A timely message on Christmas Day-Relax!

Merry Christmas for those of you who celebrate this special day and happy holidays for those of you who celebrate other rituals and traditions.

Very early here and It is still  in the Harrington household-"not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse." This is a momentary stillness, before the

leaping children come alive in anticipation of what Santa has left them under the tree. I stole away to take a deep breath, catch my breath,

and just quietly center myself so I can be fully present  throughout the day and truly be engaged, not swept up in the craziness that

is usually the norm around here at my folks home in London Ontario on Christmas Day.

I read a ezine piece by one of my favorite teachers in the human development movement, The Sedona Method,

and thought if you were able to capture a moment to reflect and rejoice

on this glorious day, then this message may be of poignant value to you. Enjoy!

How to Relax More in 2009 — And Why It Is So Important
by www.Sedona.com

Relaxing more may not cross your mind when you’re deciding on your New Year’s resolution this year, but it definitely should. Resolving to relax is one of the most important things you could do for your mental and physical health, plus it’s one resolution that you’ll actually enjoy keeping!
“Relaxation is critically important because we live in a high-tension world,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “And the more your body and mind are surrounded by stress and tension the unhappier, the unhealthier and the less successful you’ll be. So relaxation is the key.”

This year, especially, Americans are feeling the burden of too much stress and not enough down time.

The American Psychological Association's (APA) annual Stress in America survey found that 80 percent of Americans are stressed about both their personal finances and the economy. And about 47 percent of Americans say they are more stressed now than they were last year.

Compared to 2007, more Americans now report the following as a result of stress:

Fatigue
Feelings of irritability or anger
Lying awake at night
Many people also reported that stress was causing them to feel a lack of interest or motivation, depression or sadness, headaches and muscular tension.

Relaxation is key to resolving these stress-related symptoms and preventing burnout, and is something that you should do each and every day.

There is a misconception, however, that if you relax you will not be as productive. In reality, relaxing more will make you feel better physically and emotionally, and this will lead to greater productivity. You can even feel relaxed while you’re getting things done!

“It is important to remember that you can be relaxed and extremely effective at the same time,” Dwoskin says.

So now that you’re convinced relaxation should be a big part of your New Year, how do you do it? Let go of your stress and anxiety using the scientifically proven Sedona Method.

“The best way to get yourself to relax is to allow yourself to let go of your stress and tension in this moment,” Dwoskin says. “The more you let go of your stress and tension the more relaxed you’ll feel, the clearer your mind becomes, the more effective you’ll be, and the happier you will be.”

So take many relaxation breaks throughout your day and simply let go using The Sedona Method — you'll be glad you did.

Sources
American Psychological Association October 7, 2008
CNN.com October 7, 2008