I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase that you should learn to live in the moment. Often times this is said as an encouragement to pursue something that you might never do, or to abandon your inhibitions. Other times it’s said to encourage you to avoid bringing up the past or worrying about the future. It’s this sense that I mean it today. Time we spend drugding up the past or worrying about the future is not time that we are enjoying. And if you’re in the habit of doing this, then you’re hurting your long-term emotional health.
We don’t often think about how to change where we put our thoughts, but it’s a worthwhile question to consider. What do you do if you want to relax and learn to live more in the present? In East Asian medicine we have a few options you can consider:
- Acupuncture – This is a great method for people who need to take time out of their day to relax. Acupuncture is great for anxiety and helping people spend time in the moment when they’re used to worrying about the future. Definitely consider this option if you have a busy schedule and need to plan your downtime.
- Herbal medicine – This is a good method if you struggle with anxiety or depression and have a schedule too hectic to keep regular appointments. Herbs can lower a person’s level of stress so that things you thought were challenging before now don’t seem so bad. While you might think that taking herbs means you have to take them forever – that’s not true! Most patients will take them for a short time while they learn other methods of self-care.
- Qigong or meditation – We’ve talked about both qigong and meditation before. These methods are great for people who find they relax best when they are moving or mindful of their own body. In these methods, you can gain a greater degree of control over your own muscle stress, and teach yourself how to relax at a very deep level on command. These can be powerful tools, though they often take some up-front effort to learn.
Think one of these options is right for you? Give us a call to schedule your consultation today and start your path to feeling better!
