Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161-180 AD, envisioned himself having shoulders of ivory. He wrote:
“People look for retreats for themselves, in the country, by the coast, or in the hills … There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his [her] own mind … So constantly give yourself this retreat and renew yourself.” We all need breaks – brief mental retreats. We can take them whenever, wherever we want with a mental shift. Here’s one way:
Picture yourself in a peaceful, revitalizing place, doing what brings you joy, strength, or rest. Picture yourself resilient, able to handle whatever comes your way. Hold your vision for a few seconds or minutes. Fill in details, i.e., light, color, sound, smell, etc. Breathe deeply as you picture it.
You don’t have to go somewhere physically to take this break. Practice separating mentally, even for seconds at a time, to refresh, renew your psyche. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Why not try it? Right now. Create your own little retreat. The world will wait.
