Love is everywhere.  If we’re lucky we find it in abundance in our friends, family, nature, beautiful moments of solitude, cosy times with our pets, playful fun times, and joyous celebrations.  Most people have no desire to look outside of the spheres of love that surround them when everything is going well.

Having grown up in a safe, loving, comfortable bubble, I’ve always been intrigued by what is on the other side.  I ventured out of my safe container into unknown terrain, where I didn’t understand the rules.  I encountered darkness, but I also found treasure.  Love may appear to be absent from some places, but the more I look, the more I discover it is simply hidden from view.

When love is pushed out of the picture by pain, confusion, misunderstanding, harsh judgement and fear, it becomes a gleaming jewel, shining brightly in the dirt.  Moments of connection and hope amongst struggle and grief are absolutely priceless.  Finding pieces of your soul where you were afraid to look is like discovering the holy grail on a real life quest.

Witnessing the suffering in the world, and in myself, has led me to discover the immense love and power that we all have within us.  When situations seem impossible, we either collapse and give up hope, or we discover more of our infinite selves.

Sometimes I’m not in the mood for treasure hunting.  I’ve made the mistake of forcing myself to brave the tricky terrain when I really wasn’t up to it.  This never ends well.  There is no point embarking on an epic quest when all you want to do is relax and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

But the gold is still there, lurking in those dark places.  When you are rested and whole, it will lure you in.  Just be sure you are ready for the adventure!  It will test you to your limit, but hopefully you will come out shining and ready for more.

Where have you found hidden treasure?  I have encountered so much beauty and love amongst social outcasts, criminals, the ‘mentally ill’, the filthiest streets and the strangest situations.  Be cautious, but be brave.

 

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We all know the enormous benefits of relaxation, but sometimes it can feel like an extra thing that we just don’t have time for.  When we become inspired by the idea of relaxation it can change our whole outlook.  Become utterly enchanted by the idea of peace, and you will find states of dreamy relaxation much more accessible.

I never really ‘got’ guided meditations and visualization style relaxation sessions, and would find myself over thinking them.  This completely changed when I realized the power of using imagery that actually inspired me.  I was finally able to see myself being peaceful and relaxed, and the more I did this, the more it was reflected outwardly in my body.

I encourage you to create your own dreamscapes (real or in your mind) that speak to your soul.  Here are some I created to get you started on the journey into your magical relaxation dreamland!

At One With Nature

Contented and relaxed, see yourself blissfully dissolving into a sea of wild flowers.  There is no separation between you and your beautiful surroundings.  Your magic and the magic of nature are one and the same.

It is only possible to feel a meaningful connection with nature when we are relaxed, so I find visualizing myself at one with some beautiful natural surroundings to be a great way to unwind.

Among The Stars

Sometimes when I need a bit of distance from what is going on around me, I like to imagine myself floating in a galaxy of stars.

It helps me not stress over the small things, and gives me my sparkle back.

In A Peaceful Bubble

Drift away in a bubble of love.  Weightless and free, you have everything need.

Being in a peaceful bubble makes you feel lighter, protected and completely at ease.  Try it and see!

I find it really helps to include myself in the images, as it helps me to see myself as peaceful and relaxed.  Become your vision and feel all other stresses and worries melting away.

We will still be stressed at times, and experience intense emotions.  Never try to hold yourself to some ‘perfect’ image of peace.  The more relaxed I am, the more easily I am able to actively embrace all of my emotions, and the more OK I feel with expressing anger, sadness etc.

Use these and your own visualizations as a tool to experience deep relaxation in your own body.  The more we experience this feeling, the more we realize how strong and powerful we really are, and the less we feel the need to ‘escape’ reality.

Does relaxation come easily to you, or is it something you need to consciously prioritize?  There was a time when it felt nearly impossible to me, but through sustained practice relaxation is now much more accessible.  Leave me a comment below with your experiences 🙂

 

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