Use Familiarity to Breed Comfort

By Dave Balch Blogger

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Photo: Getty Images

It happens every year in late November: Orion appears in the early evening.

What is Orion? It is generally accepted to be one of the most conspicuous and most easily recognized constellations of stars in the night sky.

Representing a hunter in Greek mythology, there are three stars very close together in a straight line at a slight angle (representing his belt), surrounded by four stars that form a trapezoid shape (his shoulders and knees).

Here’s a link to an illustration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(constellation)#Navigational_aid

I find it very comforting, and seeing it gives me a sense of calm when I am feeling stressed. It reminds me of calmer times in my life, when I was a child who was fascinated by astronomy.

It reminds me that some things in life simply do not change no matter how much chaos surrounds me, especially when I think about how it was visible to the dinosaurs when they roamed the earth. And it’s simply beautiful and majestic.

The point is that some familiar things can be comforting. You don’t have to be enthralled with a grouping of stars in the night sky. You have to find what is comforting to you.

This puts you at a distinct advantage. I have to wait until winter, and then I have to depend on clear skies. Even Orion in all of his grandeur, can’t be seen through the clouds!

You, however, can choose something that is available at any time, such as music that is meaningful to you, or photos, or mementos from a certain time in your life, or... the list of possibilities is endless.

Find those things that work for you and put them where you can take advantage of their power to calm you. Don’t make this into an overwhelming project, simply pick something right here right now and decide to put it to work for you when you need it. You can add other things as you think of them.

Don’t put it off. Try it right away and see how it feels!

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Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.