Apr 5, 2010 Posted by denice johnson on Apr 5, 2010 in life, spirit | 0 comments

finding the quiet within

Life is loud. Our environments buzz with activity, noise and stressors. Our minds are quick and busy. Our bodies are forced into action in the morning and collapse by late evening. It is natural to become a part of the energy which surrounds us but if we are not careful to restore a sense of quiet well-being this loud life can lead to illness and emotional compromise.

A lot of us probably think we’re coping well with the pace of life. We take time to relax when we can, we eat well most of the time. But what if you were pulled from your busy day right now and dropped onto a peaceful, secluded beach. Would you feel immediately at ease or would the energy of your every day life stay with you for a time? Would you be able to lay back, listen to the waves and drift into a state of peaceful well-being?

It’s likely that you would need a good deal of time to adjust to a calmer way of being. Life requires most adults to be busy all of the time. When presented with an opportunity to do nothing we often find it hard to let go of life’s quick pace. It’s important to give yourself those moments of quiet well-being on a regular basis whether you can do so on a secluded beach or right where you are in the moment.

There are many approaches to finding that sense of internal calm. Some find it helpful to adopt a defined style of meditation in order to accomplish this goal. There are books and articles enough on the subject to keep you reading for months. However, this quick simple technique restores personal awareness and allows you to return to a more natural and healthy emotional and physical state.

Close your eyes and while completely emptying your lungs, release the tension in every muscle. Picture yourself letting each part of the body achieve it’s most relaxed state of being. Focus on small inhalations and clearing out the lungs completely on each exhalation. Think of opening yourself completely. Tighten your shoulders and then let them go, paying close attention to how it feels to release that tension. Allow yourself to notice what your body feels like in this relaxed state. Remain as still as you can for as long as you can. You are retraining your body and mind to be still and to restore itself to a healthy balance. Let the breath out guide you to a peaceful quiet within.

This is often a difficult experience initially. Many people find that they cannot actually sit perfectly still for any length of time. This is, of course, why we must undertake to do the activity. An inability to be still and completely at ease will lead to poor health and emotional compromise.

When your body is in a constant state of action the mind cannot relax. If you follow this simple exercise to relase physical tension your mind will naturally follow. The two cannot help but work in unison. We must always return to the hustle and bustle but taking these small breaks to hit your personal reset button will help you do so with balance and renewed enthusiasm.