Do you have a place that soothes your soul and makes you feel at peace? Maybe the beach or the forest? Your grandmother’s living room? Any place that seems to radiate soothing energy that you can soak into?
Our minds are so powerful and have the ability to impact our nervous systems. When you are feeling activated and emotionally disregulated it can be helpful to visualize yourself in a place that feels soothing to you. Try it – take some deep, calming breaths…maybe close your eyes, and really immerse yourself in the landscape. Notice what is around you, who you are with (if anyone), any smells or sounds far off in the distance. What textures do you notice through touch? Check in with your body and notice if any part of you feels lighter, less tense.
This balcony in Udaipur is one such calming spot for me. Without much difficulty, I can still feel the warmth of the sun on my feet, feel the breeze coming in off the water, hear the children playing and splashing at the ghat just below. And then coming in to night as the bats came out to hunt across the lake and the young men started up their motorcycles all around, while I drank a cup of warm chai.
I visit the ocean and the forest frequently and I always take time to be still and present for a moment, letting the feeling of those places sink into memory and my nervous system so I can recall them later.
