Relax
Hi, Thinking Out Loud here :D
Welcome to Mindful Monday Week 23
Here is the link for this week’s playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/39pSXSQHxDeWCMBBaU5j2V?si=c9baec51c8214334
I hope you enjoy listening to it while reading, and I hope you find the music relaxing.
If an ad plays during listening to the playlist, please stop reading and wait for the playlist to play again. Hopefully, the playlist will be timed for you to read to the end of this blog post, with maybe one song running over after reading.
Get a drink, maybe even a snack, and find a comfy seat so you can relax. Let go of all worries and enjoy the next five deep breaths. Please prepare for the first breath in by breathing out.
Now time for your first deep breath; take one deep breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. Hold for 1.. Breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. Breathe in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. two more to go; breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. last one deep breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. now go back to your regular breathing pattern. I hope you feel calm and relaxed.
It’s easy for me to sit here and type, clear your mind and relax, as I realise not everyone can do that. For one reason or another, our minds drift away to thoughts or what we need to do throughout the rest of the day, and that is perfectly fine; it’s normal. However, I sometimes have trouble clearing my mind, relaxing and sometimes meditating (which I sometimes find relaxing); I more often get the giggles and then can’t stop. I end up having tears streaming down my face from giggles; needless to say; it isn’t always relaxing. But I persist; I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s the calmness I do eventually get, and maybe I do in some way feel relaxed. I’m not saying go and try to meditate to relax, although if that is something you find relaxing, please, by all means, have a ten to fifteen-minute session; we don’t need to meditate for longer than twenty or so minutes a day.
For some, you might find climbing a mountain relaxing. I can already hear the internal groans from those who don’t find anything like climbing a mountain relaxing, but this is the beauty of relaxing. We all have something that we find relaxing that others don’t.
For me, it is writing these blog posts, well writing in general; it calms me, relaxes me and lets my mind wander. It also allows me to get my thoughts out, so I don’t have to sit with them playing around because they are busy for a little while, which is relaxing.
For those who find climbing or any other physical activity relaxing, spend some time today/this week doing that. See how relaxed it makes you feel, especially if you haven’t given yourself the time to do it in a while.
For those who don’t get on with physical activities, maybe you like baking, sewing, reading, painting, or whatever it is that you enjoy doing, take some time today/this week to do the thing that makes you the most relaxed.
Whatever it is that any of you do, let your mind run; if it comes up with thoughts or ideas, acknowledge them and then let them move on, don’t linger on one thought for too long. Hopefully, by keeping your hands and/or feet busy, you will forget what you were thinking about and be focused on what you are doing. I hope this enables you to be relaxed and somewhat at peace with what you are doing, maybe in a way you haven’t been before with your chosen relaxing activity.
Life can get busy, so don’t forget to let yourself relax when it starts to get on top of you, we can’t keep going and going until we burn out, make a conscious effort to set aside some time each day or week going forwards from this week, where you do something that you find relaxing. It might change week to week as you find out what relaxes you, and that’s ok. We need change to keep life from becoming too stagnant and our relaxation time from becoming a chore, which it absolutely shouldn’t become a chore; it should remain fun, easy and something you look forward to doing.
Remember, what is relaxing to you won’t be to other people. If a friend comes to you and tells you how they relax or what they find relaxing and it isn’t what you find relaxing, don’t shut them down, don’t be a dick, tell them that you find what they do is cool, or you’ve never known that about them. If they ask you if you’d like to join them next time, maybe see if it could be something you like, you might find a new way to relax. If it isn’t for you, that’s ok, your friend will understand. Maybe tell them what you find relaxing they might learn something new about you, they might also want to join you as your friend might find something new that is relaxing or that they might enjoy.
For anyone who finds meditating relaxing, take this time as we enter the final breather to prepare yourself for meditation. Set a timer, and let the music continue playing after the playlist has finished. Let where you are sitting envelope you in warmth, comfort and safety, centre yourself, anchor yourself, and listen to the music, your breath and your body. I hope you have one of the best meditation sessions ever.
For those who haven’t meditated before but want to please watch a YT video before diving straight into meditating, I can’t stress this enough.
Let’s finish with a three-deep breath breather.
Take one deep breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. and out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. final breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. last breath out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. no hold here you can now go back to your regular breathing pattern.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this week’s Mindful Monday. I really do appreciate everyone who takes the time to read them and listens to what I have to say.
Love always
Thinking Out Loud xx :D
Let your mind wander, your thoughts guide you, your body be at peace, and everything else will follow. Breath in and out at a steady pace, but most of all, have fun as you find your perfect way to relax.
Remember everyone is different; how you relax is unique to you, be proud of how different it is from everyone else around you.
