HAND ON HEART, THIS WILL RELAX AND RESTORE YOU

LET’S start with a powerful technique that will help you react more calmly when everyday events trigger a stress response.

Psychologists often describe the heart as the second brain. It contains neurons that communicate with the brain, influencing whether the stress response or natural relaxation will be triggered.

When you shift your attention from your head to your heart your body relaxes, your mind becomes clearer and your brain releases chemicals that bring about natural relaxation. Try this exercise when you feel stressed or your mind is racing: 1 PUT your hand on your heart and focus your energy on this area. 2 TAKE at least three slow, gentle breaths, while focusing on the feeling of your hand in the centre of your chest. 3 NOW, recall a time when you felt really, really good — a time you experienced love, joy or real happiness! 4 RETURN to that memory as if you are there right now. See what you saw, hear what you heard and feel how you felt. 5 AS YOU feel this good feeling in

your body, imagine your heart could speak to you. Ask it how you could take better care of yourself in this moment and in this situation.

Listen to what your heart is saying and act on this as soon as you can.

You can use this exercise to stop yourself reacting automatically.

Don’t try to fight against your reaction, just pause for a moment and in that time the reaction itself will naturally evolve.

Your unconscious is no longer automatically defensive, so it relaxes and you are free to bring a more relaxed awareness to the situation.