A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."

"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on." "As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

Imagery in Stress Reduction

Currently, the role of Imagery has been found very useful in reducing the stress. Imagery is a potent method of stress reduction, especially when combined with physical relaxation methods such as deep breathing.

We are all aware of how particular environments can be very relaxing, while others can be intensely stressful. The principle behind the use of imagery in stress reduction is that you can use your imagination to recreate a place or scene that is very relaxing. The more intensely you use your imagination to recreate the place or situation, the stronger and more realistic the experience will be.

What is imagery?

Remember that your brain is a mass of nerve cells. Your sense organs convert signals from your environment into nerve impulses. These feed into the areas of your brain that interpret that environment. Imagery seeks to create a similar set of nerve impulses that can feed into those areas of the brain that experience the outside world.

This can be illustrated very effectively if you have access to equipment that measures body stress (this functions by measuring, for example, muscle electrical activity, electrical conductivity through skin sweat, etc.) By imagining a pleasant scene, which reduces stress, you can cause a needle on the machine to move in one direction. By imagining an unpleasant and stressful situation, you can move it in the opposite direction. This can be quite alarming when you see it happen the first time!

Imagery in stress reduction

You can use imagery in the following ways to reduce stress:

One common use of imagery in relaxation is to imagine a scene, place or event that you remember as peaceful, restful, beautiful and happy. You can bring all your senses into the image, with sounds of running water and birds, the smell of cut grass, the taste of cool white wine, the warmth of sun, etc. Use the imagined place as a retreat from stress and pressure.

Scenes can involve complex images such as lying on a beach in a deserted cove. You may 'see' cliffs, sea and sand around you, 'hear' the waves crashing against rocks, 'smell' the salt in the air, and feeling the warmth of the sun and a gently breeze on your body. Other images might include looking at a mountain view, swimming in a tropical pool, or whatever - you will be able to come up with the most effective images for yourself.

Other uses of imagery in relaxation involve mental pictures of stress flowing out of the body; or of stress, distractions and everyday concerns being folded away and locked into a padlocked chest.

Imagery in preparation and rehearsal

You can also use imagery in rehearsal before a big event, allowing you to run through it in your mind. It allows you to practise in advance for anything unusual that might occur, so that you are prepared and already practised in handling it. Imagery also allows you to pre-experience achievement of your goals. This help to give you the self-confidence you need to do something well.

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can." "Relax; pick them up later after you've rested.

Life is yours.  Enjoy it !!!!!

Velan 

* Comments on Imagery from www.psychwww.com & photo from www.ukhypnosis.com

Yesterday, I missed my Bus and decided to take a train from Andheri to Dadar in Mumbai. I am quite skeptical about traveling by train in Mumbai. Probably, due to the heavy rush & push the commuters have to endure while boarding & disembarking the train. Hats off to people who do it day after day. I also feel they are mostly victims due to lack of choice & are forced to travel this way.

However, I am not writing this post on my train travel but about two little girls, one aged 7-8 years & other less than 5 years who traveled along with us. Moment the train started, the elder girl started to play a small dhol kind of instrument and sing at the top of her voice. The younger girl also joined her in between but was not able to complete the lines many a time. But the elder one continued to sing an old Hindi song at the top of her voice. She completed one song & then another with the same vigor.

I was wondering if someone had requested me to shout like her (leave alone singing), my throat would have gone for a “SIX” and would have probably gone to a doctor today. But these girls continued singing and in between the younger one was asking for alms from the commuters. She smiled happily when someone contributed.

I too contributed some amount with a thought that "Am I encouraging these kids into this profession by contributing". Still, the desire to contribute was far higher and hence contributed. The thought also led me into thinking “Is someone trying to exploit our vulnerability towards children? Is this part of an organized gang who use children to earn money? Somehow, the kids looked clean and not someone who lives on road.

Later, as I started walking towards my office, I thought instead of giving them some money for a day, can we look at something which could provide them safety & livelihood for the rest of their life. But, is this possible Individually? Is this something I can do for them? If yes, for how many? There are hundreds of children who we see live on roads / pavements.

I have heard that there are hundreds of NGO's and social welfare organization in this country who work for the benefit / upliftment of these poor kids. Are these agencies enough to handle the large number in this stratum of our society?  Besides, I do know many major corporate houses have started investing back into our society through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities, which is great.

But then, who do we attribute the responsibility to cater for the basic necessities to these children? Can we grow into a society which takes care of all these kids? Can we provide sufficient food, education & clothing with some decent space to stay for all the children, as part of our social responsibility?

I do not know of a solution, as I ask myself these questions. I am probably too selfish and would like to take care of my own family first and not think of my social responsibility, as of now. However, I would definitely love to contribute & serve with any good, reliable NGO’s, to the extent possible from my end.

Look forward to some interesting views / comments from my Friends,

Till then...……......  Velan. 

* Photo of Indian Street Children from HoboTraveler.com

Aamchi Mumbai

Is Mumbai a place which would be for people who come from a particular sect / caste / creed etc. I have always felt it to be a land of oppurtunity; accomodating everyone & anyone from all across the country. The incident on Sunday (and still debated) is really an unfortunate event for Mumbaikars. Thankfully, this is voiced by a faction which is very less in number & does it more for creating visiblity / publicity (negative).  

While I do appreciate the concerns which get propped up every now & then ( based on "Sons of the Soil" idealogy) it is also to be remembered that in a free society, people from all walks of life have the right & choice of moving anywhere in this country. To restrict anyone entering in a particular place / location would probabaly move us back to prehistoric era where each animal would mark its area and attack on anyone trespassing it.

It was more difficult to me personally, as one of my colleagues was in that area (Dadar) when the incident occured. We had met near Vadala road and I had taken a train to Andheri and he took a cab to his house at Matunga. Nearing Dadar, he encountered a group of Hooligans who attacked the vehicle, smashing all the glass windows and then threw huge stones on the back seat. Luckily, my colleague had just come out of the vehicle and escaped any injury. They would not have been bothered even if he had been hit by the stones.

I feel irrespective of the background (location, caste, creed etc.), anyone who is willing to work honestly / sincerely to earn his livelihood, should be allowed an opportunity to do so at any location he prefers to do it.

Hopefully , this madness will end soon.............

Velan

Welcome to my Blog.... 

Basically from Chennai .... Currently in Mumbai & staying away from my family for work. Hope to get back to chennai soon... Miss my family & kids..... Look forward to interesting posts from friends all over the world ... Have a great day ahead ..... Velan