The mindfulness challenge I have for you this week is simple to do if you think about it. This particular technique costs nothing. It is easy to do. It has potentially powerful impacts on your ability to feel better.
Many people carry around the belief that in order to see a reversal of symptoms, significant interventions are required in the form of lots of medications and lots of therapies and even surgeries. This technique is
- This technique is simple to do.
- It is free.
- You can do it yourself.
And – hold on to your seats – I can promise you, you will see an incredible impact: How about a relief from your symptoms?
We know that stress aggravates the symptoms of Parkinson’s. When you are feeling anxious, perturbed and even fearful for whatever reason; when you are feeling the same worries rattling around your mind day after day what happens for you? Most people find it difficult to shift away from these types of depressing thoughts and moods.
- They get more and more anxious.
- They become more and more fearful.
- They are more and more withdrawn.
These responses exacerbate the symptoms; it makes them worse. What can you do instead? Some people know that is what is happening. They attempt to instruct their minds to change channels:
“I’m going to now stop worrying. After all, my worries today are no different than my worries yesterday, last week or last month. Worrying is not helping matters, so I quit.”
I’m here to tell you, the mind is pretty tricky when it comes to turning off and turning on the worry switch. There is something devious about the ego that relishes diving into the darkness of worries and fears and anxieties. Think of the challenge to quit worrying to be equivalent to the challenge to stop smoking.
The challenge I have for you this week is:
Acknowledge when anxieties, when worries and when fears are all of a sudden began to percolate around your busy mind. Then – here it is – focus attention on your feet, especially on the bottom of your feet. Notice whether or not both feet are firmly planted on the floor or on the ground. People oftentimes realize when they begin to rattle around the thoughts of worry and anxiety that only one foot or neither foot is actually affixed to the floor or the ground.
If you choose to run with my mindfulness challenge this week, place both your feet firmly and solidly on the floor or ground when you become anxious, worried or stressed. Take in full and complete sensations of how your foot is resting on the floor.
- Is the bottom of each foot touching the floor or the ground?
- Is the right heel touching the floor? Is the left heel touching floor?
- Is the heel on the right foot touching the floor more firmly than the heel on the left?
- How do the bottoms of your feet feel as they nest up against the ground?
Does it feel cold to touch? - Is it warm?
- Is it mushy, soft or wet?
How do the souls of your feet really feel? What about your toes? Are all of your toes actually touching the ground or the floor, or just one toe or even no toes?
You are invited, then, to pay attention to all of the sensations of each foot as it snuggles up against the floor or the ground.
- Do this whenever you feel anxious.
- Do this whenever you feel uneasy.
- Do this whenever you feel depressed.
- Do this whenever you feel as though you are moving into fear.
I personally find this to be a magical technique. Focusing attention on your feet allows you to turn the switch of worry and anxiety off. It focuses your attention on the present moment. It allows you to reduce stress instantly. As a result, you will see a reduction in symptoms that will be much welcomed.
Have fun as you pay attention to your feet this week, which is a very important part of your body.
Robert
© Parkinsons Recovery