Relax

Relax, what a simple word that as per the dictionary means to “make or become less tense or anxious”.  Think about it hard; at some point in our life we have all been told to lay down on the floor and relax. It may have happened as part of a physical exercise routine or may have happened as part of a meditation course or maybe some one told you to. Now look back at that situation and honestly answer to yourself did you relax ? The standard reaction to a request to lay down on the floor and relax is that a person will tense up. It’s almost as if subconsciously the belief is that the floor will not support them and they will spread across the floor like jelly; so the muscles are taut the back is forced flat and the entire body is essentially tense. There is another reaction that is also possible; though very few individuals exhibit it and it might happen rarely. The one where you get comfortable with the floor. It’s like lazy(effortless in this context) and elegant at the same time; an observer can see a person really get relaxed. The difference may also be observed in other situations where one doesn’t have to lay down on the floor to relax but might be standing or sitting. What is the difference and why is it there?  Could it be that the need to tense up is because of a lack of knowledge or belief? I mean if you truly believe that the floor is solid and your body, skin and skeleton would support each other there is no way for you to turn to jelly is there? I for one don’t think it revolves around the understanding of the human body or the understanding of the characteristics of a floor. One could have an understanding but does one believe that understanding to be universal truth? There is no other explanation; is there? I understand the floor and the characteristic of the floor but fundamentally do not believe it to be true which is why my body tenses up when i am told to lay down on the floor and relax. 

What a quandary. Asked to relax and one tenses up. What about the ones that showcase that lazy elegance? Why do they not face the same quandary? At some level they have realised consciously or sub-consciously that this is it. The body has these characteristics, the floor has these characteristics and nothing can or will change the characteristics of both. Once that is realised there is no need to tense up and one doesn’t turn to jelly when asked to lay down on the floor and relax. There is nothing that one can do that would change the characteristics. I.e. it is what it is. 

I tense up when I get angry. I wrote about disappointment some weeks ago - it’s disappointment that generally gives birth to the feeling of anger. I have been striving to be in a state of flow all the time.  May be being in a state of flow will result in that effortless relaxed appearance. All that I can control is my action. Everything else is what it is. 

C