“Nowhere is
there a more idyllic spot, a vacation home more private and peaceful, than in
one’s mind, especially when it is furnished in such a way that the merest
inward glance induces ease,” wrote Marcus Aurelius wrote in his “meditations.”
Hundreds of
years before meditation became popular in our culture, the Roman emperor recognized
this great asset of the human mind. While the body may be confined to a
physical space, the mind is free to roam.
The images we
create in our own mind wield a great impact on our mood. Minds travel to light,
airy places, lifting our spirits, or conversely, they imagine negative
situations, (like dark, dank caves) that can cause us to spiral into
hopelessness.
Since Aurelius’ day,
volumes have been written on meditation techniques. Herbert Benson’s The
Relaxation Response (1971) was a best seller that helped to westernize yoga
practice. Throughout her book Thrive (2014), Arianna Huffington mentions
meditation and its variations as an essential element to well-being.
Some of us
utilize this gift without realizing it. For example,
as a child, Ms.
I. awakened early in the morning to sit on the steps of her suburban home
before anyone else awakened unaware that she was taking mini-mental vacations from her family and the
demands of the day.
It is likely
that many subway riders plugged into their headphones, escape the local scene to visualize an idyllic journey.
Conclusion:
Becoming aware of the mind’s power to incorporate mini-vacations into our daily
lives, regardless of the method used, can serve to reduce stress in a few seconds.
Dear Reader, I
welcome your response.
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