Time out for mental health
By WILLIAM HODGES
Almost every day we read about people who have, for some reason, deviated from a passive existence and become violent in some way. It’s not hard to understand why these acts of random violence are becoming more and more common. The problem as I see it is we are becoming more confined in our living spaces, and our daily activities are requiring us to move at a faster pace. The combination of these two factors results in extreme stress which causes violence.
Just think. If you have a 2-foot by 2-foot box with one marble in it, and you move the box gently, the marble will be free to roll around within the box without constraint—nothing would obstruct its path. Now put a second marble in the box. As you move the box and the marbles roll, there is potential for a collision. As you add marbles and increase the speed at which you agitate the box, the chance for collision continues to grow until it becomes almost a certainty. We’ve been putting more and more people in our country, which is our box, and the society in which we live has quickened our pace dramatically. It is the agitator. Collisions are inevitable. Some will be great and some small, but all will cause stress. You can increase your chance of survival by learning how to minimize these collisions. Although you may not be able to take your body out of the box, you can take certain steps each day to free your mind.
Look for a quiet place. If you are lucky enough to have a door on your office, or a room at home, close it and put your phones on hold. If you don’t have a quiet room, maybe a private place in the restroom is the place to go. Don’t overlook the possibility of walking outside for a few minutes or sitting in your car. Whatever you do, pick a place with as few distractions as possible.
Once you’ve found somewhere private, sit down in as comfortable a position as you can achieve given the space you have. Certain Eastern philosophies would have you assume the lotus position, which would put many of us in North America, especially seniors, in extreme pain. It’s sort of like the way Boy Scouts sit around a campfire with their legs crossed. The purpose behind this position is to restrict blood flow to the upper part of the body. I cannot tell you from experience whether it does or does not work. What I am suggesting is that you sit in a position that you find comfortable. Then close your eyes and start relaxing your muscles. Mentally picture your foot becoming very, very comfortable — all of the muscles relaxing. Then expand your picture to include all parts of the body.
In order to be successful at relaxation, you have to expect to relax. Psychology has taught us that our physical systems will respond in direct relationship to our mental stimulation of them. If I tell my legs to get ready to jump, the muscles tense; the same is true if I tell them to relax. Don’t be afraid or think you are a failure if your legs don’t relax the first time you tell them to do it. Remember, you’ve told them to jump more often and they have learned that lesson. In fact, as you mentally direct each body part to relax, it will help if you very softly voice the word “relax.”
You will be amazed at how a 20-minute timeout will revitalize your entire body. The few minutes you dedicate to re-energizing yourself will pay off in increased ability and endurance over the entire day. The next time you feel like a marble bumping into others in a box, head for your quiet place.
William Hodges is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer and syndicated columnist. He also hosts an interview-format television program, Spotlight on Government, on the Tampa Bay Community Network, that airs Mondays at 8 p.m. (Spectrum channel 639, Verizon channel 30) and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. (Spectrum channel 638, Verizon channel 36). The shows can also be viewed at hodgesvideos.com. Phone: 813-641-0816. Email: bill@billhodges.com Website: billhodges.com.