CULTIVATING A SENSE OF PERSONAL PEACE

BEFORE you try this technique, read through all the steps.

Remember a time you felt calm, at peace and in control. Return to it, seeing what you saw, hearing what you heard and feeling how good you felt. If you can’t remember one, imagine how wonderful it would feel to be totally at peace — if you had all the ease, comfort and self-control you could ever need.

As You run this experience through your mind, make the colours brighter, the sounds crisper and feelings stronger. When you are feeling these good feelings, squeeze the thumb and middle finger of your right hand together. You are associating the pressure with this emotion. Run through this memory until you feel peace and calm.

Now go through this relaxing memory at least five more times while still squeezing your thumb and middle finger together to lock in the good feelings. You will know you have done it enough when all you need to do is squeeze your fingers together to feel calm and relaxed. nexT, think of a past situation you found mildly stressful. Squeeze the same fingers together and feel that calm feeling and imagine taking it into that difficult situation. Imagine everything going the way you want. See what you’ll see, hear what you’ll hear and feel how good it feels to be calmer and in control. STILL squeezing your thumb and finger together, remember that calm feeling of control and again think of being in that stressful situation. This time, imagine some challenges and notice yourself handling these well. See what you’ll see, hear what you’ll hear and feel how good it feels to be so much calmer and in control of this situation. SToP and think about that situation now. notice the difference from a few minutes ago. Do you feel less stressed and more in control? If not, repeat. each time you do this exercise it will become easier and easier.