Mid-April 2023 Newsletter

Hello, and a mighty astounding Mid-April to you!
Welcome, or welcome back, to my newsletter. Today's issue is about eyestrain being mental strain. Enjoy!

When your eyes are tired or sore, your mind is probably pushing you to see well enough to complete whatever task is in front of you. This could be deciphering the bills, or finding your way easily when driving in sub-optimal conditions. Remember those times when it was a pleasure to see, to gratefully let in the images of that Nature scene while walking outdoors, or the face of that beloved child in your life. Your brain is peaceful, not needing to struggle and strain and force your vision to perform. Your mind and eyes are free to relax and receive.

When I first started learning it was possible to improve my vision, I mistakenly thought doing practices like palming or the Long Swing would cure my high myopia. I was missing the point -- no amount of palming would relax my eyes if my mind and emotions remained tense and anxious. I experienced a lot of frustration and discouragement when I only did the vision practices without doing anything to calm and focus my brain. My measure of whether I was improving was the state of my eyesight, which fluctuated a lot, while others seemed to improve more or less steadily. What was I overlooking?

Although I'm a bit annoyed at myself that I didn't realize my high level of physical and emotional tension was a key factor contributing to my strained eyesight, we don't know what we don't know, until we learn better. Once I started addressing this tension, while continuing to do vision improvement practices, I finally started to make consistent progress. I imagined myself seeing more clearly on the eye chart and out in the world, and that dream was gradually becoming my reality.

One of my early vision teachers, Peter Grunwald who is known for his Eyebody Method, taught that the brain leads, then our body and eyes follow. That is, something piques our interest, so we turn toward it, then move our gaze in that direction to examine it further. I believe this principle applies emotionally as well as physically. If we're feeling resentful or frightened, when we look at a scene it will not be with ease and appreciation. Some part of us will be resisting, trying to see yet not see too fully, unwilling to completely let in the view. This is strain.

Think about how it feels to be eager, anticipating the experiences coming toward you, welcoming the sights along the way. Your life feels like a grand adventure. With this attitude, there is no reason to strain, either mentally, emotionally, or visually. Picture a child going to a friend's birthday party, or starting the first day of school or camp, where there will be lots of games and fun and learning and new friends. Yet how often do we approach our day with this mindset as adults?

When you strain, you're fighting yourself, trying to do something or be something you don't fully embrace. Eyestrain can be trying to see, and not see at the same time. What you don't want to see could be an unpleasant situation or person you feel you can't change. This inner tension is not healthy for you, or for your visual system. As the saying goes, change what you can, accept what you can't change, and be wise enough to recognize the difference. You deserve peace of mind, a rich fulfilling life, and countless pleasant scenes in front of your eyes, as much as anyone does.

To read about being too comfortable with strain, click here.

Have you wondered if my work could help you?
I'm now offering complimentary Discovery Session consultations of 20 minutes or so, for us to discuss what you're looking for in a coach, and to see whether you and I feel like a fit to work together formally. To schedule your Discovery Session, click here.

Do you want your own copy of future newsletters?
If a friend forwarded this to you, or you're reading it from Facebook or LinkedIn, this is a hit-or-miss method of receiving it, and you might not see it next time. If you'd like to be on my distribution list, you can join here. You can un-subscribe at any time. Thank you!

Please send me your questions and comments
Let me know what you've wondered about concerning energy medicine or vision or dreams. I'll be glad to write a short article addressing that topic. Thank you to those who have sent me questions, or see a question you asked me in a private session written about here. You're helping many other people! Enjoy the second half of this A-plus month of April. I'll write again in a few weeks. Take care!