Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, "One of life's great joys that we've lost is that of the empty day, a day given over to quiet, to reading and contemplation. Our planners and PDAs give the illusion of importance and of being in control." A beautiful statement but what Dale doesn't acknowledge is that we've become such slaves to busyness and mental stimulation that spending "a day given over to quite" would drive most of us mad! It would be nothing short of a drug detox.
Any book on brain research will tell you that the brain will eventually create a tolerance to an increase in stimuli. Looking at the stimuli in our lives we find work, relationships, TV/media, music, kids, the list is almost endless. These are all good things and very important to our daily lives but the high level of stimuli has become status quo and the thought of quiet contemplation has been drowned in the mire of pure busyness.
Recently, I called my wife on my cell phone while driving in rush hour traffic with the radio blaring in the background. What was I thinking? I recently had high-speed DSL installed in my house because the three second wait between web pages was killing me! Here's another fine example, last weekend I had some free time around the house and thought I was going to loose it! I had plenty of things I could do but had no interest in doing them and the necessities of the day were all taken care of. The nothingness nearly drove me to scrub the bathroom tiles! Like an addict hitting bottom, I took the first step of recognizing and admitting that I had a problem. Then I thought back to my grad school training and began using some stress management techniques to ease my anxiety and slow down my mind.
Sitting comfortably I closed my eyes and began taking a few deep breaths. I progressively relaxed my body starting with my feet and working my way to the top of my head. This took all of five minutes and when I opened my eyes I felt a world of difference. This was the starting point of realizing the sacredness of silence, the importance of a calm spirit and they joy of a quite mind. Many great thinkers have had their most profound moments in times of silence and solitude. Ever hear of the bathroom break epiphany? Unlike many of the great minds of years past, we live in an information age that moves at a different pace but we do have a choice as to the pace that we will live our lives. By creating time to give over to quiet, to contemplation and to a calm mind we can not only begin reaping the numerous benefits touted by all the health and medical journals about reducing stress, but we will also be creating time to truly be in control of our lives so that the rest of our time we can give ourselves to our day rather than be swept away in the current of busyness.
Here's a few links for additional information on stress management techniques:
http://www.wholeperson.com/wpa/tr/gig/imagery.htm
http://www.wholeperson.com/wpa/tr/gig/imagery.htm
About The Author
Dr. Robert A. Eubanks is a life coach who works with people around the country via telephone with organization, time management, goal setting and creating the best darn life possible!
http://www.wholeperson.com/wpa/tr/gig/imagery.htm
eco-friendly cleaning service Bannockburn ..The main problem in a down economy is that workplaces... Read More
Learn to have healthy relationships:This subject could fill an entire... Read More
"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We... Read More
Everybody deals with fear and anxiety, however some people have... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money... Read More
Q. So many times in my life, I seem to... Read More
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into... Read More
Understanding StressStress has been called "the invisible disease". It is... Read More
1. The Law of StagnationThis is also known as first... Read More
It was a self-exploration that made me understand myself. It... Read More
Breathing is the vital force of life. It is considered... Read More
?And holding it way down inside you like an old... Read More
I'm sure you have heard of IBS, irritable bowel syndrome,... Read More
So, you've recognised that you are suffering from stress and... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
To combat modern day stressors, you need to realize that... Read More
My work often deals with proactive, preventive means to Overcome... Read More
These days, when people have become so conscious about what... Read More
One of my favorite stories about change is the story... Read More
If you find symptoms of anxiety disorder in any of... Read More
"When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe,... Read More
Worry, big or small blocks positive vibrations from entering your... Read More
A while back, I was in a minor fender-bender accident,... Read More
Probably the least appreciated form of stress is college stress.... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Meditation, relaxation and visualisation are the standard recommendations for reducing... Read More
What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More
It has long been suggested that "music soothes the savage... Read More
Over the years I've collected scores of comics and cartoons... Read More
Perhaps you've heard of the 80/20 rule, but don't know... Read More
Let's face it! The majority of our time is either... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
Where does stress really come from? Is there any simple... Read More
Stress. The word brings to mind many different definitions doesn't... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
Something the successful business person needs is - lots of... Read More
Q. So many times in my life, I seem to... Read More
Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More
This is a tool to measure the amount of stress... Read More
There are times in every person's life when things do... Read More
Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
As Montaigne said, "he who fears he will suffer, already... Read More
We are not designed for long term stress.It causes us... Read More
Elizabeth, 32, cried during anger management class as she told... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
Feeling stressed? Who isn't!! In today's society, feeling "stressed out,"... Read More
Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today's... Read More
Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More
Stress Management |