Why inner peace & relaxation is the basis for everything else
In this day and age life moves at such a fast pace, most people hardly have a moment to breathe. They're so busy running from A to B, trying to accomplish as much as possible with what little time they have.
It's all about keeping up... and then moving onto the next big thing. So is it any wonder that the average person is consistently stressed out with a mind full of anxiety and worry? Feeling uncertain about the future and fearful of not achieving our goals creates this and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
This used to be my way of living until I found a better approach that was far more in alignment with the person I wanted to become. Read all about that here
For years though, trying to relax and switch off felt impossible as my brain continued to tick, tick, tick away like an incessant clock with all the things I needed to do.
"Inner peace? What's that then?" I wondered when I first heard of it. "I'm too busy and have too many other more important things to do - I don't have time for all that stuff!"
That was until I realised that I was missing a trick. One which would enable me to achieve far more in a way which felt a lot more enjoyable...
As a matter of fact - I didn't NOT have time to find some much needed inner peace and relaxation. My life felt like it was falling apart at the seams (causing unnecessary overwhelm) unless I made some drastic changes. And that had to start with me, myself and I.
What I had failed to understand for so long was that it's us (you and I ) who need to be on top form in order to be more successful and productive. We're the ones in the driver's seat of our own lives right? We're steering the ship and making all the decisions from moment to moment.
So if we're not working, nothing else will. The Universe will only give back to us what we are putting out.
That was a huge breakthrough for me. And it may be for you too...
Because guess what - you're the most important factor in the whole process of the reality you're creating. Without you, nothing would get done or be achieved.
So what I'm about to share will not only help you to see things differently. It will also enable you to get better results in a fraction of the time and with far less strain and struggle. And yes, on a consistent, daily basis.
How to achieve instant inner peace
Inner peace equals:
- balance
- contentment
- happiness
- tranquility
- clarity
- confidence
- love
- appreciation
- success
- bliss
In short - a calm and quiet mind that knows what to do and how no matter what the circumstances. Sound good?
Watch the video below for a quick exercise you can do to connect with your place of inner peace instantly. Alternatively you can keep on reading for a written breakdown of the same exercise 🙂
I can guarantee that just 15 minutes a day, (at whatever time is best for you), to just stop and relax will make the world of difference to your overall mood, energy and motivational levels. Research also shows that inner peace and happiness actually go hand in hand with each other. The more you practice the more inner peace and tranquility you will experience daily.
For a super effective relaxation method, try the following exercise.
Relaxation Exercise;
Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed or distracted (I've had to lock myself away and hide at times to ensure this!)
- Sit down and close your eyes
- Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat this at least several times
- As you do try to clear your mind and imagine that you are breathing all of the stress and tension out from your body. I recommend that you try to picture yourself in a beautiful, tranquil place such as on a deserted beach or on a mountain top. Go with whatever comes naturally to you - allow your mind to take you wherever you want to go.
- Now, take and drink in everything around you... the sights, the sounds, the feelings and sensations you experience. How do you feel? Are you happy and peaceful? How does your body feel? Do you notice any aches or pains, tightness or tension in a specific area? Breathe into it and imagine it being healed.
- Spend at least 5-10 minutes just enjoying the environment you are in and focusing on you and your body. This is your magical time and space to do whatever you choose. Try to keep your mind as quiet as possible. Do not fight what thoughts enter your head, but do not pay too much attention to them - just do your best to let them come and drift away again. Focus mainly on your breathing and the special place you are imagining yourself in.
- Once you are feeling more relaxed and ready to come back to the present moment, slowly count to 10 and open your eyes.
This is one of the most basic exercises you can do to achieve deep relaxation. When you first start to practice be kind and patient with yourself. There is no right or wrong way to do it. The main goal is to relax your body and calm your mind.
I hope it serves you well moving forward.
Love & Light,
Holly xx
PS: If you have any questions or would like to share your own thoughts (or tips) about inner peace and relaxation please feel free to leave your comments below.
Also check out my popular video on YouTube 7 Top Tips For Self Love for more ideas on how to create more inner peace and love in your life!
What a wonderful website you have. As a person who has been medically diagnosed with somatic symptoms of anxiety and stress I have been practising this technique daily and it has made a big impact.
Will follow your page and will certainly try all the other techniques you suggest. Thankyou.
Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback – I am very pleased to hear that you have found this article and my website to have been of help to you. It always means a lot when I hear that thinktranquility.com is having a positive impact on people’s lives, no matter how big or small. I would be more than happy to suggest additional tools and techniques; in weeks to come I will be posting more on how to relax and achieve a meditative state – so keep an eye out 🙂 Please also see my Personal Product Reviews page… Read more »
Great article Holly on finding some inner peace. I think both the time needed and most effective methods to employ are different for everyone, but regardless, I think it’s important for everyone to take some time to relax, reflect and get centered. I do this myself, a LOT — I actually think I do it too much. I do think though there are so many people out there that don’t do it nearly enough, or even at all, even though it can be so good for them.
Hi Paul, yes relaxation is important and needs to be done regularly – the more the merrier actually as sometimes we all need a breather! When we take a step back from our hectic lives and mull things over in a peaceful environment we can then jump back into it with full force and a mind that is less ‘cluttered’. What methods do you use may I ask?
Hello there, really great article. Is this the same as meditation? I have been trying to meditate before as I was told by my former business partner how great it is. But what he just told me is to focus on my breathing and just entertain every thoughts that would pop up in my mind. But the imagination of a tranquil place was not part of his advise. The first time I tried it I experienced a total black out and maybe that’s what you call the overdrive? Anyway, this is a great article. Keep up the good work and… Read more »
Hi Norstad, Thank you for your comment. Yes this technique is a form of meditation. We meditate naturally every day, it is very similar to daydreaming! By practicing this type of visualization in your mind, it helps you to relax…which is the foundation for being able to meditate. Your friend is absolutely right – breathing is a big part of the process. I am going to be creating a post soon that describes how to meditate…. so please keep an eye out for this over the coming weeks 🙂 Perhaps you may benefit from having a look at my Personal… Read more »
This post is coming just in time. I have been overwhelmed with my work and feel very stress. I will try this out tomorrow. Is this like a meditation? Have not tried out the meditation before. Sometime we really need to practice some relaxation exercise like this to clear our mind and to keep the our inner side peace. Thank you for such great post.
Hi Sasa, Thank you for your comments, I am very pleased that you are going to try the exercise. Please let me know how you get on! This is a form of meditation whereby it helps you to relax and feel more in control – especially helpful when we are stressed. As mentioned in the post… the first few times you try, you may find it difficult but please pursue and just focus on your breathing. It will naturally calm you down. Once you have conquered this part, the rest will follow. Bets wishes & please do let me know… Read more »
I really enjoyed your visualization technique and I think it is so important to just take time for ourselves and indulge in this way. I call it indulging because in this day and age it is hard to make time for things like this yet it is so important. I’m an empath so I had to learn how to do things like this for myself to regroup and regain my inner balance as a young 20 something and I haven’t stopped, it feels too good! 🙂 Lot’s of blessings~
Hi Ali,
I hope you are well. Thank you for your comment. I completely agree with you… meditating and obtaining a time for serenity is indulgence because there is nothing else quite like it. Once you have achieved that balance it helps you daily in your approach towards everything. Being an empath must be quite challenging at times for you – especially when being surrounded by negativity. How do you prevent this from affecting you may I ask?
Lots of Love & Light,
Holly xx
Wow, such an informative and wonderful post! I definitely need to take time out of my day to just breath and relax, always caught up in the busyness of life. Your post helped me remember to check in with myself, thank you! I will be browsing through the rest of your site for more helpful reminders and tips!
-Brad
Hi Brad,
Thank you for reading and visiting my site. I am glad you find my post to be of some help… it is incredible how frequently we forget to just stop & unwind occasionally. We are so much better off for it. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading through the rest of my posts & pages! 🙂
Should you have any questions please let me know.
Bets wishes,
Holly xx
Holly,
I really wish to try this and I am definitely guilty of not having any “me time”. After reading your site I realized that I’m constantly going, I’m running from one place to the next and always busy in some way. I never take the time to just relax (unless i’m sleeping).
Do you have any tips for someone who cannot breath through their nose? I’ve been sick for the last 6 days and am at a point where very little air comes in or out of my nose and I’m relying on my mouth for every day breathing.
Hi Tyler, Thank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear you are unwell. Is there nothing you are taking to help clear your sinuses? What I can suggest is vapour rub which has always helped me breathe easier (i.e. Vicks) or a saline spray/decongestant medication. Vicks comes in a stick form to insert into your nostrils and it really does the trick! You can still relax by breathing in and out of your mouth also in the short term if you would like to try the exercise – it will still work as the breathing is simply an… Read more »
This is such a helpful article. I needed to read this now as I’ve been having a lot of stressful events happening in my life lately. I’ve been struggling with my emotions a lot and keep snapping at people, which just worsen everything of course.
I am going to try out your relaxation technique you described above. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. There couldn’t have been a better time for me to read this!
Hannah.
Hi Hannah, Thank you for reading my post. I am glad that you have found this site, and this particular article has proved to be relevant to you and your circumstances right now. I am sorry to hear that you have been having a rough time of it lately. Hannah, just remember that you are much stronger than you think.By implementing practices such as meditation and the exercise above, you will find this strength and it will give you the right balance to not just keep going, but to approach everything with the most effective mindset. I wish you the… Read more »
The background colors theme of your website is very appropriate for your niche. It reminds you of peacefulness. Also, I found the relaxation exercise to be interesting. The things I liked about this exercise was closing your eyes, imagining to be in a place you desire and also relieving your stress and anxiety levels. I haven’t tried this yet, but I’ll probably consider it. Really great article!
Hi Natia,
Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. I really hope you try the exercise – it is most fun as our imaginations know no boundaries! Please let me know how you get on 🙂
Best wishes,
Holly
I enjoyed reading your article very much. I am a true believer in breathing exercises and meditation to help relieve stress and anxiety.
Too many people are rushing thru their days and not paying attention to their breathing.
What other breathing techniques do you suggest besides the one in your article?
Hi meherbani, how are you? I am glad to hear you are a true believer in breathing exercises and meditation – it’s great isn’t it? There are so many breathing exercises/techniques but another one of my most favourites that has helped me when breathing in and out to imagine a golden light of energy entering your body as you inhale. Imagine the light travelling into every part of you body, starting with your feet. Take time to feel the difference this is making to each part of your body. How does it feel? What difference is it making? You can… Read more »
Hi Holly What a great read, and I totally agree! I am a recovering alcoholic and addict, thankfully 7 years clean now. So I know how important it is to live in the moment, the here and now. The program I work is the 12 step program where I focus on Just For Today. It takes some time to master it and of course that goes up and down too, just as life does. I feel so many people miss out on life because of all the stress and things going on. In this way I am grateful for being… Read more »
Hi Lynne,
I totally understand what you mean. Sometimes the darkest of times help us to see things much more clearly and appreciate the simple things in life after having been at rock bottom. Your program and cause is such a worthy, priceless project – if only there were more people like you who were just as strong to overcome their addictions and then help others do the same. Don’t ever give up, no matter what up and downs you go through.
Thank you for sharing and for visiting my website.
Lots of Love, Light & Christmas Spirit,
Holly xx
Hi,
We live in such a fast pace life with our work and family, we seem not to find time for our life. While we so engrossed in what we do in life we lack inner peace and relaxation, This post has provided a simple solution to obtain relaxation which is not costly, not time consuming and will provide the solution. Thank you for an awesome post. Hope many get to read this as many are in need of this. Will definitely recommend this post to family and friends.
Regards
Uwais
Dear Uwais,
Thank you – it is my pleasure to share such useful techniques I have felt such benefit from myself – especially having been before just like you described; in a fast paced life with no time or relaxation. I hope you are able to find some inner sanctuary with this exercise too. I would love to hear your thoughts afterwards.
With best wishes,
Holly xx
Hi Holly,
Great article there on how to reduce life’s tension by your easy to do relaxation technique. Inner peace is so rare in the modern world. Even having time for oneself and for family sometimes is not easy at all. Thanks for that idea of relaxation. I certainly will try and see what effect it’ll have.
Hi Boniface,
thank you for your comment. I hope you find this technique useful – I sincerely encourage you to give it a try…I have had much feedback that it does wonders and I also know myself from practice. Please do try and let me know if you need additional advice with this or finding relaxation in general.
Best of luck!
Holly xx
I have intermittently tried various methods of relaxation exercises and self-meditations and self-hypnosis overthe past two years with mixed results. Certainly not enough by way of results to keep me doing it. Can you shed some light on this– are these all the same thing by different names? Is there any reason that someone just trying to get into this is better off working on one versus another method? Thank-you!
Hi RoxySue, Thank you for your honest feedback – you ask some very good questions! Relaxation exercises are simply that – exercises to help you relax and de-stress (using meditation). Self meditation and self hypnosis are very similar but hypnosis is used for a specific purpose in order to program the unconscious mind i.e. quit smoking or lose weight. Hypnosis is misunderstood as people believe that you are ‘under control’ which is a complete fallacy. You can only be hypnotised if you want to be which is why it does not work for some people. Meditation or ‘self-meditation’ is primarily… Read more »
Hello Holly!
Let me start by congratulating your on your website!
I am not very informed about self development and motivating, but after a quick walk trough your website, I simply relate with it! Your personal journey is very inspirational. It makes me feel that no matter what anybody is going trough, it is always possible to make a change and have tranquility!
It is good to know that you are there to help through the process!
I wish you success!
Hi Tiago, I hope you are well and thank you for your lovely comments! I am very glad to hear that you are open to the concept of self development – once you begin the journey, it is so rewarding… you will be amazed by what can be achieved! My goal is to help people better themselves through sharing my experiences and self development journey with them. This is why I am now studying to be a life coach. In order to help me gain more experience I am currently offering free life coaching (completely 100% free) to anyone who… Read more »
Hi Holly, I like your post. I think I need to relax for a while and get some inner piece. My life has been like a race. Everything around me move very fast, and I have to cope up. Almost every day I run endless tasks, and when I go to bed I still some pending work that I couldn’t do because I’m already so tired. By the end of the week I am always exhausted. I will try your method
Thank for the insight.
Best Regards,
Michael Angelo
Dear Michael,
I encourage you to prioritize and not run yourself into the ground. You should focus on relaxing more as this will help you in the long run to be more productive and keep on top of things rather than just ‘keep up’. Please do let me know how my recommended method on this page helps – should you have any questions or need additional guidance please contact me at any time.
My very best wishes – have a lovely, relaxing Christmas and wonderful New Year,
Holly xx
Tranquility, yes please, I could most definitely use me some more of that. I don’t get nearly enough of it maybe this site can teach me how bit by bit. What do you think about this? Will I learn much if I stay tuned? If so and you are going to keep posting new info, nonstop, I would greatly appreciate it, favorite this site, as well as return often to see what your new advice is, and share where I can.
Thank you for reading – and in answer to your questions absolutely 100% yes to everything. Self development is an ongoing journey that is so exciting as you begin to learn more and more about yourself; establishing your strengths and weaknesses, overcoming your fears and making tremendous breakthroughs, leaning new skills, achieving your goals… the list is endless and the journey is ongoing. Very exciting stuff! Learning how to relax and be in a tranquil state is just the very beginning. I would love for you to continue reading my new articles (writing new content is my number one priority)… Read more »
Hello, thanks for that relaxing exercise article, only recently I had to get away from an uncomfortable environment in a canteen of my job, now I go outside in the open air for some peace and quiet, now I can add your exercise to this, I got to say not only I,m impressed with the article but you articulated well and it,s engaging, I wish you well
Thank you Michael. I am pleased that you recognize certain environments that are no good for you and how to cope when you need some downtime. I wish you all the best in trying my exercise… it really does help in relaxing! Please do let me know how you find it – any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I hope you have a wonderful ‘stress free’ Christmas!
Holly xx
Hi Holly!
Thanks so much for this wonderful post about inner peace. I have a note by my front door to remind me that peace of mind is my highest priority.
I have to have a reminder because typically I get caught up in doing stuff and pushing to reach goals and forget all about peace of mind.
Incidentally, the color of the font on your about page is so light it’s difficult to read.
That is such a good idea! I know a lot of people who leave post its/notes etc up everywhere for them to read as reminders for this kind of thing. It works really well with affirmations too! For example; ‘I am becoming more relaxed every day’. Keep reading that, writing it and saying it and your subconscious will soon get the message. May sound silly but it really does work like a charm 😉 With the right frame of mind and a high level of inner peace we are so much better off to accomplish all our goals (including ones… Read more »
Hi Holly,
Just thinking about it, what would you say are the things that cause people most anxiety? One thing will cause a person to be worried sick but the very same thing or situation will be laughed off by another. Does it therefore mean that peace of mind and life are partly a product of an individual’s thought processes? Or is it in the hands of someone higher and greater than mankind?
Hi Boniface and welcome back to thinktranquility.com You ask a very good question – to put it simply it is a person’s unique perception of the world, events, other people etc that stimulates anxiety/stress. Of course, as you say this is different for everyone as no person’s mind can be the same as another’s. The thought and sensory processes in our brains are very complex but are built up over time through experiences, beliefs and emotions that we carry around in our subconscious minds. Through practice and using techniques such as meditation and visualization these triggers that stimulate our stress… Read more »
It is interesting that something like I have done without any prior information. It is surprising that now I read about it. Thank you because your article I found some me unknown and instructive things. Although I was quite hard to find a quiet place, usually I go late in the evening to the nearby forest.
Hello Andrejs,
My apologies for my delayed response – Merry Christmas to you! I hope you had a lovely day.
How lucky you are to live near a forest and find someplace to go so tranquil and naturally beautiful. Thank you for your feedback. I am pleased that you found my post helpful.
Wishing you a very happy and peaceful 2016! 🙂
Holly xx
Hello, I used to meditate and also am a big fan of Eckhart Tolle and anything that is relevant to “inner peace.” My question is…I don’t know if anybody else had the same experience with it or maybe I’m just a very particular case…but whenever I practice these types of inner peace, I will feel very peaceful and calm for days but then out of nowhere I get “hit” with days of negative moods as if to compensate for all those days of peace. I’ve noticed this pattern with myself. It’s as if the body is telling me…you enjoyed too… Read more »
Hi Joon, Wow – I do actually know what you mean as I have had a similar experience. Funnily enough, mine has been the same day where I meditate and then after feeling very peaceful and calm, something happens that gets me even more stressed out than I was in the first place! Can you tell me, these ‘moods’ in which you have… is it caused by others and certain situations you find yourself in or are they moods/emotions that just overcome you? I have gathered that the reasons behind this sudden shift of energy is transitional in which we… Read more »
Hello there!!!
It’s true that we are sos stressed and in the rush nowadays that we don’t take time for ourselves! Your relaxation exercise is interesting to get rid of stress and all the negative thoughts. I am also very interested in the fact that you say you practice it yourself so you talk about Something you know. How many times per week do you practice this exercise? Thanks!
Hi Angel 🙂
I practice this specific exercise at least three times a week – sometimes more depending on how I am feeling and what I’ve got going on in my life. I do all types of meditation to relax using various methods of visualizations & tools to help me achieve some inner balance. Should you like some more information please contact me on holly@thinktranquility.com
All the best and Happy New Year!
Holly xx
Hi Holly,
I like the relaxation exercise, it really works wonders. My stress levels are way down now and I feel relaxed.
Now that we’re heading into the holidays, I plan on doing a lot more relaxing.
I’ll definitely take up the challenge and will provide further feedback.
Thanks for sharing this post, it was really helpful!
Hi Ian,
Oh brilliant – I am so glad you tried the exercise and found that it helped you! Please let me know if you would like some additional techniques by emailing me on holly@thinktranquility.com or alternatively looking at my Personal Product/Service Reviews page.
Thank you so much for your feedback & all the best for 2016!
Holly xx
Holly!
Thank you for your article on how to relax and manage stress and anxiety levels. This comes to me at a time in which I am leaving some anxiety in my life. My father recently passed away and this will be the first holiday season without him, so I really do appreciate the techniques you have explained. I also love your idea recording your emotions and thoughts down in a journal just so we can look back and reflect on what has been going on with our inner selves.
Steph
Hi Stephanie, Oh I am so sorry to hear about your father – my sincere condolences and sympathies go out to you. This time of year is always very hard when we are without the ones we love and have lost.If I can ever be of any help to you please let me know. Keeping a journal is extremely beneficial for many reasons… it is a source of personal empowerment, allowing us to organize our thoughts and feelings, as well as channeling our emotions in order to better understand ourselves. My heart goes out to you and I wish you… Read more »
I’m glad you have created this site. We all need to be less stressed and calm ourselves down. Most of our stress is how we perceive it, so it is very important to work on inner peace!
I am fitness professional so I also really love the exercises you have on this post to help you relax!
You have given me an idea for my website, so thank you.
Hi Karissa,
Oh good – I am glad my article has inspired you and given you some ideas for your own site! Do you discuss and encourage mental well being with your clients as part of your fitness program/s as well? It is all relative but there are a lot of fitness establishments and instructors that do not stress on this mind element enough I feel. It would be great to know your thoughts 🙂
Thank you for your feedback and I hope to hear from you soon.
Happy New Year!
Holly xx
Hi Holly
The exercise you gave is a great one to teach your mind to relax. When I meditate I will always try to focus on each body part and then tense and release it.
I always remember myself that my body is only a vessel and that thoughts are not real. This way when stress or anxiety comes, I will quickly release it.
Hi Viljoen,
Yes that is such a good way of looking at it! Our bodies are like vessels and are completely receptive to whatever we tell and program it with. I hope you give my exercise a try and let me know how you get on 🙂
All the best and a very Happy New Year to you!
Holly xx
Hey,
I have to say that your post really got me thinking. I don’t remember the last time I felt that peaceful, worryless mindset.
It must have been over a year ago when I was in Iceland in the blue lagoons.
Todays world is just so hectic on a constant basis and there’s stress all around us.
I guess technology (i.e. smartphones) keep us alert with emails, messages and more so there really is no peace unless we switch these off.
I think it’s time for me to have a moment to myself soon 🙂
Thanks for this post!
Esteban
Hi Esteban, How are you? Hope you had a wonderful New Year’s Eve! You are so right – there is stress all around us; technology and the overall pace of life makes is so difficult to switch off. We have to be strong enough to not get distracted and find time for us… it is so beneficial for our peace of mind and overall well being (this I cannot stress enough). If you do decide to try my exercise, please do let me know how you get on… there are plenty I can recommend to you 😉 All the best… Read more »
Hello,
Well I am now going to explore other parts of your website because I have been relying on this type of relaxation to keep my tachycardia (high heart rate) symptoms under control. Now when I don’t have my relaxation time every day, I absolutely notice that I get more stressed, more anxious, and in general become a grumpier person.
Thanks for encouraging positive thinking as well,
Erin
Hello Erin,
Thank you for visiting my website and for leaving a comment. As far as I am concerned relaxation is the key to everything in life. Without it we are just mindless and senseless beings without a purpose. Erin, I would like you to read my post This Time Next Year if you haven’t already. I may be able to help you in obtaining more control over your tachycardia symptoms. Please let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you and get your feedback.
Lots of Love & Light for 2016!
Holly xx
I really enjoyed reading this article it made me feel very relaxed!
I attempted your relaxation techniques found them great will definitely give them another try when I am feeling stressed or worried!
Great images in the post too and your dialogue is very engaging!
You come across as very genuine!
Thank you very much for leaving your positive feedback and for trying my recommended exercise. I am pleased to know that it helped you. I have others I could give you to try if you like?
Happy New Year!
Holly xx
Hi Holly,
Great article! I found out that I perform better in my daily tasks when I clear my mind using similar relaxation techniques. I prefer guided sessions because I tend to distract easily (there are many on the web). It gets easier with practice, so your recommendation for 5-7 days before examining the results is great!
I am in for the challenge!
Cheers,
Daniela
It is great that you are up for the challenge Daniela. I was the same as you at first (and still am to some degree); I like guided meditations and hypnosis to prevent my mind from wandering. Although it is great to sometimes just close your eyes and let your mind wander naturally without any intention. As you say practice does makes perfect,and the more capable you become at relaxing, you will find that you deliberately switch off at times, just to prevent yourself from getting stressed. I do it on public transport now quite often during London rush hour…… Read more »
These kinds of relaxation exercises can be very beneficial. I think people often don’t realise how tense they are because they are so busy doing things all the time. It is important to take time every day to relax in some way. Personally, I’m a big fan of meditation. I like to do a form of mantra meditation in the morning, where I silently repeat a sound in my mind. Later in the day, I like to do mindfulness, where I walk around outside and fully engage with my senses. It’s a great way to quieten the mind down and… Read more »
Hi Marcus,
Wow – this sounds really interesting. Would you mind telling me more about your morning mantras and what sounds you find help? Where do you tend to go when implementing your mindfulness? Do you have somewhere specific? Would really like to find out more about your techniques – this is one of the elements I love about self development, the opportunities to learn are limitless.
Really looking forward to hearing from you.Thank you for sharing Marcus and a very Happy New Year to you! 🙂
Holly xx
Hi Holly! What a truly and inspiring article that you posted on your website and which I had the pleasure in reading. Everything that you stated surrounding one’s being able to attain inner peace is 100% correct. Too often we find ourselves caught in the everyday craziness sometimes known as “life” and too many of us don’t bother to think about caring for simply ourselves. Your suggestion for the exercise in which one simply gets away from any and everything and instead concentrates on quite peaceful almost “nothingness” was truly a great suggestion. Each and every one us deserves to… Read more »
Dear Jeff, Thank you so much for your lovely words of encouragement and appreciation for my website. Initially I was quite nervous about putting all my experience/story out there for fear of judgement, but it is hearing feedback such as yours that affirms to me I have made the right decision. It makes all the difference knowing that my negative experiences and learning curves are able to benefit others and that is the driving force behind Think Tranquility; to help others who are currently when I myself have been. I used to be very highly strung and would get stressed… Read more »
Hi Holly, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your meditation exercise with us. Every week – maybe it’ll end up every month, I haven’t tried it yet – I’m hoping to try and incorporate a new habit into my life that I want to stick around. This first week of January I’ve been focusing on becoming a pescatarian, and my next goal is incorporating meditation into my mornings, so this was really exactly what I was looking for! I’ve favourited your page and I’ll try this for a week and come back and let you know… Read more »
Thank you Katia for your feedback. I am excited to hear that you are going to be incorporating meditation into your life and using my exercise as an introduction to it. Meditation has really done wonders for me and enabled me to view life and myself through a different pair of eyes. Incredible and life changing – you will not look back… that I can assure you.
Should you ever have any questions, I am always here 🙂 I look forward to hearing all about your experience/s with meditation!
Good luck and Happy New Year!
Holly xx
Hi Holly
I will definitely try these relaxation exercises especially before I go to sleep. I always tend to wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety.
It then becomes almost impossible to fall asleep again and there are even days where I sleep less than 3 hours per night.
Thank you for your comment Viljoen. I am glad to hear you will try the relaxation exercise – it does help, especially the more you do it. I would recommend daily. Sleep is vital and I am sorry to hear that you find it so difficult to switch off… are you aware of any particular reason why? Should you wish I would be more than happy to help you further with this. Please email me directly on holly@thinktranquility.com if you are interested in getting additional support. Have a lovely weekend – try to relax and catch up on your sleep… Read more »
These are really good advices for relaxation!
I am actually av ery anxious person inside, but i don’t5 show it to other people. I usually look like a calm guy but all my life plans and goals are so ÅŸntense that i’m trying to work hard for them while dealing with many things.
These exercises are pretty good to calm yourself down. I was doing them before reading your post and they are really helpful!
Hi Tyler, thank you for your feedback. It is great that you already practice these exercises and are feeling the benefit of them. As long as you keep things in balance and don’t put too much pressure on yourself, there is nothing wrong with having lots of goals and ambitions. You sound like you have the right idea… just remember to relax frequenetly and everything else will fall into place as you will have the calm mentality and mindset to deal with whatever is thrown at you.
All the best for 2016!
Holly xx
Inner piece is something that is a real gift. The majority of people do not have any sense of inner piece at all. I have meditated for 20 minutes this morning for the first time of my life and it works.
It was a bit hard to get rid of the “drunk money” but I guess that practice makes perfect. I also followed your advice on relaxation and it works.
That is great to hear! Keep it up – you will have different experiences every time but as you say, the more practice then the better you will be at being able to control your mind from running away with itself and getting distracted. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Holly xx
Hi Holly! I love your site. These are articles that I really need right now. As a first time mom, I am very stressed and overwhelm with so many things. Learning how to control things and following your tips and breathing exercises will really help me a lot. Thanks and bookmarked this page of yours!
I am really pleased you find my article helpful Jezza! Practice makes perfect and the more you implement this exercise the more you will feel more in control and be able to calmly deal with whatever situation you find yourself in. Should you like anymore tips or techniques to help with stress (or anything else) please let me know. You can reach me anytime on holly@thinktranquility.com
Lots of Love & Light,
Holly xx
I have been meditating for years and I really like the exercise you give. it is important to keep trying and not worry about your mind racing the first couple of times. The mind is like any other muscle and it can be trained over time to do incredible things! Thanks for the post. Just reading it made me feel more relaxed!
That’s great Philip – I am glad to know my article made you feel more relaxed. You are so right… the brain is a muscle and needs just as much nourishment and maintenance as any other part of the body (even more so in fact).
Thank you for commenting 🙂
Holly xx
Thanks for this article, I like your relaxation exercise tips a lot. Actually, it is so easy to install regular relaxation. But although it is so important, most of us tend to forget taking care of it.
Thanks for the reminder, I will go now and simply do nothing but close my eyes and take some deep breath:)
It really does work like a charm and is effortless when you think about it. The hardest part is clearing the mind and just letting it ‘be’ for a while.
Let me know how you get on Vera.
Holly xx
Hi Holly,
Just ran into to you today. Nice to meet you!
I must site I love the site. I have one that is similar in topic and would love to talk to you about it sometime.
Thanks for being a voice and sharing an important message with the world. Learning to take some time and look inside saved my life, my relationships, my career and my health.
Pretty impressive how much interaction you have here on your site.
love the site and will return.
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
thank you for your nice comment – please always feel free to contact me on holly@thinktranquility.com
I love sharing ideas and tips with those who share the same passion as I do 🙂
Have a great weekend and hopefully speak soon!
Holly xx
Nice article Holly As a stay at home dad with 10 year old twin daughters I find it very hard to find some “Me time” as you can imagine. I normally do my wind down and “inner Peace” moments when I go to bed. Just before I drop off to sleep I imagine I’m in my private sanctuary and I go back over all the good things that happened to me throughout the day and made me smile and give thanks to the universe for allowing me to share those moments with the people who mean the most to me.… Read more »
Thank you so much for sharing Alan – that is great to have such a routine before bed. This is actually the best time to relinquish our worries, just before sleeping, as it prevents the subconscious from being burdened by them throughout the night. As you say, by following the peaceful routine that you do, it enables you to have a deeply peaceful sleep. Does this evening practice help you to minimize your worries during the day as well?
Best wishes,
Holly xx
Hello Angel Great site and some excellent ideas here especially about taking time out to relax and sit still. That alone is a good concept to integrate into our daily routine. Yes lock the doors and hide away if you have too ha ha. Yes all good. thanks for sharing this with the world. 🙂
Hi Holly –
You are so right that taking time for ourselves is important. So many people (me included) can feel like doing things that nurish us are selfish.
It’s been hard for me to let of of that belief, whether because of being a natural caretaker or a type A personality. But after reading over your hints and the breathing exercise steps, I’m inspired to make that a part of my daily plan.
Hi Heather,
We all need time for ourselves and no it does not make us selfish… if you always put others first then who will ever put you first?
I really hope you do start taking more time for yourself as it sounds like you need to especially being a type A personality… I used to be but am now moving towards B 🙂
Please let me know if you need additional advice regarding this.
Lots of Love & Light,
Holly xx
Hi Peter,
Thank you for commenting 🙂 I appreciate your feedback… and yes locking the doors and hiding away sometimes is required to achieve a bit of peace and quiet 😉 Would definitely recommend as and when needed!!!
Take care,
Holly xx
Hey there!
I really enjoyed your site. I think it it’s important to take time out of your day to relax and unwind, which is something that not a lot of people take the time to do. The techniques you provided sound really good and I cannot wait to implement them into my daily routine, especially the breathing control techniques. What would you say is the most efficient method of relaxation for someone that is always short on time?
Hi Brandon 🙂 The most efficient method for relaxation for someone constantly on the move and without a lot of time should relax by taking deep breaths; deep inhalation through the nose,and then out through the mouth several. When very busy and starting to feel overwhelmed or stressed, this technique is very good as it relaxes the body and help the mind to focus more clearly. This breathing exercise can be done at anytime and anywhere and will certainly make a difference combating any build up of tension etc. All the best and let me know how this helps! Holly… Read more »
I have to say I personally struggle to switch off, in fact I am really bad with this.
I am almost always ticking over about things, about my business mainly. Learning how to turn it all off at the end of the day is a real struggle for me.
I liked some of the points you made and what we can do to counteract this and get some peace. I will try your suggestions and see how they work. Thanks very much for posting
Hi Tim,
I am sorry to hear that you struggle to switch off – when we have a lot going on it is difficult and is a very common problem for a lot of people. Should you require more information on exercises or tips in general please let me know: holly@thinktranquility.com
Thank you for commenting and I hope my suggestions on this page help relieve some of your stress,
My best wishes,
Holly xx
Due to my stressful job, indeed there are times when i can´t seem to control my stress levels, and this will impact my entire day and interactions with people. I always try to be a positive person, but sometimes its just not possible.
I will be sure to try these techniques. Thank you for your post!
Alex
Thank you for your comments Alex – stress is hard to avoid at times of course… but you must try to have balance in your life. I would encourage you to try my relaxation technique but if you do need any help with this then please let me know & I would be more than happy to help & give suggestions etc for other things you can try.
Please let me know how you get on.
Best wishes & have a lovely weekend,
Holly xx
First of all let me say that I like the design of your site. It looks like a diary and that is really cool. Its like your are writing your inner thoughts down and then sharing your diary to the world. I also like that you challenge the reader to try your relaxation techniques over 5-7 days. That is important because you cannot simply go to a quiet place, slow breathing, close eyes, take in the scenery one time and expect it to work.
Hi Julian,
It’s funny you should mention my website looking like a diary expressing my inner thoughts as this was the exact effect I was after! I wanted my website to be informal and personal – in order to help engage and connect with my readers more.
Thank you for your comment and if you try the relaxation technique (it is amazing) and give it some time to work every day… the difference will be very noticable!
Wishing you all the best,
Holly xx
Hi Holly, I have found that music is very relaxing to me especially in those times when my mind is so busy that it will not quiet. I just sit back and let the music take me. And I chose what I like and not any of that tranquil new age music. I think it has to be something you are willing to listen to. Since I was a kid, I also liked to create images in my head before I would sleep. So with music, I will play something I saw performed live and remember what it was like… Read more »
Hi Jessica, That is so great that you practice this type of relaxation! The fact that you are pro active and do whatever works for you is even better. Music is so powerful – see my post Soul Stirring Music where I have covered this very topic in relation to motivation. Having done this type of meditating/visualization since a child… you must be really developed in this skill now and being disciplined in switching off. Of course we are all individuals and should go with wherever our own imaginations takes us. This is what makes is so much fun as… Read more »