REDUCE YOUR STRESS LEVEL BY 60% ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY!
There is nothing demanding about looking at a fractal.
Fractals are patterns found in nature, such as the petals of a flower, a spiderweb or a snowflake. Even your body is full of fractals! Consider your veins, nerves, lungs….all fractals. Patterns are the spectacular building blocks all around us, within us and outside of us.
Stare at the swirling pattern of a succulent for a calming effect
Guess what? Taking time to gaze at fractal-rich patterns almost instantaneously reduces stress and produces relaxation.
Flowers are not just pretty and pleasingly fragrant. By taking a moment to gaze at the beautifully repeated petal pattern you’ll begin to feel tension melting away
Think about the lovely sense of calm you experience after staring up at the clouds, watching the ocean waves roll one after another or looking at the branches of a tree sway in the breeze. You can thank the fractals. The repeating patterns found throughout nature in trees, clouds, plants, flowers, rivers and coastlines are simply stress reducing magic 💫.
Before you blow away the dandelion fluff with a wish be sure to take some time to look at its relaxation inducing pattern Look upwards for a calming treat from the artistically patterned branches of a tree Vegetables can benefit us in many ways, but who knew that taking a minute to look at the swirling pattern of Romanesco broccoli can help soothe anxiety!
Fractals images can be found in artwork, sculptures and architecture.
Fractal style artwork
Just sit back and enjoy these stress reducing videos. 💛
A relaxation exercise that focuses on tensing your muscles and then releasing them for decreased feelings of stress and tension within your body. Often times we keep our muscles tense without realizing it; this exercise will help you feel the difference between this tension and relaxation.
Join me as I utilize lyric substitution with the song “Let it Be” to express some emotions and thoughts. Use the space provided to express some of the things that you need to just “let be” today.
Yin Tang– My FAVORITE point! Located at the mid-point between your eyebrows. Place your index finger, middle finger or thumb between your eyebrows. Apply gentle pressure for at least 60 seconds or up to 5 to 10 minutes. Yin Tang is also known as the “third eye”. You may choose to move your finger in a gentle circular motion on this point. Can you feel the stress melting away?LV3 – Located on the foot between the big toe and second toe. This is a very effective point for releasing stress! Place your finger on the web of skin between the two toes and slide your finger up between the bones until you feel a depression before your metatarsal joint. The point may feel tender. Acupuncturists refer to this as “active”, and use it as an assessment tool which indicates an area that needs attention. Apply gentle pressure for 60 seconds or longer.ST36 – An effective point for stress, fatigue, strengthening Qi and general wellness. This point is located four finger widths below the kneecap, on the outside, in the depression between your shinbone and muscle. Apply pressure for at least 60 seconds or longer. ST36 is helpful in providing stability and grounding.LI4 – A point located on your hand at the thick point of the muscle between the thumb and index finger. Holding or massaging LI4 may assist in combating stress, relieving headaches, moving stagnant energy and supporting the immune system. This is a very easy point to access anywhere at any time. It may feel achy, especially if it needs a little TLC.
A simple meditation to ground your mind and bring your focus and energy to the present by checking in with your body and releasing physical tension you may be holding on to.
Sometimes it’s challenging to find balance once we feel overwhelmed or anxious. Interrupting the cycle of worrisome thoughts can be helpful in taking the edge off and resetting to a space of equanimity. Next time anxiety begins hijacking your mind and body, give one of these anxiety reducing methods a try
Breathe Yourself Calm Breath is one of our best defenses against stress, fear, and frustration. When we find ourselves in a heightened state of anxiety the first step is to calm the sympathetic nervous system. This is the part of our nervous system that activates the fight or flight response. A simple way to restore equanimity is with long, deep breaths. So, let’s give it a try.
Start by taking a full breath, counting five on the inhale 1..2..3..4..5
Pause at the top of the inhale as long as is comfortable to do so, perhaps 3-5 seconds
Now, on the exhale, count down 5..4..3..2..1. With the exhale, purposefully allow the tension to take leave of your body and mind
You may choose to pause at the bottom of the exhale if it feels right for you
With just this first intentional breath, you have begun to calm the nervous system
Continue this breathing pattern 3-5 cycles or, until you feel soothed
Quick CalmingMethods
Grab two ice cubes. Hold them in each of your hands for a few moments.This “cools” the brain and brings down anxiety
Close your eyes and slowly count to 10. If necessary, repeat and count to 20 or an even higher number. Keep counting until you feel your anxiety subsiding. Counting can relax you because it gives you something to focus on besides your anxiety
Simply push against the wall with flat palms and feet planted on the floor for 5 to 10 seconds. Placing the weight of our body against a solid, immobile surface and feeling the pull of gravity is stabilizing, even on a subconscious level
Move You Body to Ease Your Mind Go for a walk, jog, do jumping jacks, skip down the sidewalk, bike or walk up and down the steps. Exercise brings down anxiety FAST! It doesn’t have to be intense, find the type movement that feels right for you.
Stretch We tend to contract during stressful times. Everything contracts. Our mind, as our thinking loops in a tight circle, our bodies stiffen, it even shows on our faces with furrowed brows, a tightened jaw and pinched mouth. Our muscles shorten and become less flexible causing discomfort. Stretching releases physical tension, changes focus to body and breath providing overall expansion and relief! Yay!
Having trouble getting started? This is a simple and effective stretch – lay down on the floor, legs extended, arms up over head – imagine your hands and your feet are reaching toward opposite ends of the room. Don’t force anything, stretching shouldn’t hurt. It should have you feeling like a bowl of pudding! Don’t forget to BREEEEATHE
Imagery It’s helpful to shift our minds by using our imagination or connecting with memories of safety and happiness. The brain doesn’t know the difference between reality and imagination. Cool, huh?
By getting in touch with a happy memory or visualizing a positive experience your body will begin to release neurotransmitters that counteract the stress hormones. Buh, bye cortisol!
This imagery can be a special moment with a loved one, a relaxing day on the beach, an exhilarating hike or the loving embrace of someone special…. let your memories and/or imagination roam to happy places. Imagine the feelings, sounds and scents that might be part of the memory/visualization.
You can easily drift toward this delightful place in your mind when you feel anxious in the future.
What’s Your Mantra? Find your personal mantra, repeat everyday and many times throughout the day. Repeat to yourself or out loud. You may already have a mantra. That’s great!! Use it! If not, here are some examples: A Chant: “Om”….Ommmmmmm ~ the “m” vibration is so nice for the brain Self-loving: “I am enough” or “I am kind, I am loving” AFavorite Quote: “One day at a time” or “What we think, we become” Positivity: “I breathe in peace, I breathe out peace”, “I Choose Love” or “I am grateful” A Mantra holds a different meaning for each of us. It may reflect something you are experiencing right now, who you are at a soul level or how you express yourself to the world. Mostly, it should feel beautifully aligned with your heart, head and spirit as the words move comfortably across your tongue
Self-Compassion
“This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need” ~~ Kristen Neff
What words do you need to hear to comfort yourself during troubling times? It’s okay to feel cranky, angry, sad, scared. Give yourself permission to sit in your feelings without judgment. By tending to difficult emotions mindfully and with self-compassion you learn how to work with them rather than stuffing them away. 💛 Take a moment to place your hand over your heart, or maybe on your tummy, talk to yourself in a warm and compassionate voice. What would you say to a loved one? Now, say those words to yourself. Reassure yourself. Soothe yourself. Be kind to yourself 💛
Laughter – Humor
What’s Forrest Gump’s password? 1forrest1
😂 I heard all of you reading that just the way Jenny said it in the movie!
Try to laugh at least once a day. If you’re having trouble finding things that make you laugh, don’t worry, I have a boatload of corny jokes!
Watch funny animal videos, comedy shows and maybe standup comedians- there are a bunch available on Netflix. Chat/text with your humorous friends regularly!
“If you wish to provide peace, provide peace for another“~~ Dalai Lama
With deep gratitude and awe for each of you who selflessly provide an incredible sense of peace to others, may it return to you tenfold as peace in your heart, peace of mind and peace in your soul.
