Quick Anti-Stress Tip To Lift Your Mood - Ten Finger Method

Start with the thumb of one of your hands. Touch and stroke the thumb, and then put the fingertip of the index finger of your other hand on your thumb.

Take a deep breath.

Close your eyes and remember a good memory, of a time when you were happy, in a good place, from any age, anywhere, and no matter what "having a good time" means to you specifically.

For some people, a good memory that will lift your mood is about a big party with lots of people; for others, it can be being alone in nature, with animals, or simply doing something you find satisfying, pleasing, or joyful.

Remember the good time, take your time and remember it, if you want, you can talk to yourself about it under your breath (this helps with concentration, especially at the beginning) and when the memory has been experienced, tap your thumb and rub your hands together.

Now, do the same thing with your index finger - find a new happy memory for the index finger. Let it play out, rub your hands together, then move on to the middle finger, ring finger, little finger, and then the other hand.

You will find that after remembering these good things, you will have de-stressed significantly, your mood has lifted, and you are feeling calm and collected.

You can repeat this exercise at any time, perhaps with different memories, for example, remembering a triumph on every finger, or a time when you felt strong and capable, or a time when you felt loved and connected.

These experiences you've really had remind you of what you want out of life, that you can get these things, that they have happened, and they also give a clear direction to your conscious mind and your energy mind where you want to go, and how you want your life to be.

With just a little bit of practice, this becomes very easy and eventually, you can let a stream of good memories come to you at any time, simply by thinking in the right direction, and without using the fingers.

This is also a wonderful exercise to teach to children; and you can use many things for the "ten of my favourite things" which can include foods you love, people you admire, songs that have moved and inspired you, favourite places, favourite animals and flowers, and all the many, MANY good things, events, experiences and occurrences that are here and real, and we just need to remember.

Silvia Hartmann

May 2010

Easy Energy Exercises