

  • Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
  • Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
  • Hold your breath for a count of seven.
  • Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. This is one breath.
  • Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.

It works for me every time.  Hope it does for you.

Wishing you joyful relaxing!

Love from your Joy Mama,

Gloria Stewart signature

P.S.  Sign up for my monthly newsletter Joy Matters and receive my free eBook called 8 Barriers to Joy and Abundance to help you identify blocks that may be getting in the way of your relaxation and joy.

If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also enjoy these:

Your 40-day Joy Activism Challenge
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Your nose knows it

[image from Pixabay.com]

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