Recently, the word “healing” appears to have been appropriated to refer to any activity that helps an individual feel better, mostly in the psychological sense. As a result, this new trend has given rise to healing foods, healing self-help books, healing talk shows on television, and many other seemingly unrelated things that are all supposedly meant to heal. Hence, you may feel somewhat overwhelmed and confused over how you are to go about healing yourself. Should you read a book on the subject? Go on a trip maybe? Or should you simply devour any and all healing foods you can lay hands on? It may be valid to ask whether any of these is even necessary, and indeed – at least in my own eyes – the word “healing” has become nothing more than a mere marketing slogan, with everyone attempting to cash in on the new craze. If healing truly is nothing more than doing something to recoup your mental vitality, then all it should take is simply doing whatever activity that makes you happy.

One of the most effective ways to rest your mind and relieve stress, in my view, is to lose yourself in fantasy. Hence, reading is a great option. And no, do not rush to the bookstore to pick up a copy of Healing Handbook or such garbage because I have serious doubts about whether those books actually help even in the slightest. Instead, go and witness the battle for Middle Earth in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, follow the plots and ploys of various noble families to gain the Iron Throne in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, or become entangled in a global conspiracy through one of Tom Clancy’s thrillers. While it sounds cliché, regardless of how much stress you have from the mountains of work, personal or professional relationships, or the countless other issues you may face in daily life, it all slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel can transport a person to other realms, allowing for the tensions in real life to be temporarily loosened.

On a related note, while a book or movie can immerse a person in a fantasy indirectly, video games can take that experience one step further by putting the player right in the middle of the action. A word of caution though - stay away from competitive multiplayer games such as Battlefield, League of Legends, and StarCraft if relaxation is all you seek, as a losing streak or a particularly bad game can demolish your mentality rather than bolster it. This is quite the opposite of what we are striving for. Rather, look for single player experiences that put the player in a position of power. Lead your squad to victory in World War II. Take on the mantle of a superhero or become a legendary warrior who slays dragons to save the kingdom. The ability to directly influence other characters and the surrounding world, and accomplishing impossible quests by living through a story of the player can bestow an incredible sense of reward. Let’s face it; there is nothing people like more than something that boosts their egos. After all, the whole point is to make us feel better about ourselves, is it not?

Healing does not just have to be about losing yourself to flights of fancy either. As mentioned at the beginning, go and do whatever activity that happens to bring joy. Treat yourself to a sumptuous meal at a restaurant once in a while if you enjoy good food, or try an extreme sport for an adrenaline rush. If you think about it, everyone already knows how to heal themselves. No one needs a book or some celebrity on television to tell him or her how. It is merely that, given the brisk pace of modern life, a few of us may have forgotten to spare ourselves a morsel of time to do so.