I am worthy of daily relaxation and rejuvenation.

I am important and valuable – to myself, my loved ones, my co-workers, and my Creator.

Therefore, it is imperative that I take care of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Spending time on myself enables me to be the best I can be.

Each day I take time to relax.

Generally, any activity that I enjoy does the trick.

Sometimes I choose fun activities with my family or friends, while other times I prefer solitary hobbies where I can be alone with my thoughts to sort them out in my own way.

When time is short, just a few moments in a warm, fragrant bath lets me escape my worries and frustrations and I emerge refreshed with new energy.

At work, I can take a break and go for a short walk, letting the fresh air and exercise rejuvenate me.

I also take time to exercise every day.

Exercise lets me release my stress and produces endorphins that make me feel good all over.

When I finish my exercise session, I am relaxed, energized, and ready to take on the world!

Taking care of myself gives me the health, energy, and passion to do a good job at work and still have plenty of inner resources left over to take care of my family.

It reinforces my self-esteem to know I am taking time for me because I am important.

Today, I plan to take time just for me to relax and rejuvenate my body, mind, and soul.

When was the last time you did something just because you wanted to?

Where can you add time for exercising into your schedule?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

Five Simple Relaxation Tips

Everyone experiences times throughout the day where you just wish you could relax for even a few minutes.

You already know that relaxation helps your body re-energize, but sometimes you’re so busy and caught up in the moment that you just don’t have the time to unwind.

Well, fortunately there are simple ways to relax, even during your busiest days, that don’t require a lot of time or equipment.

Here are 5 Simple Relaxation Tips:

1. When you’re in line at the grocery store:

Instead of stressing out because there aren’t enough cashiers and every line has 5 people with heaping carts of groceries, use that time to relax your body by taking some deep breaths.

Deep breathing helps increase the oxygen in your blood.

Your blood then circulates that extra oxygen throughout your body helping your inner systems recharge.

Taking five slow deep breaths will do the trick.

The proper technique is to inhale and exhale deeply through your nose and out your mouth.

Not only will deep breathing help you relax, it’ll help to clear your mind, reduce brain fog, and you’ll feel much more alert and ready to tackle the next project on your plate. 

Deep breathing can be done anywhere when you’re feeling stressed or just want to clear your mind.

2. When you’re at work: It’s often hard to find time to relax at work.

You might even get in trouble if you’re caught “relaxing.” Oh the horror!

However, there are some techniques you can do while you’re at work to help create a sense of calm that aren’t so obvious to others.

If your job requires you to sit at a computer all day, make sure you get up and move around for a few minutes every hour.

This helps circulate the blood throughout your body.

Just moving the blood flow will make you feel more alert and focused.

While sitting at your desk, roll your head around, from side to side and from front to back with your eyes closed.

This technique helps to relieve neck tension, increasing blood flow to your brain, which is a natural and easy way to relax.

If you’re on your feet all day, stretch out your back and sides by standing with your feet firm on the floor, shoulder width apart, and twist your upper body, including your head, slowly from side to side.

This will loosen up your back muscles and spine, releasing tension throughout your body.

During a break or lunchtime, go for a walk. Walking is a great way to clear your mind and your body will benefit from the extra exercise as well.

3. When you’re rushing through a busy day: Take just a few moments to daydream and escape the busyness of reality.

Daydreaming lets your imagination flow, causing instant relief from the stress of the real world.

Think of a place or experience that makes you feel happy or calm. Imagine how it smells, how the air feels, and who’s around.

After five minutes of a calming daydream you’ll feel relaxed, reenergized and ready to face the real world again.

4. Wherever you’re at, smile: Smiling is proven to help relax and rejuvenate your body.

When you’re out and about, smile at others around you.

When you’re at work, smile at your co-workers. Not only will it help you relax, it’ll help relax them as well.

Smile at your children when you’re toting them around to all their different activities. This will create a peaceful environment you’ll all enjoy.

5. When the going gets tough, laugh: Laughter’s proven to be an instant stress reliever.

Now I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to be seen as a nut case, so laughing out loud when you’re in line at the store or sitting at your desk may not be the best time.

When you can, get someone involved in your laughter with you.

Tell a funny joke or story to a co-worker (at an appropriate time, of course).

Play a fun game or sing a silly song with your kids as you’re driving.

Watch funny videos on YouTube.

Engaging in these simple, everyday relaxation techniques will help to sustain and strengthen you throughout your day.

It’ll also make it easier to unwind when you get home.

Your friends, co-workers, and family will all appreciate the new, relaxed you! 

How do you keep yourself relaxed after a stressful or challenging day?

What activities do you do to relax your mind and body?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

I trust in my ability to relax. I am calm and peaceful.

I believe that my natural state is one of peacefulness.

Getting diverted from my natural state is like damming up a river.

When I let go of built-up negative thoughts and tensions, I release the waters of my peaceful nature to flow freely.

I allow myself to open up so my mind and spirit can return to their original purpose.

The more I do this, the easier it becomes.

A river, released, may hit against rocks or snags, but it either pushes them aside or incorporates them as it surges forward.

Eventually, it returns to the bed it came from and digs itself even deeper into the banks and river bottom.

My mind is the same way.

Once released, I sit back and allow myself to return to my natural state of peace and calm, without concern for obstacles that may appear in my way.

Sometimes, when I first relax, I feel a surge of tension, like debris tossed up by roiling water.

Yet as I relax, the river of my peaceful self washes all of that downstream, away from me.

I open myself up to the cleansing power of peace.

What methods of relaxation work best for you?

In what ways do you open yourself up to peace? 

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

I relax to get my mind off the things I cannot control.

When I am faced with a situation that is out of my control, I remain calm.

I simply place the situation on a shelf and walk away.

Patiently, I wait for answers.

While I wait, I am relaxed and confident. I let go of the need to control every situation.

My thoughts are focused on the things I can control.

I have dominion over myself because my thoughts and actions are under my command.

By exercising self-control, I am a source of encouragement in difficult situations.

Things I cannot control are unable to affect me.

They roll off my back like water off a swan.

I do not dwell on things beyond my control because I accept my limits.

Understanding that things don’t always go my way, I humble myself to the sovereignty of life.

What I can do is put on the garments of a positive attitude even when I don’t get my way.

I accept that I cannot control others.

Without using manipulation, I try to help and influence others, but I do not expect them to bend to my will.

If I feel myself getting frustrated over something beyond my control, I remove myself from the situation and relax.

Taking a warm bath lets me soak my cares away.

Using candles and soft music, I cleanse myself of the desire to control what I cannot.

Even when I think there is a better way, I am a team player. I do not value my own point of view above everyone else’s opinion.

When I relax I am free from insecurity.

My mind is focused on positive things.

I am mature enough to accept the bad with the good and what I cannot control with what I can.

I have peace and serenity.  

What are the things that you can control?

How can you keep calm when things don’t go your way?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

I am happy with myself. I relax and enjoy my life.

Laughter is a common sound around me as I live my life joyfully.

I watch a child in the park running and playing and I hear his genuine laughter.

His mind is undivided as he fully enjoys every moment.

He is truly happy and carefree. I am this child. 

It is true that I have responsibilities and a busy life.

Each day, as I look in the mirror while getting ready to face the world, I make a decision.

I choose the kind of day I permit myself to have: today I choose to be happy. 

As I travel through my day, come what may, I breathe deeply and smile.

I feel the lighthearted happiness of the child playing in the park.

When I close my eyes, I am there and I am happy.

My life fills me with joy, and I accept this joy as the sustaining part of my life.

Today I allow my spirit to play at the park.

My body may be at work but my spirit is reaching for the trees as I swing higher and higher.

I look into my mirror and I choose to be happy.

I breathe deeply and I make the conscious decision to enjoy life.

Where was your favorite place as a child?

If your day begins to go astray, how can you choose to begin again?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

Relaxation is my doorway to peace, productivity, and motivation.

I aim to live a life that is peaceful and productive.

Relaxation is one of the most important tools I use to achieve this goal.

When I relax, I allow the stress of the day to slip from my body.

My muscles loosen, and within a few minutes, my thoughts begin to calm.

By allowing relaxation, I enable myself to choose healthy responses to stress.

I disallow reactionary responses and, instead, choose words and actions that reflect wisdom and insight.

Taking a few moments out in the middle of a busy day also increases my productivity.

This time is important, and I make it a priority.

By allowing myself to sit back and close my eyes for a few minutes, I restore my energy and revitalize myself.

Sometimes the busyness of my day does not allow for more than a few moments of rest. That’s okay.

When I reserve time for myself in the evening or on the weekend, it still enables me to be motivated and able to deal with the challenges at hand.

Setting aside time for myself is an investment.

It gives me energy and allows me to be far more productive.

I find that I am calmer, wiser, and better able to deal with life’s challenges when I make time to relax.

What activities relax or recharge you?

What could you change in your daily routine to allow for a few moments of relaxation?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

The Art of Deep Breathing: A Sanity-Saving Strategy

Have you ever had one of those days where you were so stressed that you felt like you could use some help to save your sanity?

If so, you’ll be pleased to discover a strategy you can use to reduce stress and improve your health at the same time!

This strategy is easy and convenient, and it’s called deep breathing.

What exactly is deep breathing?

Deep breathing is a breathing exercise that involves manipulating the breath in ways that bring about certain feelings on an emotional level.

There are various deep breathing exercises that are designed for:

Developing the mind and the body

Helping you enter a state of meditation

Bringing on a healthy sweat, enabling you to feel revived

No matter what emotion you’re trying to achieve with your breathing exercises, the beauty is that it doesn’t cost you anything to breathe.

But when is it appropriate to do breathing exercises?

And how often can they be done?

When To Do Deep Breathing Exercises 

There are no hard and fast rules stipulating when to do breathing exercises.

It really depends on what you’re wishing to achieve by doing them.

You can use breathing exercises at any time to:

Achieve a state of calm

Feel alive, invigorated, and ready for your day

Reduce stress in tense situations

Wind down at the end of the day

When you wake up in the morning, you may wish to do some quick deep breathing exercises to feel invigorated and ready to go.

You can go outside, take a deep breath, and then breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth.

This breathing exercise can serve as a workout for your abdominal muscles and lungs.

It can make you feel quite refreshed at the beginning of your day and provides a similar effect to taking a morning jog.

When you’re having a rough day at work or dealing with conflict, you can use a few calming breaths to help reduce stress.

Sit back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Hold it in and then let it out. Repeat the process until you feel relaxed.

Health Benefits of Breathing Exercises 

If you just need a quick lift, then you’ll only need to spend a short time here and there doing some deep breathing exercises.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to have a significant impact on your health and serenity, you can form a routine of several breathing exercises throughout your day.

Whatever the duration, breathing exercises can bring you many health benefits, including:

Reduce your blood pressure

Calm your nerves

Tighten your core muscles

Aid in better digestion

Aid in the elimination of waste and toxins

Bring you higher levels of energy

Increase your awareness of the functions within your body

Reduce stress

Your own results will depend upon the type and frequency of breathing exercises you use.

Anyone Can Benefit From Breathing Exercises 

Breathing exercises can benefit virtually anyone. The only individuals who should take extreme caution are those with respiratory issues.

Always check with your physician before attempting these exercises.

Nevertheless, sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy the relaxing effects that deep breathing can provide.

It’s an effective solution to reduce stress, bring you peace, and improve your life.

What do you do to relax when you feel stressed out?

How often do you take time to relax in a day?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!