"It does the mind good to get away."
Truth: It is not just a good idea to escape and detox at times; it's essential to the overwhelmed and overstressed mind that many manage on a daily.
We constantly take in and receive heaps of information through pretty much every aspect of life. Media is everywhere, in multiple forms. People are everywhere with opinions and thoughts to share. Books, the News, Social Media, our phones... It's hard to slow the pace of our minds when they are constantly trying to absorb. We "feed, feed, feed," but never allow the time for digestion. Our minds become full- glutinous even- and we end up with mental indigestion. Symptoms include stress, anxiety, overwhelm, depression, and panic.
I recommend a cure I've found to do the trick. I call it immersion, or to explain it better, Soul Immersion. It is a time of immersion where you sit in the depths of yourself and who you are. You think, divulge, manage, and file the thoughts that have piled up on the edge of your mind for so long.
Immersing in yourself, your thoughts, your soul- is a time for just you.
It belongs to no one else.
It is quiet.
It is pure.
It is still.
And the process is sometimes difficult to begin because it is like a complete halt for a speedy brain. That is why the process takes time. You will need time to escape "life" and break free from the chaos and noise. I write down thoughts that cloud my mind and things I need to do or work on. I write all of it down so it is out of my mind and gives it room for rest.
As a traveler, many soul immersions come on the backside of a long cultural immersion. Immersing myself in different cultures for weeks at a time, I always allow myself time to process the thoughts, information, and knowledge I have received before throwing myself back into my daily life in New York City. I allow time for that process to take place, and I have had the best "ah-ha" moments during these times.
However, travel isn't necessary. Daily, I struggle to keep up, keep my thoughts aligned, and keep my self and spirit aligned, so I seek time to close everything down and process it regularly.
I challenge you to find time to immerse. To immerse yourself in YOU and completely cut off EVERYTHING else. Get away, sit quietly, journal, paint, and do whatever will allow you to rest and stop. Find a hotel or Airbnb and go away for a FEW days. (You'll need at least one day to relax and calm down.) Turn off social media, TV, alarms, emails, and phone calls. Leave work at home. Spend this time searching for yourself, dreaming, and clearing out past hurt or issues you have yet to resolve in yourself. Do whatever is needed to become clear in yourself and your thoughts alone.
It will take planning to have the time- so plan it now. Set aside 3-4 days to leave "all worries behind." Do this a few times a year. It will mean sacrifice, but it will also mean personal wellness and growth. So get up, plan, go alone, turn it off-- and seek inwardly.
You will reap the benefits!
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