By Debbie Zuckerman, Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach
Do you have a safe and comforting place you can go to calm and reset your nervous system when feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Perhaps you have a physical location at home, work, or in your community where you can retreat. Maybe it’s a coffee shop, gym, grocery store, lake, ocean, cabin, mountain, skating rink, wellness center, pickleball court, or place of prayer.
What if you had access to a safe and comforting mindfulness retreat, 24/7, that does not require travel or a financial investment?
The good news is that if you are reading this, then you do! It’s just a matter of unlocking it!
Guided imagery is key to satisfying our human need for safety, calm, and peace. This mindful practice that integrates your imagination, breath, and senses, is intended to alleviate emotional, mental, and physical discomfort. As a mind-body practice, it gives you the freedom to practice anywhere for any amount of time. You can choose to listen to a guided imagery meditation led by someone else, read a script, or guide yourself.
Guided imagery is an evidence-based complementary therapy and meditation practice that can be beneficial for managing symptoms related to chronic health conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help during preoperative care and with pain management.
Guided imagery can also support behavioral change around lifestyle habits, emotional regulation (intelligence), and cognitive reframing. For example, if you have a fear of going to the dentist, it can be used during an actual dental procedure. If falling asleep is challenging, a little guided imagery can go a long way to relax your body and mind, and help you drift into sleep sooner. You can also use guided imagery to effectively accomplish goals related to nutrition and exercise through visualization. Athletes, performers, and speakers use it to prepare themselves before an event.
Like other mindfulness practices, guided imagery can be used personally and professionally to improve one’s overall sense of wellbeing.
Once you get the hang of it, there is no right or wrong way to practice guided imagery. With practice and patience, you can learn to trust your imagination and inner wisdom to lead you to intentional outcomes like finding peace, calm, confidence, motivation, healing, and goal attainment. I like to think of guided imagery as a ‘mini-vacation’ to reset your nervous system. I also equate it to drinking water throughout the day to stay properly hydrated and energized, while flushing out all the ‘stuff’ in your system you no longer need.
To learn more and receive coaching support and effective resources for your guided imagery practice, schedule a session or contact me at debbie@centerpiecewellness.com.