Expanding Your World: Where Do You Go in Your Mind to Relax?
Brian Fishbone
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Consultant, Global Educator, Community Builder, and Unflappable Optimist
Welcome to Expanding Your World! In this series of posts, I show a picture and ask a personal reflection question, and you can respond via comment. This entry's picture is of the Black Sea as seen from high above the Bosporus, on the Asian side of the outskirts of Istanbul, Turkey.
When I was recently experiencing anxiety, my partner got me to relax by helping me mentally escape to a faraway land. His words were very soothing, “Think back to our cruise on the Bosporus in Istanbul. Feel the warm Mediterranean sun on your back. See the emerald green water. Think back to the relaxing lunch on the Asian side and then the magnificent view of the Black Sea from the ruins near Anadolu.”
And it went on from there. Within three minutes, I was at complete peace and had forgotten what had caused me anxiety.
So, my reflection question to you is, the next time you feel anxiety or stress, where can you go in your mind to relax? Feel free to share some suggestions here!
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Consultant, Global Educator, Community Builder, and Unflappable Optimist
9 年Lauren Shanahan right on about Sedona. I was on business in Scottsdale last year and finally got the chance to visit. I too found the red rocks and the surrounding landscape to be soothing and restorative.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Consultant, Global Educator, Community Builder, and Unflappable Optimist
9 年JOSEPH MASEK I can relate to swimming. One of my favorite ways to relax when I was growing up was to float on my back in a swimming pool or in the ocean and stare up at the sky.
AVP, Strategic Initiatives at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
9 年Love this Brian! What a powerful exercise. The first place that came to mind is Lake Jean at Ricketts Glen State Park, right here in PA. We've camped there several times and it is just a beautiful peaceful lake...high up on the mountain so the stars just shine brighter than they do at home. I also thought of the Red Rocks of Sedona, AZ. I will never forget driving into Sedona -- my mind racing with ideas from a conference I had attended in Phoenix. I was by myself in the car, and as I rounded the bend and saw the first rock against the brilliant blue sky -- my mind immediately quieted. Thanks for this!
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Consultant, Global Educator, Community Builder, and Unflappable Optimist
9 年Neil Barker I know I know exactly where you're talking about. I have family in Ottawa. It is just so beautiful there… The last time I was up, I biked all the way from the western suburbs to downtown Ottawa along the Ottawa River. Very relaxing!