Notes from the furlough: Day 61

Present tense = present unhappy.

Please discuss. How does this play out in life?

I’ll start us out. We have ample reasons to be on edge—COVID-19, struggling economy, political divide, racial injustice, uncertainty for the future. It’s easy to get wound up about the issue(s) of the day. Add to this the usual struggles of daily life, and we can marinate in upset. Focus on disturbing events obscures the small, and sometimes large, good things that go on around us every day. Tense emotions can lead to physical issues as well—muscle aches, headaches, upset stomach, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, to name a few. Physical symptoms give us more to worry about, ratcheting up the distress.

Today’s message reminds me to structure more relaxation into my daily routine. Meditation, deep breathing, stretching, and progressive muscle relaxation exercises can help me release mental and physical tension. Conscious gratitude—saying thank you to myself, to others, and to life—will help shift my attention to things that are working well, balancing my perspective of the day.

How about you? How do you mitigate tension in your life, and has this helped you feel happier?