Did you know that simply imagining a “happy place” such as sitting on the beach or hiking in the mountains can actually make you feel as good as being there? Your brain interprets visualizing your happy place the same as if you were there. That is unless of course you are visualizing some place wonderful but letting your thoughts dwell on your stressful job or home life.
Want to test this thought? Imagine biting into a lemon, sucking in all those juices… Is your mouth now watering? For most people, that’s exactly what happens. Well, that’s the same process as thinking about one of your most relaxing experiences.
For instance, I love being at the beach. Just saying those words relaxes the tension in my shoulders and brings a smile to my face. So, by visualizing being on the beach, I can sense the salty air, the warm sun on my skin, sounds of happy children playing and waves rushing in. And then, I am feeling the peace throughout my body as if I am actually there. For you, it may be some place entirely different. Think about this for a few minutes and determine where that happy place is for you. It may be something as simple as a quiet place in your own home, sitting in your favorite comfy chair. Wherever it is, it’s time to learn how to recreate that peace and use it to help overcome anxiety.
So, let’s begin by going to a place where you won’t be interrupted:
- Get comfortable either lying down or sitting in a very relaxed position with your eyes closed.
- Begin to picture yourself in that happy place: the beach; the mountains; the golf course; a bubble bath; any place that brings you joy and peace.
- Picture what you would be doing there: what sounds you would hear, what you would be feeling, sensing, or what scents would be surrounding you. Take your time with this and make your experience very real.
- Let yourself daydream for a while with this experience and notice how your body is beginning to relax. The tension in your muscles should slowly release as you let go and let yourself dream. Your anxiety should start to slip away as it is replaced with those happy thoughts and feelings.
Don’t be afraid to relax and let yourself daydream for a while. Remember when you were a child and would play pretend? Well, take a moment now to play pretend again and feel that wonderful peace. Practice these steps daily and they will not only soothe you but may even lead to making some changes in your real life – just by imagining what your life could be. All that anxiety you’ve been carrying around has left you trapped into believing a lot of unhappy thoughts – so maybe, just maybe, your imagination and some daydreaming will help guide the way to a truly happier existence.
Give it a try and see what happens. Have fun dreaming!