More Monday morning inspiration!

This time it's from a Martha Beck newsletter:

Inner Peace--A Lesson From Blissed-Out Mice
By Terry DeMeo, Master Certified Coach

Without going into gory detail, let's just say that there's a lot of attention grabbing news out there these days. Current events are pretty hard to escape if you are living within earshot of a tv, radio, or another human being. Many folks I know are expressing everything from mild, stomach-churning hysteria to full-blown, arm-waving freaking out.

But, personal meltdowns, however momentarily satisfying they may be, are not particularly effective long-term solutions for achieving authentic, joyful lives. So how, to mooch a line from Rudyard Kipling, do we keep our heads when all about are losing theirs?

Mice have shown us the way. It seems that our brains have a lot in common with these cute little rodents, and brain researchers study mouse neurobiology to predict human brain function.

Researchers at Columbia University trained mice to learn that the sound of a certain tone meant they were safe. Then, they put the mice in, well, let's just say an extremely challenging situation. The researchers then played the tone, and the mice responded as if they were safe and well, similar to the way they did when they were previously given an antidepressant under similar circumstances.

What happened? The mice brains produced their own "natural antidepressants" when the tone sounded and they "thought" they were safe. And guess what? We have exactly the same natural antidepressant, a neurochemical called dopamine, in our brains.

The researchers concluded that techniques like going to a mental "happy place" (the chief scientist actually called it that) can stimulate our human brains to release our own "natural antidepressants," boosting our feelings of well-being and safety.

So here's a technique--The Treasure Chest Meditation--Martha's method to create your own "happy place." Go there often. Especially if you've been listening to the news.

The Treasure Chest Meditation
Imagine a room inside your head, a room filled with trunks and chests. Some of those chests have skulls and crossbones on them, and they are filled broken glass, razor blades, news reports, and your negative thoughts. Put those chests away at the sides of the room, where the light is dim.

In the center of the room is a golden treasure chest encrusted with jewels. Light shines on it. Imagine exactly how it looks. Since it's yours, you can make it look beautiful--just the way you want. Imagine opening the chest, and see how beautiful the inside of the box is.

Inside your treasure chest, lovingly and gently place the following three items:

1. A tactile memory of something that feels super-soft, like a kitten or silky sheets. Make it your own memory and feel yourself touching it as you place it in the chest.
2. A memory of a taste, like the taste of the best meal you ever ate, or the taste of your favorite food. Imagine tasting it as you put it in the chest. Savor the flavor.
3. A memory of love, about anyone or anything--like the memory of being with your lover, or the first time you saw your newborn, or how you feel when you see your dog's excitement when you come home. Feel your feeling of love as you put this memory inside the chest.

Go to your treasure chest every day. Open it up and re-experience these memories. Touch and feel and taste the items in it. You can add new things to your treasure chest whenever you'd like.