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{"id":275,"date":"2014-12-29T03:33:32","date_gmt":"2014-12-29T03:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.realsoupfortherealsoul.com\/?p=275"},"modified":"2019-06-27T07:18:36","modified_gmt":"2019-06-27T07:18:36","slug":"reframing-relaxation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realsoupfortherealsoul.com\/2014\/12\/29\/reframing-relaxation\/","title":{"rendered":"Reframing relaxation"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s no secret that they key to mental clarity, productivity and overall physical health is allowing the body to rest, relax and recover from the stress and business that permeates into everyday life.<\/p>\n

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However relaxation is sometimes seen as such a luxury, that we feel guilty for allowing ourselves to partake in some downtime.<\/p>\n

As a child I was blissfully unaware that guilting over relaxation was even a thing. As much as I was highly active and energetic when I stopped I really stopped and listened to my body. If I was tired, I’d sit down in front of the computer and spend a few hours decorating Barbie as Rapunzel’s castle (old school PC games were my childhood). If I was exhausted I’d make myself a bed on the lounge out of old blankets and pillows and just interchangably read or watch tv. Sometimes mum and I would drag the spare mattress into the family room and ‘camp-out’ there for a week or so. Good times!<\/p>\n

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My pillow\/blanket forts were never this fancy! Oh well, it never hurts to have aspirations<\/i><\/p>\n

Not once did I feel guilty or second guess my actions. I never felt like I ‘should’ be outside when I was inside, like I ‘should’ve’ been running around instead of sitting (or lying) down. Intuitively I knew that before long my energy levels would be restored and I’d be back on my bike or over on the swings at the park. I’d run around all day at school during the week and belonged to several sporting teams. I was comfortable in my own skin and practiced what felt like the perfect balance between physical activity and rest.<\/p>\n

As I got older though I lost this admirable ability to enjoy rest and relaxation unless I was bone tired or so sick that I could barely walk. If I was just a little<\/em> tired, or just in need of a little<\/em> rest, I’d resist.<\/p>\n

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Why or how this started I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps it was the teachers that would talk about working hard and not being slack. Maybe it was that toxic comparison thing, where I’d see others as doing ‘twice as much’ as me (whether they actually were or whether that was just my perception I’ll never know), and feel guilty for not doing more than I was. My mentality was that I ‘should’ be doing homework or be off on a walk. I ‘should’ be doing household chores or re-ordering or organising something. If I found that I had downtime I was ‘doing it wrong’.<\/p>\n

This sounds so harsh. And irrational … sooooooo irrational! Yet I get the feeling that I am not alone. Today I want to reframe relaxation and share with you the recent mindset shift that has allowed me to relish in some much needed (and well deserved) ‘downtime’.<\/p>\n

Revelation #1<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was little I didn’t analyse what was ‘relaxation’ and what was ‘productivity’. I simply did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. Now I know this sounds quite selfish, but really, when you think about it, it’s genious! There will always be times in our lives when we don’t have the luxury of meeting our needs instantly. When we have the time and ability to  listen to our bodies, I say let’s do it.<\/p>\n

Revelation #2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Relaxation does not necessarily need to mean stillness, but rather feeling free in the moment. I can be just as relaxed and in a meditative state when I’m jogging as when I’m holding ‘happy baby’s pose’. I can be just as relaxed spending time in the kitchen baking (at my own pace – no masterchef timer in my kitchen), as when I’m lying on my bed reading a book. Relaxation is not feeling pressured or obligated. Relaxation is having the time to do what you want to do, in the order you want to do it.<\/p>\n

So how do we start to relax?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Identify and eliminate your personal triggers for unecasary guilt. With the absence of guilt notice how free you feel to move at your own pace. This is what I percieve to be true relaxation.<\/p>\n

Identifying your triggers<\/strong><\/p>\n


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