Simple Ways to Manage Stress with Relaxation Methods – A Three Principles Perspective

How Understanding the Nature of Thought Helps You Find Your Natural Calm

Stress is part of being human. It shows up in different ways — tight shoulders before a meeting, a racing mind before sleep, or that general feeling of being “on edge.” For many of us, stress can feel like something that happens to us, caused by the situations, people, and pressures in our lives.

The Three Principles perspective offers a different way of seeing it. It shows us that stress is not created directly by the outside world — but by our moment-to-moment thinking about that world. In other words, we live in the feeling of our thoughts, not the feeling of our circumstances.

When this becomes more than just an idea — when we really see it — our relationship to stress changes. We begin to notice that beneath all the mental noise, there’s an innate calm and clarity that’s always there. This realisation alone can bring a deep sense of relaxation, often without us doing anything to “make” it happen.

Peaceful lake scene promoting relaxation

Seeing Stress Differently

Let’s say you have a busy day ahead: back-to-back work tasks, errands, and a family commitment in the evening. Some days, this might feel overwhelming — you might notice tension in your neck, a short temper, and thoughts like “I’ll never get it all done.” On other days, with the exact same schedule, you might feel capable, light, even energised.

What’s changed? Not the circumstances — but your state of mind.

When our thoughts are racing, we experience stress. When our mind settles, we experience ease. The Three Principles point to something simple but profound:

• Mind — the deeper intelligence and wellbeing behind life itself

• Consciousness — our ability to be aware and experience life

• Thought — the creative power shaping what we experience moment to moment

When we understand that our feelings come from Thought in the moment, not from the outside world, stress starts to lose its grip..

A tranquil stream winds through lush greenery, with sunlight illuminating vibrant yellow flowers along the banks.

Relaxation as a Natural By-Product

You’ve probably had moments where you suddenly felt calm without doing anything to create it — sitting quietly with a cup of tea, watching waves on a beach, or laughing with a friend. In those moments, you weren’t “practising” relaxation — your mind had simply settled, and your body followed.

Relaxation techniques can be enjoyable, but they’re not the source of peace. They just make space for what’s already there to show up. That’s an important distinction — one that frees you from having to “do” calmness perfectly.

When you see relaxation as something that naturally arises when your mind quiets down, you can stop chasing it and start noticing when it’s already present.

A serene and inviting living room featuring soft lighting, plush seating, and a calming color palette, perfect for relaxation.

Creating Space for Calm

While we don’t control the moment our mind settles, we can create an environment that makes it easier for that settling to happen. Think of it like opening the curtains to let in sunlight — you don’t create the sun, but you make it easier for its light to fill the room.

Here are some gentle ways to create space for calm:

• A calming environment: A comfortable chair, a softly lit corner, or the quiet hum of nature outside your window.

• A break from stimulation: Turning off notifications, setting aside your phone, or stepping away from a busy room for a few minutes.

• Pleasant sensory touches: Wrapping yourself in a soft blanket, sipping something warm, or noticing the scent of fresh flowers or essential oils.

None of these cause calm — they simply remove some of the “static” so you can hear the quieter, wiser part of yourself.

Preparing for Relaxation at Home

You can think of preparing for relaxation not as a ritual you must follow, but as a way of honouring the space you want to give yourself:

1. Choose a spot where you feel at ease — this might be your favourite chair, a cosy corner of your bedroom, or a quiet nook in your garden.

2. Minimise interruptions — let others know you’re taking some quiet time, silence your phone, and give yourself permission to be unavailable for a little while.

3. Sit and notice — you don’t have to control your thoughts or feelings. Just notice them come and go, like clouds drifting past in the sky.

4. Allow your body to rest naturally — if you feel like stretching, stretch; if you want to close your eyes, close them. Follow your own sense of comfort.

Sometimes you’ll feel deeply relaxed, sometimes not — and that’s okay. The value is in giving yourself the space, not in forcing a particular outcome.

Relaxation in Everyday Life

One of the most freeing aspects of this understanding is realising that calm doesn’t have to be something we “schedule in” — it’s available in the smallest moments, even during busy days:

• Pausing for a slow breath while waiting at a red light

• Looking out of the window and noticing the clouds

• Listening fully to someone without planning your reply

• Letting yourself smile at something small

  
  

These moments are powerful not because they’re special, but because they remind you of what’s already there beneath the noise.

A contemplative moment at the red light as the man reflects deeply from the driver's seat.

A Gentle Shift

Stress management doesn’t have to mean constant effort. The more you see the true source of your experience, the more naturally your mind will find its own balance. Sometimes that balance will come with stillness and quiet; sometimes in the middle of action.

When you stop looking outside yourself for peace, you find it more often — not because you’ve mastered a technique, but because you’ve recognised that peace of mind is your default setting. And the more you see that for yourself, the easier it becomes to relax into it, no matter what’s happening around you.