Avoid Distractions With Guided Imagery
Our minds tend to distract easily, irrespective of whether it’s a bad news or good news. We think only bad news can stir various emotions in us and thereby, can disturb sleep or distract our mind. But, we can experience these problems even in case of good news – all because of overexcitement. In order to calm down this tendency so that stress and anxiety is curbed, we can practice guided imagery. The mainstay of this technique is positive thinking.
For example, if you are imagining that you are sitting in a comfortable place in a garden or beach, your body would automatically be transformed into a relaxed state. This deep thinking process would also aid in improving your heath, attitude as well as your well-being. It would also help you in controlling your anger or emotions by guiding your thought process in a certain direction. The guided imagery could also be used for lowering the blood pressure and also treat stress related disorders. It has been used even used to quit smoking or losing weight! This particular technique has proved effective in eliminating fears of public speaking and calming the nerves of a speaker.
In case of imagery, your unconscious mind plays an important role; it naturally creates some images in mind that are unknown to you. However, guided imagery is about knowing or being aware about the imagination. It’s a method or a technique that enables you to connect with your mind. Through guided imagery, you can reach out to a larger group of resources. This method is effective in bringing both physiological and psychological transformations because you are informed and empowered with your choices.
Now visualize a jar filled with relaxation in the form of a thick paint. Imagine the color of your relaxation. Think about a paint brush in your hand. It’s soft, resilient and silky. Feel its softness on your fingertips. Open this jar of relaxation in your imagination and dip your brush. Imagine that this brush dipped into color of relaxation is painting your wrists, knuckles, fingers, palms, thumbs and skin of both the hands. You are feeling relaxed, cool or warm and calm. The paint is disappearing but the feeling of relaxation has subsided deep in the surface of your skin. Calm down more and more. Focus on the tensed muscles and apply this paint onto that area for relaxation. For example, imagine your shoulders. Paint it with relaxation and feel the warmth. Feel that it’s fully relaxed. Move on to your neck. Imagine the soft touch of the paint brush on your neck and relax. Bring the brush on to your forehead, nose, cheeks, eyelids, lips and chin. Paint them all with relaxation. Cover your back, chest, stomach and hips. Imagine the feeling of relaxation spreading over your legs, knees, ankles and feet.
Everyone has their own style of applying this technique. But, one thing that remains the same is the interaction part. You need to interact with the images that are being formed. Some people depend on the guidance of expert practitioner and some use CDs to create those images. There are some people who prefer to follow pre-defined rules and conditions to encounter the imagery. These help them maintain a flow. No matter which process you would feel comfortable with, your ultimate aim is to connect with your mind linking unconscious with the conscious. In this process, you will encounter different experiences. Some will be pleasant to your senses and some will be the manifestation of pains, obstacles, problems and so on. You need to use guided imagery to become aware about your problems and to solve them by creating opportunities for healing and development. To say it in simple terms, guided imagery is a tool which you can use to interact with your mind. It helps you become aware about your choices and thereby, in fulfilling them. In order to benefit from this, you need to learn the ways to use it effectively.
Find out the best guided imagery techniques to develop your positive thinking skills.