LEARN TO RELAX: IT PAYS DIVIDENDS IN STORED ENERGY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 54, 11 June 1948, Page 7

LEARN TO RELAX: IT PAYS DIVIDENDS IN STORED ENERGY

(Contributed by the Ministers’ Association)

There is one piece of advice in a life of study, which I think no one will object to, and that is every now and then to be completely idle—to do nothing at all Sydney Smith. Do you remember the v old story about the townsman who paid a visit to the back of beyond? He looked round the remote countryside, miles removed from the bustle, bright lights and amusements of town, and gloomily asked a rustic who was leaning over a gate, “And how do you pass your leisure time?” To which the countryman made reply, “Whiles I sit and think, and whiles I just sit.” Examine yourself at this moment. Almost certainly you will find that you are clutching this paper more tightly than is necessary to keep it in position for reading. You are probably sitting stiffly, with tense muscles, very likely a little deep frown of concentration over your eyes. You are wasting perfectly good energy in swinging your foot, clenching your fist, or biting your lips. This picture of you suggests, doesn’t it, a person undergoing great strain, or at least' concentrating on something of importance? The rustic who just sat, thought of nothing at all, happened to be calm, unstrained person, who could “let go” quite naturally whenever he needed a rest.

But most of us are so keyed up that we can’t just fall into a relaxed state, but must practise it quite consciously until we learn the invaluable trick.

Any time of day, when you have nothing special to think about, look over yourself to see if you are too tense.

If you use no more effort for everyday things than they really need, you’ll have some to spare for the sudden crisis, and the long slow strains. You’ll have enough controlled energy to make you gay, as well as busy.