Why origami helps relieve stress
To understand how origami helps relieve stress, it is important to understand what stress is and why it needs to be managed. The definition of stress itself is full of opposing views. Hans Seyle is one of the first professionals to become familiar with the definition. As early as 1956 he said that “stress is not necessarily a bad thing, it all depends on how you take it. The stress of stimulating, creative and successful work is beneficial, while the stress of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.” He thought that the effect of stress would be evident whether the stress is caused by a positive or negative experience.
Since then, Richard S Lazarus has found the most widely accepted definition of stress: “Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that the demands exceed the personal and social resources that the individual is capable of mobilizing.” As this description is the most acceptable, we can summarize it by saying: That people feel stressed when they are presented with a situation, which they do not have the necessary experience to handle. The extent of stress varies depending on people’s experience of a particular set of circumstances.
Stress is equal to worry or grievance and comes from many sources in daily life. Whether children, partner or work become a problem, the symptoms are the same: nervousness, anxiety, short temper, lack of sleep. Often those who suffer smoke or drink more. Stress is an invisible tension within us. It leads to unusual and often harmful behavior and in the long run is very damaging.
Origami is a great way to help manage stress. In the same way stress is a physiological problem. So origami engages both the mind and the hands to produce a calming effect. The art of origami consists of folding and crumpling paper. This uses both sides of your brain. The brain is divided into two halves as we know, the right side controls the left hand and the left side controls the right hand. As you engage your mind to tell your hands what to do, this gives your mind and body a channel or focus. Meanwhile both the mind and the body are engrossed in the detail of folding and folding the paper. The design begins to take shape into something aesthetic that makes you more like yourself. The feeling of fullness and resulting satisfaction help alleviate the symptoms you felt before. Simple origami folds and creases can be used to make a wide variety of designs. Including animals, the Japanese crane is a starting point. Which can lead to many others, from cats and dogs to elephants.
There are many good things to be gained from origami. Once you have mastered the initial creases and folds. As confidence gains momentum, you can take your experience and try more complex designs. The folding method remains the same, whether the design is complex or simple. That is, the patterns are not determined by different types of folds. But because of the way the folds come together, forming different designs. So once you master the basics, you are only restricted by your imagination! Recognizing the symptoms of stress is part of the battle, being proactive in managing that stress ensures that stress is minimized. As a method of balancing the body and mind, origami certainly helps. Establishing a routine of setting aside even ten minutes a day to develop your origami skills will help you have a less stressful life.
