Do you ever feel tense or stressed without even noticing how you got there? In the world today, especially when grieving, these feelings easily creep up on you. You may feel yourself holding your breath, tightening your shoulders, reacting to someone in an unkind way, or maybe even feeling a tear roll down your check. All of these are perfectly normal reactions. Being mindful of when these things happen can allow you to easily deal with them to help you feel better.
First, stop what you are doing. Close your eyes and take a slow deep breath. Hold it at the top for a moment, and as you slowly release it, relax any tension you feel in your body. Check your body from head to toe for places you may be holding some tightness or pain. Maybe you have been tightening your forehead and eyebrows. Take a breath and release that feeling. Continue down your body to common places you know you hold things. When you find a spot, breathe it out. This process doesn’t take long, and you can do it anyplace.
When your mind starts spinning and you find it hard to concentrate, close your eyes and breathe a few slow breaths thinking only of a beautiful place you love, a beach, a park, a lovely garden, or any place quiet and special to you. Stay there for a few minutes if you can. Just breathe slowly and enjoy what you see.
If your thoughts are intrusive and get in the way of what you are trying to do, get out a piece of paper and a pen and write out exactly what you are thinking. Be bold. Nobody will see this, so write whatever you are thinking, the thoughts which are obstructing your way. Write until you are finished, then tear the paper into small pieces, toss them into your waste bin or compost, and allow yourself to return to a more peaceful place.
In the process of doing any of these practices, I recommend that you have a glass of nice cool water available. Adequate hydration can help your body keep in the flow of feeling your best.
What is most important in the process of resetting is taking the best care of yourself. When you do that, everything becomes easier.
Stay mindful. Breathe. And smile.
The Grief and Happiness Alliance
Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
My email is emily@griefandhappiness.com
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