Refreshing – sleep

What is it within humanity that sees sleep deprivation as a sign of strength and health? I know a family that consistently awakens its members who doze off during a movie with questions such as, “are you sleeping?!” The sentiment seems to be one of mockery and questioning the vitality of the sleeping individual. Sleep is necessary and refreshing. If you find that you fight sleep, take a minute to examine why. Is it because you do not like the subjects of your dreams? Is it because those moments as you drift off to sleep are troubling in some way? Is it because of some learned idea that suggests sleep is a waste of time? Whatever is your answer to these questions, release those and allow your mind to rest and sleep.

Take a 10 minute, guilt-free break. You can even set a timer if your time is that limited. Find a rocking chair or rock back and forth freestyle. Close your eyes, intentionally release whatever thoughts come to mind and breathe slow, deep breaths. If troubling thoughts come to mind, simply tell yourself that you can think of those things later but you are resting right now. I warn you that you will feel rather silly as you rock back and forth, particularly if you are not in a rocking chair. Just allow yourself to feel the calm of the rocking movement and maybe you will be able to even catch a few winks of sleep. Think of it, when you pick up a baby aren’t you rocking or moving in some repetitive motion within a short period of time?

Why do you think these seals are so relaxed and readily take to sleep and relaxation? The human mind is more developed, but I am not convinced the human mind is better. What if humans, as do these seals, were able to take life as it happens; only get angry if a fight is really needed; or only feel stress when there is an actual emergency that requires action? The human mind exerts much energy in interpreting events and providing meaning (real or not) to each life event. Our minds/thoughts can become so cluttered with these perceived meanings that we find it difficult to think beyond our emotions that are linked to the perceptions of events. It is often not the event or the associated emotion that is the greatest challenge; it is the cognitive/interpretive thoughts that impede healthy responses to life events and create the anxiety.  If you experience anxiety, seek out a Rapid Resolution Therapist who can teach you how to unclog the interpretive thoughts that act as an impediment and lead to anxiety.