Many people are seeking personal remedies for the tensions produced by our nuclear society. A seemingly new method of escapism is found in Transcendental Meditation; but upon examination TM, as it is familiarly called, is basically as old as time. The principal idea is to concentrate on something outside oneself, usually a single word, and the result is beneficial relaxation.
Few people, however, have the time or money to take courses in TM or even time to practice it once it has been studied. An alternative, one many people observe without realizing, is to spend time each day on an activity outside of routine — an activity that occupies the mind with something other than problems.
Participation or observation of events outside of regular daily routine gives the mind a chance to recharge as it becomes rested and refreshed. For example, participation in sports will not only ease mental strain and frustration, but improve the physique. Music, always popular with the young, has universal appeal as a mood changer; with the ready availability of tapes and records a person can virtually decide their moods with the selection of a song. Arts and crafts give a person the chance to work with his hands, transmitting the satisfaction of creation. The foremost means of relaxation is though reading, a medium every person, regardless of station in life, has access to. Reading not only has the power of relaxation but of increasing a person’s knowledge and awareness.
Of course, these are just a few suggestions as substantial proof that anyone can achieve peace of mind without wasting time or money. In a society so full of pressures there is also an abundance of methods to eliminate stress — all that is necessary is a program to fit individual needs and goals.