inner sanctuary
Mini exercise for World Mental Health Day
“I just can't switch off.”
I often hear this sentence in coaching sessions. The laptop is closed, the last appointment is long over, and yet everything continues to run on inside.
Thoughts go round and round, conversations linger.
The body is tired, but the mind is still in overdrive.
Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day.
A good occasion to talk about mental health.
But actually, we should do that much more often.
Because the question of how we take good care of ourselves in our everyday working lives accompanies us throughout the year.
Here's an insight from my coaching practice. It's less about switching off completely and more about how we can reconnect with our bodies and our inner peace in our challenging everyday lives.
When I find it difficult to switch off and relax, I find it helpful to conjure up an inner image that my body associates with serenity:
A hammock between cypress and olive trees in Tuscany.
Late afternoon, warm light, the chirping of cicadas, the scent of rosemary.
When I recall this scene with all my senses—the colors, the sounds, the smells, the warmth of the sun on my body—something inside me reacts.
My breathing deepens, my shoulders relax, my heartbeat slows down.
It's as if my body is saying, “Ah, yes, this is what calm feels like.”
Why does this work? Our bodies store experiences.
Moments of deep peace or tension are anchored in what is known as body memory and can be reactivated.
The principle behind this is called embodiment: the body, mind, and emotions constantly influence each other.
So when we remember a moment of genuine calm, the body actually responds with relaxation.
✨ For World Mental Health Day, here's an idea that's easy to implement:
▪️ ️ Call to mind a pleasant place where you feel truly relaxed, calm, and serene.
▪️ Activate all your senses. What do you see, hear, smell, and feel in this scene?
▪️ Stay in the image for a few breaths and observe what happens in your body.
▪️ Practice this visualization. The more often you do it, the easier it will become.
The beauty of it is that with a little practice, you can recall this inner image at any time.
A conscious breath between two appointments will then remind your body to calm down.
It's almost like a mini vacation.
#MentalHealth grows where we pause and feel what is good for us right now.
✨ What is your inner place where you find peace?
