There is a wonderful book called Shortcuts to Inner Peace 70 Simple Paths to Everyday Serenity, written by Ashley Davis Bush, L.C.S.W. The author writes “When I find myself preoccupied by the useless agitation of worry, I picture myself up above, mesmerized by a beautiful view, seeing my life as a speck in a vast world.” Here is The Hot Air Practice:
TRIGGER: When you are worried.
TOOL: Imagine yourself up in a hot-air balloon looking down on yourself. See the whole picture of your life in the context of the world. Take a deep breath. As you breathe out slowly, relax your shoulders and say to yourself, “The world is large and I am only a small piece in the puzzle of it.”
PURPOSE: When we gain some perspective on our situations, it can be a tonic for our weary, worried minds. Remembering that the world does not revolve around us gives us the freedom to relax and experience inner peace.