It’s now recognised in both mainstream and alternative medicine that mind and body each have an effect on the other. That’s why medication and positive thinking can enhance physical wellbeing and why relaxation and massage can calm the mind. The techniques below are all things you can do for yourself.
Good thinking
- Focus on the good things in life. On bad days, this may be a challenge, but keep looking. Sources of joy may come from something as simple as your cat’s antics, the first tomatoes of the season from your own vegetable garden or a wonderful book you’ve just read.
- Keep a gratitude journal if it helps you identify and be reminded of the positive things in your life. Choose a beautiful book that’s a pleasure to use, and try to write down three things every day for which you are grateful.
- Make a point of focusing on the positive things you desire rather than the negative things you don’t want. In time, you’ll find that your thinking shifts effortlessly from negative to positive.
- If a plan goes wrong, don’t get angry; instead, think of it as an opportunity to try something different. It could even be something that you’ve been wanting to do for a long time!
- Choose to remain calm. It’s much kinder to your body and mind. Your reaction to annoying or traumatic events, people and circumstances outside your control determines whether they will be stressful or not.
- Learn to deflect “worry” thoughts. It takes practice, but there are techniques to help. By replacing gloomy beliefs with life-affirming ones, you’ll break the cycle of stress that accompanies negativity.
- Let go of all or nothing thinking. No one is perfect.
- To help you relax, listen to meditation music and guided-meditation recordings, available from New-Age bookshops. These are particularly useful at the end of the day, to help prepare you for a good night’s sleep.
Meditation helps neutralise stress, stimulates the immune system and improves memory and mental function.
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