25 CALMNESS AND CONFIDENCE
If you are committed to your personal growth, you
must have some quiet time to yourself every day.
Make it a priority.
David Lawrence Preston
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Practise this simple method of relaxation every day without fail until it
comes naturally. It’s called The Five Deep Breaths Technique.
Take yourself to a quiet place where you will be undisturbed. Have a
good stretch, then sit or lie down comfortably. Take a few deep breaths.
Focus your gaze on a spot on the ceiling. When your eyes start to tire,
let them close.
Now take a very deep breath. Say ‘one’ and let it out slowly, relaxing
the eye muscles, face and neck. Pause for a moment, then take an even
deeper breath. Say ‘two’ and let it out slowly, relaxing your shoulders,
arms and hands. Pause and take a third deep breath. Say ‘three’ and let
it out slowly, relaxing all the muscles in your legs and feet. Now take a
fourth deep breath. Say ‘four’ and let it out slowly, relaxing all the
muscles in your entire body.
Now take a fifth deep breath. Say ‘five’ and let it out slowly,
whispering the word ‘relax’ under your breath. If you feel a little light-
headed, or your arms and legs feel slightly heavy, good! Now, while you
continue to go deeper into relaxation imagine you are in a quiet,
peaceful place, such as a beach or garden, or in a special sanctuary or
cosy country cottage. Put your thumb and fingers together and slowly
whisper the following words several times:
‘One. Two. Three. Relax. Relax.’
If you practise every day, within a week or two you’ll be able to relax
deeply whenever you wish. All you’ll have to do is close your eyes, take
a deep breath, put your thumb and fingers together and quietly say,
‘One. Two. Three. Relax. Relax.’
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