A road trip- great for anxiety!
Recently we planned a road trip to New Mexico and had a wonderful four days in a more remote place there. It was so refreshing to be in a different landscape, and to remember that our usual perspective on life is pretty narrow. It is easy to get into worries about bills and everyday tasks, and to forget to look at the majesty of the sky and the clouds. Sometimes we just need a break from everyday life.
There is a saying that “Europeans work to live and Americans live to work”. Granted, of all the industrialized countries, Americans have less time off for vacations. We also have one of the highest rates of anxiety and depression. So anxiety is actually fear of what may happen, or what did happen which we have regrets about. We have very active thinking brains which are built to solve problems, and will make up problems often out of proportion to actual reality! This of course can affect our ability to fall asleep and have a break from that part of our brain, or to avoid stress.
So even if we have decided we cannot possibly afford the time and money for a vacation, we can at least practice appreciating the Present Moment. This is actually a skill that we can learn and practice even though originally it was a natural part of life. Mindfulness training is about using our senses (sight/touch/hearing/taste) to pay attention to what is happening right now.
In my Mindfulness training classes, I teach the How and What skills of Mindfulness in a way that you can practice right here, right now. I have found that this has been the MOST valuable tool to manage life’s stresses. In that way I give myself a little break from problem solving so that when I do start up again, things might be clearer and in more perspective.
The next Mindfulness training workshop in Longmont will start on May 3, 2017 and I would love you to join me. Learning how to take a vacation from our thinking minds is a priceless skill and can considerably reduce anxiety and depression.
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