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I have a question to ask. I want to learn to calm my spirit better. I am in one of the most stressful periods of my life right now. I have spent the last two weeks working 16-18 hour days without a break. I have pushed myself, at times, to the point I can’t sit at my desk any longer, and have to go do something else that is urgent. This will have to continue for at least 6 weeks, at which point, I can rest. There are natural 1-day breaks in it. And I am on one as of a few minutes ago. Much depends on my working this hard, and I can’t avoid it as others have imposed deadlines and I can’t change them (I am working on a written, comprehensive examination for a Ph.D.).
I am feeling tempted to use something that forces my body to relax during the natural breaks in my work. What prompted this was a trip to the dentist a couple months ago. They gave me pain killers and I was amazed at how they made life so much easier, without impairing my thinking or ability to function. But I don’t want to go down that path when there isn’t a justifiable reason to use them (for example, pain). I threw out all the leftovers when I was repeatedly tempted to use them. I also feel tempted to take a drink of alcohol (Something I haven’t done since before I joined the church 31 years ago). But I don’t want to go down that path either. Exercise is a problematic for reason I won’t go into. And I don’t want to rely on sex.
So, do you have any suggestions, other than prayer, to relax and calm the Spirit so there is peace and relaxation?
My suggestion was going to be exercise. You’ve ruled that out. It doesn’t have to be strenuous. I like to swim & use the whirlpool. Sometimes when I swim outside, I take a quick nap too.
You could try massage therapy too.
SilentDawning: Your mind becomes full and exhausted and your spirit is stressed, yet your body is not at that same point of exhaustion. That disconnect is something I experienced during grad school and I found it really hard to cope. It took me too long to recognize what was helpful. For me, anything I could to do to exhaust my body was helpful to my mind and spirit. 5 minutes of exercise 12 times during a day was just as useful as 60 minutes all at once. I found myself discounting the smaller amounts, but they were incredibly helpful. I didn’t think I had time to work out — And I really didn’t. I found that exercise could take many different forms. Just standing up and swinging my arms was helpful. Jumping up and down for 5 stupid minutes was helpful. Taking the stairs was helpful.
I do not know what your physical limitations are — and those are not my business — but anything you can do to swing an arm, lift a leg, wear out some muscle .. It will help.
Please don’t reach for the pain killers. I have seen careers ruined over such things.
And let us .. your cyber friends at Stay LDS help calm your spirit .. Or at least distract you as much as you will allow.
Best wishes on your deadlines and examination. Keep us posted.
Thanks for the advice. I think even simple exercise might help. AP, you imply that it’s somehow important for your body’s tiredness to be synchronized with your mind and spirit. I am not sure why. MM — we have a pool and go out and lie in it and soak up the sun occasionally throughout the day, but it doesn’t seem to help much…no doubt I will survive though.
SS, I’ve thinking about taking a transcendental meditation course. This is one offered in our area: http://www.tm.org/transcendental-meditation-milwaukee I have no idea how good they are.
My son has taken yoga lessons at the local “Y” & gets a lot out of them.
I think there are a lot of options.
Meditation. Deep, slow breathing.
Smiling and laughing.
Brain candy books.
SD – Use the pool.. Quote:we have a pool and go out and lie in it and soak up the sun occasionally throughout the day, but it doesn’t seem to help much…no doubt I will survive though.
Even if it is only 5 or 10 minutes. Jog in it, swim laps, or kick laps in it, bounce a ball in the air while you walk in it.
Also meditative breathing us so helpful. Try one of these guided ones, the breathing one is perfect. Relax for 5 full minutes. You’ll do this.
http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22” class=”bbcode_url”> Taking long, hot showers has always been calming to me. Reading a book that lets me dive deep into the setting and forget my surroundings often has a calming effect as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Minyan Man wrote:SS, I’ve thinking about taking a transcendental meditation course. This is one offered in our area:
http://www.tm.org/transcendental-meditation-milwaukee I have no idea how good they are.
My son has taken yoga lessons at the local “Y” & gets a lot out of them.
I think there are a lot of options.
I put in a plug for this one as well. Transcendental Mediation is a good choice in your situation–a book called “Full Catastrophe Living” was prescribed to me by a physician, and there are some solid studies that it helps.
If you are like me, the first time you actually try to do it….you will go freeking NUTS!…because of how much noise there is inside. But, it can actually work. I think it is a good choice.
PS…duh…how could I neglect this one…music. Don’t laugh,..but when I have days like you are describing, good old Handel “Water Music” can help. Don’t forget the power of music to help.
I used Pink Floyd’s psychadelic music last night like Breathe, Us and Them, and a few songs off the Division Bell CD and that helped. Plus I made huge progress through a major focus effort on my work and it created another breathing space. I used it to have a new experience with my family I had never had before, which was interesting. All a major diversion from the stress. And then, I took the advice and did gentle laps in the pool — breast stroke until my heart started beating. It;s better than nothing
I am also going to try a technique I used when I was psychology student called progressive relaxation. We used it to implement a technique called systematic desensitization to help people overcome phobias. It starts with putting people in a state of deep relaxations. you tense up muscles in your body progressively (start at your head and work down to your feet) and then relax them. Eventually you put your body into a state of deep relaxation.
Lots of ideas here, aren’t there!!! I may read about meditation. I tried it once and I was amazed at how I was unable to keep my mind focused for more than a few seconds the first time I tried it….
I questioned whether I should post this thread because it may not seem to bear directly on staying LDS, but I believe it has much to do with it now. Many people have posted here regarding addictions that have impaired their ability to StayLDS. These suggestions pose healthy ways of feeding the spirit that are alternatives to substances which relax your mind and body. And they go beyond the “pray and read scriptures” duet we hear applied to just about every problem a Mormon can face.
SilentDawning wrote:I used Pink Floyd’s psychadelic music
Just listening to Pink Floyd right now! That always is good for me.
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