If Relaxation is So Great, Why'd They Make It So Hard?

We've all heard the normal relaxation techniques: deep breathing, get a massage or meditate, get outside and go for a walk. These things are great, but what if you can't do them right now or don't have the time or money? Then they certainly won't help. Or what if they just aren't your thing? Not everyone is going to love yoga, afterall.

There are many ways to relax in this world, but finding what works for you is hard when we are strapped for time. Many people may not consider unconventional options. Take a look below and maybe you'll find that something slightly off the beaten path is more your style.

HERE'S 5 WEIRD WAYS TO RELAX!

  
1. ASMR 

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and it is a growing field of interest to researchers. Take a look at an ASMR video on youtube, and you may be going, 'Huh?" but the results of listening or watching one are pretty interesting. The theory is that low stimulus sounds, such as whispering, the sound of someone flipping a magazine page, or brushing sand around, are actually very soothing, and help to activate brain waves usually associated with relaxation. It won't necessarily work for everyone, and some sounds might work better than others, but it's gaining interest and followers. Some videos on youtube have upwards of 400,000 views... that's pretty interesting! So go on youtube when you're at work or trying to chill out at home, and find a video. Maybe put in your headphones to block out other sounds, and see if it helps you to relax. Some ASMR-ers also report tingling sensations up their spine, around their skull, and in their hands and feet.

2. Scream 

Far different from listening to the soft soothing sounds of ASMR, sometimes, you just got to get out all the feels. Screaming can be a nice way to rev up and release. If you have a pillow, it might be better to use it to scream into rather than alarm the neighbors by yelling at the top of your lungs outside (that's how the police get called)!  Getting out a good yell can be cathartic, and release energy that may be blocked by stuck emotions. Don't be surprised if you end up having a good cry after your scream. If that happens, just know that whatever was stuck and been cleared, and let your body express itself how it needs. You'll definitely feel better after, and may even be able to come to a better solution because things are flowing more!

3. Rage

One level up from screaming would be raging. Raging would mean getting your body involved. You want to make sure you are alone for this one. Remember, we're not yelling at ourselves, or hurting ourselves or others, but we are going to release pent up anger, frustration, and other pesky emotions by running amok, so to speak. Maybe hit your pillow instead of just screaming into it, run around, punch the air (and only the air), kick, spin around, roll on the ground kicking and screaming, and just let it all out. I often think we do ourselves a disservice by teaching children to store their emotions away rather than let it out with a good tantrum. Life's tough! We could learn something from our youngers, and remember that it's important to respect and honor our feelings by expressing them. If you've been swallowing feelings of anger, frustration, and been overwhelmed, and stressed recently; then a good rage tantrum should do the trick. Just remember to use it as a tool rather than a behavior to fall back on when you're upset over something. Solving the problem should always be number one, but if you are having trouble releasing the frustration the problem created, then a good rage may be just the ticket.

4. Play a game

If you have kids or a dog, then getting out and playing chase, tag, keep away, or something of the sort can really help you make a big shift. If you are without playmates right at the moment, then consider signing up for a league of some sort in a game that you enjoy playing. It doesn't have to be sports either. I have roommates that de-stress by playing video games, but getting your body moving isn't a bad idea, either. Moving around, channeling your energy into something fun and constructive may be just what you need to get out the things that are bothering you and help you see it all from a new perspective.

5. Write a strongly worded letter to whatever is bother you

The letter doesn't have to be to a person, either. I have drafted a letter to the dishwasher before. In the letter I asked the dishwasher why, exactly, it needed to break the same week that I was starting a new job, having my landlord do a walk through, and didn't have the time or the energy to deal with fixing it. While I didn't send the letter (...to the dishwasher, that wouldn't make sense!) because just getting out my frustration with the turn of events helped me to get over it and move on. Writing things down is proven to help you to process them, and release the associated emotions. So whether it's to the dishwasher, or the car, or to Uncle Bill, or the guy who cut you off on the highway, get the emotions out by writing them down. Sending the letter is optional, and not always recommended, but writing it is a help all on it's own!

Soulmates in Your Past Lives

Healing From Past Life Relationships

I feel like I've met you before. 

Have you ever had a connection that was so immediate that it seemed like someone you've always known just popped in and re-introduced themselves. How do I know this person? You might think, only to come up short. 

Our culture has done a good job at blowing this whole soulmate concept right out of the water. We're inundated from childhood with images of the princess and prince, the couple who would do anything, including give their lives, for each other. And yet, in my own life, these intense soulmate connections have proved challenging. I tend to run into them thinking, Finally! Prince charming! only to leave going What the hell happened?

It seems that at least some soul connections require healing from past interactions. Certain people do come into our lives to work out past karma, and others will carry an energetic signature of a past dynamic. Were you and a loved one at some point a master and a slave? Do you feel that way in your current situation, like you're playing out a specific role like an actor in a play? Almost without trying, you continue in a behavior that doesn't make sense for the current situation. Why is it so hard to get out of this? You might think. Believe me, I've been there. What we bring in with us from the past can certainly require extra effort to identify and release. 

When I first met Joey (name changed, for obvious reasons) it was straight out of a movie. Dressed in my best, headed to a party, I swept passed a garden stand, relishing the divinely heavy floral scent when out of nowhere; a tall, handsome man in trousers and rolled sleeves stepped out into my path. "Miss, miss, wait a minute, sit with me," he said, gesturing to two chairs off to the side. Immediately, an aura of otherworldliness descended upon me, catching me off guard. What, how, why? I had no words, but hesitantly acquiesced and took a seat across from this man.

Somehow, we had a discussion- names, where are you from, what do you do- but it was as if we were just checking in on the particulars of each others' lives like we would listen to the details of a loved one's day. It was as if we were catching up.

Being around him was like having a spotlight on me. I felt wrapped in a blanket of love and warmth. It was the stuff of old love songs.  

Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you dear

When it came crashing to an end, which it did after I found out he had lied about some pretty important parts of his life (example: being single, for one); I have never cried so hard. It felt like my future had been taken away from me. The plans we had made were dissolved just like that. It was an abrupt change, and a hard one. I found myself seeking some explanation for the intensity of not only our connection, but the break up. Why had he lied? Seeking answers, I turned to past-life regression.

Past life regression can be extremely helpful and illuminating for things that challenge us for reasons that just don't make sense to us. Why do we get really afraid when we get close to a large animal (maybe you were eaten by one), or why do we have trouble opening up (a loved one in the past betrayed us), or even why we can't have something tight wrapped around our neck (guillotine anyone?). We do come in with certain tendencies. A friend's daughter, for instance, is highly self-conscious, easily upset, always concerned that she's being cheated, and sensitive when even gently corrected. She has particular challenges that her siblings just don't have. There are certainly a number of factors that one can attribute this to. You can put it off to nature, nurture, or a combination of the two, but I tend to think it's something her spirit came in with. Not chemical, but spiritual.

In my past life regression session, I found myself with Joey on a crowded cobbled street. Although he looked different, I recognize him by the way he felt - comfortable, warm, and funny. We were children, poor, and petty thieves. At some point, I stole something, blamed him, and left him to deal with the consequences. Seeing this life play out before me was really helpful by allowing me to see the inner workings of our history that engineered our meeting. Our spirits were connected by a karmic debt. I, in a way, owed him.

So how do we stop this cycle of betrayed-betrayal? How do we come to a neutral place? The answer, I believe, is forgiveness. Forgiving myself, and forgiving him. Without this, I may forever hold a grudge, cease trusting men, or even stop myself from experiencing love again. I might condemn him, never to understand that his motivations for doing what he did were, at least in part, something he didn't necessarily have control over. Perhaps his intentions were really good, and then everything sort of got away from him. It allows me to see the other possibilities rather than feeling like a victim and remaining hurt.

If you're interested in learning more about past-life regression and soulmates, come check out our soulmates and reincarnation class tomorrow night on Learnitlive.com. Janice is leading it, and you're sure to learn alot. If you can't come tomorrow, check out the recording. You can still undergo the hypnotherapy, even if its after the fact. If you have any questions, comments, or maybe even your own story to share; feel free to comment below or email us!