I read recently many of us are in a state of constant stress & anxiety.
Our late night worries may have common themes. Health, relationships, finances, work. We may worry about the plumbing, report cards, what your husband will think of your new hairdo. Apparently, we can just make stuff up to worry about.
I read we can even be addicted to stress.
Now that is just sad.
I believe creativity can be an effective tool in coping, even eliminating unnecessary stress.
One of my effective tactics in reducing worries Dr Martin Rossman speaks of in his book “the Worry Solution”.
At the heart of it is creative visualization.
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Having an artistic imagination is not so handy when you are 6 years old plagued by nightmares. Our family Dr explained nightmares are common with creatives. He also said I worried too much.
He gave me tips on relaxation visualization I still use. Surprisingly, this method is written about in Dr. Rossman’s book.
With coping strategies, we boost our health, become more productive, our life improves, and we are more capable of being in service to others. Even under terrifying circumstances taking action can transcend us from paralyzing fear.
Here are a few tips:
1) Deep Breathe. Repeat. Most of us breathe shallow when stressed.
2) I make a list of Items you can actively take care of, and what you cannot, let go.
3) Creative visualization.
Dr. Rossman says with guided imagery, techniques that invigorate the emotional and intuitive parts of the brain add to and enhance logical intelligence. He states with regular practice, you may literally alter the worry pathways in your brain and “hardwire” yourself for calmness and clarity.
He writes ‘imagery is the natural coding language of the most unconscious mind, representing large areas of the brain that are often silent, adding a whole new world of information, problem-solving ability, and emotional intelligence to the intelligence you already have’.*
When asked to visualize a happy place, most people imagine places in nature, lying on a sandy beach, wandering thru a wildflower meadow, camping in a peaceful forest.
The key to creative visualization is to begin in your most relaxed state. Try deep breathing relaxing your entire body and mind. Bring as many sensory aids when you imagine your peaceful place. The scent of the sea air, the sound of seagulls the texture of the sand beneath your feet, the warmth of the sun on your skin.
Dr. Rossman mentions a second tool “Positive Worry Imagery”. Think of it as positive thinking with flare.
For example, when a friend was very ill, instead of picturing her in bed suffering, I pictured she and I at her birthday years down the road. What kind of cake would we eat? What music was playing in the background, the guests milling around. I could hear her laugh, envisioning her healthy and vibrant.
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”~ Corrie Ten Boom
*Dr. Martin Rossman’s book “ The Worry Solution” can be found online.
