Imagine your happy place… No, really. Try it!

Feelings of anxiety and stress can be daunting and overwhelming.  Let’s be real. When these negative emotions are triggered, it is completely normal to get wrapped up in a worrisome/anxious thought spiral.  The worries are VALID. The thoughts are VALID.  AND, the large majority of the time, our worrisome-worst-case-scenario does not actually play out.

So... how do we avoid the anxiety spiral before it takes up even more of our precious time and energy?

One effective anxiety management tool is to use guided imagery to, yep, put yourself in your “happy place.”  You know, that place that you have been where you were completely calm and relaxed; you felt peaceful, happy, content. THAT is the place.

Research has shown that simply imagining ourselves in our happy place can have the same physical/mental/emotional benefits as actually being in that place.

Are you willing to try it with me?

Start by picking your place.

(For me, it’s the beach. For others, it’s the library, at the cabin, by the fire, in the living room surrounded by family, etc.)

Then, close your eyes and go there.

What do you see?

What do you smell?

What do you taste?

What sensations do you feel on your skin?

What is your favorite part of this place?

Be specific. Bask in it. Enjoy it. And just let yourself just be.

Research has shown that using guided imagery can not only reduce anxiety, but can also reduce pain/nausea, and can be mentally/physically relaxing.

We know that using tools like guided imagery regularly (even in times of relative "peace" in our lives) will allow these tools to be more readily accessible in times of need (Hello, stress!).

What would it be like to give yourself two minutes a day to “go to your happy place?” 

…See you at the beach!  ;)