I love going to the Kohler Waters Spa. The Stillness Bath is pure tranquility. I don’t worry about what time it is. I don’t worry at all. I go there as often as I can afford to, which is not as often as I would like.
When was the last time you were so absorbed in an activity that you lost track of time, maybe lost track of where you were, or even entered a different reality?
This can happen when we’re engaged in an extremely pleasurable activity, doing something we love, or having fun. It could be working on a project or hobby you enjoy, or giving yourself an indulgent treat because you soldiered through your colonoscopy or mammogram.
However it happens, it can be extremely beneficial. We are taken out of ourselves. We stop judging ourselves harshly. It takes us off the path that leads to tension and burnout. Instead, we’re rerouted to a path of rejuvenation where we have the strength to take on whatever our next big challenge might be.
We all need healthy, temporary escapes from time to time.
The key here is that they should be both healthy and temporary. We all feel better when we laugh at a few jokes. We can also feel better if we have a drink or two or binge on chocolate. But they’re all forms of escape. Spending time with family, friends, or in nature will enrich our lives. Drinking and overeating can result in feelings of emptiness and regret (not to mention nausea). My spa habit would threaten our mortgage if I indulged as often as I’d like.
What’s important is our motivation. Why are we looking to transcend the real world? Yes, we’re looking to foster positive emotions, but why?
When you examine your motivation for escaping, ask
- Is my escape contributing to my long-term well-being?
- Am I running toward something? Or am I running from something?
Things we might run toward include enrichment or self-development. Things we might run away from are negative thoughts, worries, and daily stressors.
In the end, we want to feel expansive rather than suppressive.
As a wise man (named Ice Cube) once said, “Check yourself, before you wreck yourself.”