Relaxation and Creativity

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• Relaxation and Creativity

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• Do you ever find yourself feeling stuck when
  working on a project? It is something that most
  of us deal with at different times of our lives.
  It might be while writing a book, composing a
  song, painting a new work of art, or some other
  creative endeavorwe sometimes find ourselves in
  a rut that can result in frustration or stress. 

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• Being an artist or creative person, it is so
  vital to be able to get those creative juices
  flowing. Learning how to recognize being stuck
  and how to become unstuck is a challenge that
  every creative has and will face. As strange as
  it may sound, one of the best things that we can
  do is to relax. Often when we are stuck, we
  become more stressed and more frustrated, and it
  becomes a cycle. However, if you are able to tap
  into a few of the relaxation techniques below, it
  can free you and your creativity.

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• Breathing Finding a comfortable, quiet place to
  sit or lie down and pay attention to your
  breathing is a quick, simple way to refocus. Pay
  attention to how you are breathing (normally
  versus deeply). Do this for several minutes,
  taking slow, deep breaths and making sure you
  exhale fully each time. This technique can help
  reduce fear and pain, but for stuck creatives, it
  can also help you clear your mind and alleviate
  the stress of trying to come up with your next
  project. 

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• Muscle Relaxation Focus on tensing and
  releasing each muscle group. Doing this for a few
  minutes can help relax your body and open up your
  mind. While you are focusing on tensing and
  releasing your muscles, you are no longer
  stressing or wondering how you will come up with
  that next idea. This technique is called
  Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and as its creator
  Edmund Jacobson said An anxious mind cannot
  exist in a relaxed body. Once the anxiety is
  released, your creative thinking has a chance to
  flourish.

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• Guided Imagery Tap into your imagination and
  visualize yourself somewhere. Maybe its one of
  your favorite destinations for vacation, or
  possibly its a favorite restaurant, gallery or
  place in nature. You can fully engage each of
  your sensestouch, sight, taste, scent and
  soundto bring the experience to life. Going
  somewhere else for a while in your mind can be a
  wonderful break, and you can return to your
  project with a fresh perspective.

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• Meditation A part of becoming unstuck is to
  remove barriers or limitations that we might be
  experiencing. The reasons for these barriers
  vary, but could be work, relationships, finances
  or even our own thoughts. By meditating, we are
  centering our thoughts and focusing on the
  present. If you enjoy silent meditation, spend a
  few minutes in quiet reflection. If you struggle
  with silent meditation, you can try guided
  meditation to keep your thoughts from wandering
  to worries and preoccupations. 

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• http//www.atimeforexpression.com/