Personal Guided Imagery

One relaxation technique for stress management is called guided mental imagery. In this technique, you think of a peaceful, calm imager that promotes relaxation through your mind and body. To make it effective, you employ the imagination of not only your visual sense but that of sound, smell, and touch as well. The combined creative effort of these sensations actually places you at the scene and promotes a deeper sense of relaxation.

When people think of peaceful scenes, they usually think of a natural setting, somewhere where everyday problems are put in perspective with nature. It is no wonder that people take vacations in magnificent natural settings like fabulous island beaches, majestic mountain peaks, or lone ocean dunes. The best scenes seem to be far away from the crowds and concerns of our everyday world, providing a retreat to nurture the soul.

Now it's time for you to use your creative thoughts and create some mental images of scenes that you feel are examples of perfect peaceful retreats. In the box below, thoroughly describe three mental images or peaceful, relaxing scenes that you would like to escape to momentarily. Describe these places including all your senses to place yourself at each scene. How does it look, smell, sound, feel, etc. Be as elaborate with the description as you can so that each image can remain vivid in your memory.

Then take a few quiet moments and put yourself in these settings in your imagination. Enjoy the release from your tension and the sense of balance they bring.