A Good Book Can Be Therapeutic

When was the last time you lost yourself in a good book? I’m talking about the kind of book that transports you to another world. A book that lets you forget all about the things that are going on in your own life. A book that gives you the bliss of a short break where the only thing you have to worry about is the fate of your favorite character. For me, I edit books for others, and right now, I’m in the first stages of editing a novel about five girlfriends. Reading is a great way to escape, learn, or travel from the recliner. There’s something magical about that kind of book.

Getting lost in a great book can be a blessing, especially if you’re like me and you continue to deal with the Shelter-in-Place, social distancing, and interruption to our lives. Reading and editing have been a great blessing to me.

There’s something very therapeutic about losing yourself in a different world. It’s beneficial to “check out” from your real life for a little while and give yourself a break. Not only are we under a lot of pressure both at work and in our personal lives as we navigate the new “normal” with the Coronavirus pandemic, but that pressure can cause quite a bit of stress, frustration, and disruption.

Being stressed out, in turn, does quite the number on our health. When we’re feeling stressed, we aren’t sleeping well, and we aren’t eating healthy foods. Instead, we run on coffee and junk food in a desperate attempt to catch up. That, in turn, leads to an increase in blood pressure and thus a higher risk of stroke and heart attack. In other words, giving your body and your mind time to relax, unwind, and de-stress is important. And a good book can help you do that.

The philosophy of the Indian Proverb A House With Four Rooms has been instrumental in my life and coaching practice, so I’ve recently released a book by the same name to help individuals strengthen their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. The book is part memoir and part guide to introduce strategies that can make a difference to individual lives...for healthier lives.

Often, to “air” out the metaphorical mental room is to engage in new ideas and reading does this. It doesn’t matter what you read, or even if you read it or listen to an audio version. The important thing is that you give yourself permission to not worry about your own life and everything in it for a bit.

Think back on the types of books that have done that for you in the past. Unfortunately, you can’t just head to your local bookstore, go to the library to pick up your next read, but you can browse Amazon and find some old or new favorites that help you do just that. Please check out A House With Four Rooms: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellbeing on Amazon.

 To be perfectly honest, it doesn’t even have to be a book. If you prefer to watch a movie or binge on your favorite TV show, do that. Or maybe you’re a gamer who can lose himself in WOW or some other epic and all-consuming game. It doesn’t really matter what you do to transport yourself to another world in your mind. The important part is that you take the time to do so when you need it most. Pick a book, a movie, or a game and go have fun in a different universe while you de-stress. Your body and mind will thank you for it, not only will you be doing something for your mental well-being, it will help your emotional well-being...and it’s a lot of fun to do, too!

Until next time...

Lisa

P.S. Get Your Copy of A House With Four Rooms at Amazon And, please read, rate, and review to help me get the word out about the lifestyle philosophy of the Indian Proverb. Thank You!