Yes, You CAN Relax!
Have you ever felt so tense or nervous that other people noticed your discomfort and tried to help out? Did they say something like, “just relax”, “chill”, or if you’re an old school dude like me, “take it easy”?
And how did that work out … trying to “just relax”? I’d bet a dozen square donuts it didn’t work too well. It might even have had the opposite effect. In fact it can be downright irritating to hear “just relax”, from someone who has no clue what you’re going through or how you feel.
This article is meant to help people who routinely experience tension and worry, especially those who prefer, when possible, to avoid taking medication to address that problem.
The help I’m talking about is not about using medication, and it provides lots of benefits. To name just a few:
- It’s relaxing, produces feelings of happiness and being in control.
- It’s proven effective in clinical studies.
- It can be a life-long practice.
- Anyone can do it, even a child.
- It’s free.
- It produces no side effects.
- It requires no physical effort; only a little time every day.
Recently, while waiting to see my doctor, I watched a string of medical news items on the television in the waiting room. One item described a study proving the benefits of meditation for back-surgery patients: patients who used meditation to relieve mental and physical stress after back surgery recovered more quickly and required less pain medication than people who did not use meditation. This is just one of many such studies.
Clearly, what I’m talking about is this thing called meditation.
The following article from Psychology Today magazine mentions the evidence, the many benefits, in addition to those mentioned above, and debunks myths about meditation.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/feeling-it/201309/20-scientific-reasons-start-meditating-today
Not everyone hears the word “meditation” in the same way. Some people might be curious about it, try it, and take to it like a duck to water. Others might have the opposite reaction. This is understandable. If you think of meditation as an airy-fairy, ‘weird’, far-Eastern practice that doesn’t fit your personality or our culture, take a look at this article from Forbes Magazine, one of America’s top money magazines. I don’t believe their target audience is made up of weirdos and “airy fairy” types.
Another thing to keep in mind: many varieties of meditation are available, and if you’re thinking of doing this practice and looking to learn how, beware of anyone who claims they have the “right way” to meditate. There is no “right” way.
I first learned transcendental meditation in 1971, when I was a student. As you can see on my website, I also practice clinical hypnosis. These two ways of achieving deep relaxation and stress relief are similar, but not identical. Having long experience with both of these practices allows me to help people obtain relief in numerous ways.
What I’d like you to take away is that relief is possible, and not just possible: it’s right here for the taking. All you have to do is to ask.
But don’t take my word for it; check out the studies for yourself. If you’re convinced that meditation is worth a try, give me a call. I’d be thrilled to be of assistance and to share with you what a wonderful, invigorating and joyful experience meditation can be, and what it can do for your short-term and long-term well being.
All the best to you, always.
