Relaxation isn't a science, it's an art. --Brian Luke Seaward The Art of Calm		r e l a x loosen up, unwind, rest, breathe easy, calm One of the primary challenges to successful human life in this postmodern, millennial world is the challenge of too much: too much to do; too much to cope with; too much distraction; too much noise; too much demanding our attention. Typical responses to this are stress, panic, overwork, disillusionment, and distraction. There is an antidote to such stress. It is called relaxation. Mental relaxation means the alleviation of anxiety; physical relaxation means reduction in skeletal muscle tension. Relaxation techniques such as simple focused-breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and music- or visually-assisted guided relaxation exercises, are easy methods for redirecting our kinetic selves to stillness. Why is this important for businesses? As Richard Carlson says, "in business, people panic about practically everything--missed deadlines, orders not received, comments by others, fears of mistakes, negative trends. You name it and someone has panicked about it. Yet I've never seen even a single instance where the panic actually helped to solve the problem. Instead, panic is neutral at best and greatly interferes at worst. Panic tends to bring out the worst in everyone. It makes others (and you) feel tense and fearful. It increases the likelihood of mistakes, missed opportunities, and miscommunication." (Richard Carlson, Don't Worry, Make Money) So relax. When you relax you allow your inner wisdom to take over. In the absence of worry, answers emerge. Try some relaxation activities. Select the small photo icons at the top of this page.