Relaxation through Visualization

Yes, this is my first post since my return to Ghana. While this great revelation occurred before I left, it's been one of those weeks where I needed to draw upon visualization for relaxation.

I've heard that when you are stressed, it's good to visualize something to focus your mind and calm your nerves. This reminds me of meditation where one can repeat a mantra, focus on breathing or visualize something. While I hope to become better at drawing upon visualization as a way to manage stress, when it usually comes to me, I'm in great need and so far, it has worked each time I've tried.

After being halfway through my Friday after work beer and still feeling stressed, I wondered what it would take for me to finally relax and visualization dawned on me- and it worked again!

A few months ago, after a frustrating afternoon, all the little things were starting to get to me. As I sat in the truck driving from point A to point B, I was getting really worked up and didn't see an end to the stress in sight. Then, I saw a cow walking across a military shooting range.

In Ghana, shooting sports isn't like the U.S., so practice for accuracy and is viewed as a military activity. While no one was at the shooting range, I saw this cow walking from one side to another, as if it were walking in the line of fire of all the potential shooters. This struck me as odd and grabbed my attention. I've been to shooting ranges, but never saw a cow at one before, yet wasn't too surprising because cows, goats, sheep and swine often roam freely, fending for themselves where food is concerned.

All of a sudden, I imagined myself at a shooting range back in Missouri (no cows or other critters included).

When I need help relaxing because of STRESS and choose to visualize, my thoughts don't go to the beaches of Costa Rica, the Swiss Alps or even the coral reefs in Thailand, but instead, I go to a shooting range in Missouri.

Shooting requires one's full attention, concentration and body. Physically, you must control your form, grip, aim and breath. Mentally, you must concentrate on the target and outside factors. To pull the trigger, you need complete absorption into the activity.

A gun is a humbling piece of metal. It contains so much force and potential that knowing you are handling a tool like this in just your hands, leads to (what I hope is) an extreme appreciation and cautiousness when using.

In order to even think of pulling the trigger, one must be reassured that the gun is being properly handled from using the safety lock, to loading, pointing (whether loaded or not) and that everyone at the range is in consensus of when to move and when to stay put- safety is first.

Range shooting requires complete focus, both mentally and physically, all while remaining humble at the tool in your hand. When it's actually time to shoot, so many things have already gone through one's mind and the moment you are about to pull the trigger, knowing you are already in the proper stance, take a deep breath, aim the gun at the bulls eye of the target, slowly exhale and as your whole body is in sync, pull the trigger, already prepared for the recoil.

With that much concentration, it's not possible for me to hold on to all of the stresses and issues floating in the air above my head because I have just put my entire body, mind and humility into one single act. Just thinking about aiming at a little circle on a sheet of paper, and all of the focus required, has a calming effect, even if I am thousands of miles and months away from being on a range.