It's hard to believe 5 days have passed since I posted the last entry.  Thank you so much for your wonderful and kind feedback.  I would like to encourage you to post your comments so that others can benefit from your amazing insights.  After all, we live our lives best when we share in community.

The good news about my delay in describing the second step of Getting UnStressed and UnStuck (GUS) is that you had time to contemplate the content of the first step, which I called Anchoring. Did it make a difference to you?  Perhaps you changed something in your own routine or have become more conscious of what else might be going on with you during your day.  How are you doing?

I have to admit that for a variety of reasons, these last few days have proven to be perfect reminders for me to walk my talk and not just talk it.  I have had to become truly conscious again of the times when I was beginning to feel less anchored because I had lost my sense of grounding and centre.  As always, a quick check on the status of my breathing allowed me to refocus my attention.  In other words, I definitely had to put into practice what I preach, so to speak!

Of course, I did not leave it there.  I went on to deeper relaxation and meditation. Just to clarify (because I used to do a lot of work with teenagers): relaxation does not equal vegging in front of the TV or chatting on-line or texting, or other comparable activities.  True relaxation creates a simultaneously relaxed and alert state, much like the state you find cats in most of the time.

A great deal of literature exists on relaxation and meditation and I trust you have your own way of engagement and practice.  What I want to share here simply serve as reminders of how you can incorporate and integrate the relaxation and meditation techniques into your day-to-day life.  It's sometimes a stretch for us to transfer what we do in yoga class into our relationship with our work environment or families. for instance.  However, the benefits are worth it for sure!

It's fascinating to think that as little as about 100 years ago, the term 'stress' did not yet exist.  And look what has happened since.  Edmund Jacobson who developed what is now known as 'Progressive Relaxation' is considered the father of scientific relaxation.  Herbert Benson has built on that work with the 'Relaxation Response.'  And quite certainly, so have many others.

When you engage in progressive relaxation, you establish a focused mind-body connection that brings the body and the mind into a sense of balance and alignment. Important here is the idea of 'focus,' not the mindless repetition of a movement.  You connect the mind with the body to the exclusion of all other thoughts.

How many thoughts race through your head at any given moment?  Is it the cow mind or the monkey mind that's active right now?  How can you slow your mind down just a bit so you can actually be more present to whatever you wish your focus to be right now?  What techniques do you practice that get you there?

Brain Gym is a great way to prepare the way for great relaxation as well and so are many energy exercises.  Guided imagery works for many individuals who may not experience the same success with meditation. It's worth doing both.  Then see how you perceive the difference. 

Personally, I like variety and do not well building a so-called routine for myself where I repeat the same kind of exercises and activities every day for days on end.  Therefore, I have assembled a huge tool kit from which I can pick and choose. If you are like me and you get tired of repeating the same things, branch out and learn more.  If you are fine with repetition, go ahead and enjoy.  Both approaches work just fine.

One of the simple ways to attain a state of relaxation is to connect with an inner Place of Peace.  It is fun to create a safe, happy and peaceful place that is just for you.  It's a sanctuary your inner self where you can retreat in your mind any time you wish.  It is always with you, regardless of the outer circumstances. 

Do you have such a place that you can picture in your mind's eye or sense or feel or simply know?  Do you use it to anchor and relax so you can become fully present again?  Try it!

What else do you do that assists you to remain relaxed and alert as much as possible throughout your day?  Remember that you don't need to stress out.  Reflect upon the daily tasks, such as washing dishes, watering plants, cleaning up or doing laundry, for example, that may serve you to practice focusing your attention on one thing only so that you move from the beta to the alpha brain-wave state or even perhaps theta? 

So, when you wash dishes and you feel and perceive the various sensations of the soap on your hands or on the dishes, the shape and the texture of the dishes, the quality of the water and more, without having to think about any of it, nor anything else, then you deserve to celebrate yourself.  You have managed to bring relaxation into the routine of your everyday life.

What are your suggestions and success stories?  I'm looking forward to hearing your voices.