Feeling stressed? anxious? irritated? Visualization is a fun and easy way to calm down. When you want to change your mood, you can use your imagination to recreate a place or scene that is very relaxing. Your brain and body will respond as if you are really there. As a result, your stress symptoms will diminish or disappear.
To go to your calm place, all you have to do is close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and let your imagination take over. An important part of your visualization is using all your senses.
The more detailed you get, the better. Scenes can involve images such as lying on a beach in a deserted
cove. You may 'see' cliffs, sea, and sand around you, 'hear' the waves crashing against rocks, 'smell' the salt in the air, and feel the warmth of the sun and a gentle breeze on your body. Other images might include walking through a mountain meadow, swimming in a tropical pool, or whatever - you will be able to come up with the most effective images for yourself.
You can design your own calm place too. It doesn't have to be a place you have been. It can be a fantasy place of your choosing. The following are some questions you can ask yourself when you go to your calm place.
- What do you see? (colors, patterns, light or dark, people, things, etc.)
- What do you hear? (nature sounds, voices, music, quiet, your own breathing, etc.)
- What do you smell? (the fragrance of the place or a fragrance that you bring with you)
- What do you feel? (textures, the air upon your skin, temperature)
- What do you taste? (you can do anything you want in your safe, calm place, even eat)
You can create as many places as you need and you can redesign your place or places as you wish. Self care is managing your stress. Visualization is a fun and enjoyable way to do so.
