One of the many beautiful features of the human brain is the diversity and capacity to adapt to a constantly changing environment.
There is a spectrum of awareness, from a fully external orientation and awareness of everything that surrounds us, to an internally focused daydreaming state, where can lose ourselves in imagination.
Practising the skill of consciously moving through this spectrum from an external focus to a daydreaming, internal focus has many benefits:-
It switches off the stress response.
It enhances recovery and repair of tissues (healing).
It boosts the immune system.
It opens up creativity and imagination.
It feels really really good !!!
I have described it here. Practise this skill as often as you like.
I’d like you to find somewhere safe and comfortable where you can relax without being disturbed unnecessarily.
First of all, concentrate on your hearing. Notice everything. Perhaps the hum of a fridge or a fan. Perhaps birds outside, maybe cars in the distance. Maybe you can hear the wind or rain. Keep listening to everything and at the same time notice your feet. What position are they in? Do you have shoes or socks on? What temperature is your skin? Now become aware of your ankles and your calves and your legs. Now notice the same about your fingers and hands and elbows and shoulders. Keep on listening to everything, and noticing your arms and legs and joints and temperature. Now take some time to notice your back and your tummy and your chest and your breathing. How comfortable is everything? Now notice any tastes on your tongue. Perhaps you have just eaten or had a drink . Be aware of your mouth. Is it dry or moist. Now your sense of smell. Perhaps you can smell food cooking or coffee or herbs or spices or flowers? Now while being aware of all of the sounds and all of the sensations in your legs and arms and chest and back and your breathing and your smell and taste, I’d like you to be aware of everything that you can see. These words, on the screen, but also wider in the periphery of your vision. I can see my phone on the table next to the laptop and a fridge and floor tiles and much much more. Take a few minutes to be aware of everything that your senses notice and then relax.
Now I’d like you to relax and move to the creative side of your awareness. Make yourself comfortable and notice your breathing. Simply breathe out slowly. You can breathe in and just relax and let the air drift out of your lungs. As you do so, feel your chest muscles relax. Feel this relaxation smooth out to our tummy muscles. With each breath as you breathe out simply feel the relaxation smooth out like a massage through your tummy, your thighs your calves to the tips of your toes. With each breath, feel the relaxation through your shoulders and your arms to the tips of your fingers.
In a few moments you can allow this relaxation to spread through your face, smoothing the soft tissues, softening the muscles of your face and scalp. Then when you are ready, close your eyes for a few moments and enjoy the nicest thoughts. Pleasant, happy, tranquil thoughts. As you do so, the creative parts of your mind will bring imaginative thoughts to the forefront of your mind, perhaps not immediately and always but soon and often. Take a few moments to enjoy this comfort and then open your eyes again whenever you are ready.
There is an audio which will take you through this relaxing part of the above exercise . It is called Stop the stress response (physically). The link will take you there. It is easier to follow the audio than try to read.
The more you practise the more you will be able to relax, AND you will notice more creativity. Enjoy!!