HELPFUL TRAINS OF THOUGHT FOR SELF-MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY: BODILY RELAXATION LEADS TO MENTAL RELAXATION AND RELAXATION OF THE FACE BRINGS RELAXATION OF THE MIND
This principle is a basic part of the relaxing mental exercises. When tension predominates we can use a train of thought like this:
Relaxed.
Whole body relaxed.
Relaxation in my arm.
Feel it in my mind.
Feel my mind relaxed.
There are both physical and mental aspects to the feeling of tension. With physical relaxation the tension of our body subsides and we experience the relaxation of our muscles. Then we feel in our mind the feeling of the relaxed muscles.
Start with your arm. Feel the relaxation in it; then feel this relaxation of your arm in your mind. Be sure that you are doing it properly. Feel in your mind the relaxation that is in your arm.
Relaxation of the Face Brings Relaxation of the Mind. We use to our advantage the very close relationship between the state of the muscles of our face and the state of our mind:
Legs, arms, whole body relaxed.
It is in my face.
Jaw muscles loose.
Muscles around the eyes are relaxed.
Whole face smoothes out.
Forehead relaxed—deeply.
I feel it in my mind.
In all our exercises we make sure that we maintain relaxation of the face muscles because of their effect on our mental relaxation.
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