Do you have a peaceful quiet place where you can genuinely say you feel centered and happy? For some it is by a warm fire. Others like a hot bath. I’ve found two peaceful places in my life time.

One is on the beach- almost any beach- specifically with my family. And the other was when I was 13 and taking a hike in the Swiss Alps (I did many mission trips around the world in my teen years which gave me chances to see some amazing things.)

In both of these happy places I realize how small I actually am. The ocean and waves are so powerful and the mountains seem enormous to little old me.

Realizing my smallness gives me perspective in life…that my worries and concerns really don’t matter all that much in the scheme of this big world.

Being in powerful parts of nature helps me let go and just be. I breathe in the beauty around me and find an intense spiritual connection. It’s as if with each exhale my stress leaves me and I can be completely me.

I hope you have had moments in life where you have found a happy place. If so I encourage you to visit it often- whether in your reality or in your mind- to find the peace and calm. It might also help to have a picture of your happy place to look at often. Just a visual escape might do the trick to help you experience a glimpse of what it feels like.

If you’ve never found a happy place, I encourage you to imagine one. Create the fantasy place in your mind and go there often.

Life is too stressful. We all need to love ourselves by taking breaks and getting rejuvenated every once in a while. What are you waiting for?

Written by Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC

Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.