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How Savoring Memories Can Help Relieve Stress     

savoring memories relieve stressIf you want to be happier, you might want to explore savoring memories to help relieve stress.

Note: This is a guest post by Diane H. Wong. 

When I was a child, I recall people talking about finding their “happy place” when they were experiencing distress. 

The “happy place” (as I understood it) refers to a state of mind, often connected to a point in one’s past where one could recall and relieve feelings of peace, safety, inner tranquility, and even joy and happiness. 

stressful worryWhen in times of stress, it can be very helpful to anchor oneself to a state of mind attached to positive memories as a way to reconnect with this feeling.

To find a happy place for oneself, one must simply root through memories that evoke these peaceful feelings, fully immerse oneself in those feelings, and let these feelings ease the pain of stressful events. 

As I went through training as a therapist and writer at the service where you can ask someone to write my essay, I would learn that this was a recommended approach that has worked for many. But back then (in the 00’s), it was still a new idea, at least to me. 

It seemed a little iffy.  But as a younger person, I instinctively felt that this would be an effective way to feel more positive  in a stressful moment.

Basically, I’d borrow peace from past moments!

It would be kind of like following an emotional map to where one wants to be – rather than trying to carve out a path through the stress blindly. 

Research now shows that this can indeed work for stress management.  Studies on visualization, savoring emotions, and reliving positive memories all converge to paint a more positive picture.

3 Portals to Peace: The Present, The Past,The Future

Tapping into happy memories is only one of 3 ways to relieve stress.

You basically have 3 time portals to peace.

  • the present
  • the past
  • the future

1. Learn To Savor The Present Moment

Memories Can Help Relieve Stress  The ability to focus on happy moments in the present is called “mindfulness.”

This mindfulness practice can help you to boost your positive feelings and discover greater beauty in your experiences.

Plus when you fully appreciate the present moment – as it unfolds – you wind up doing a really great job of storing these moments as memories.

Then later –  when you are in a place of stress – you can more ably recall how good you felt when you were experiencing these beautiful moments.  

As a result, you can better access feelings of inner peace when you need to tap back into those feelings again.

2. Learn To Savor Past Memories 

let go of the pastBy culling your past experiences, you can uncover more positive memories to relive.  

By sharing these memories with others, you can expand on the positive feelings they bring, both for the past and in the current moment.  

You can also identify the stressful moments you have, and work on accepting them by letting go of the pain they may hold. 

3. Visualize a Brighter Future 

future selfBy imagining, in deep detail, what you want in life, you can become more focused on attaining it.  

By clearly “seeing” yourself succeed at something, you gain more confidence and mastery.  

By imagining yourself, right now, feeling as peaceful, confident, and happy as you’ve ever been, you can experience those feelings. Or you can at least bring yourself closer to feeling that way right now.  

Learn to use your imagination to create the feelings you’d like to have now.  This can be your “happy place.”

About the author: Diane H. Wong used to be a business coach – who is also a writer at DoMyWriting where she loves to share her experiences with others and keep up with advancing technologies.

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