Managing Stress: Part 4

A C C E P T A N C E

"When the student is ready the teacher will show up." This is a very common phrase spoken in the self-development field.  Most of the time in life, we are asked to become better versions of ourselves by growing.  Well, growing typically happens under difficult conditions.  That is why we can call our problems, growth opportunities.  When we come from this perspective we will have a different approach to the life storms and will no longer be in a state of stress, but rather a state of growth.   

Stress is a natural response but after a certain point, if you do not know how to turn it off, it can cause major damage to your health, mood, productivity, relationships and quality of life.  This point is different for everyone, so the forth step we will take on this journey is to begin to accept (rather than fight) life.  

Begin to ACCEPT the outcome by following these tips: 

Stay detached from the outcome

• Learn to detach from the outcome by recognizing that reality is the winner.  If you have an idea and then reality is different, change your idea and you will end suffering.
• Remember the only thing you can change is yourself.
• If someone is stressing you out, change your response to them. 

Look for the upside to: life, situations, and people.

• When facing major challenges try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth instead of things that are trying to bring you down.
• Share yourself with those around you, be yourself and open up to life! 

Learn to forgive

• We live in an imperfect world and people make mistakes, but if we take the approach that every mistake is a growth opportunity, we can become better! (I can't emphasize this point enough!) 
• Forgiveness unlocks your heart.  Learn to take a deep breath and relax the space around your heart when you think about those you need to forgive and release. 

That is it.  The four steps to de-stressing: awareness, acting, adapting, and accepting   If at any time you feel you cannot deal with the conditions of your life, reach out to a life coach, a therapist or a counselor to get some help.  Your fears seem so much bigger on the inside that they are, help is out there, look into it, it may be more affordable than you think. 

Managing Stress: Part 3

A D A P T

Life offers us many opportunities to grow, if we chose to look at it that way.  The storms of life will always come and being prepared on how to handle yourself when these storms hit will be the difference between being stressed out, or being mindful and aware of how to respond.  

When disturbing things in life that happen that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way, it is called stress.  The next step in this process is not to react, but instead adapt.  

Begin to ADAPT to the Flow of life by following these tips: 

See the Big Picture 

• Ask yourself: “Will this matter in a year?” 
• If the answer is no, it is not worth your time, attention or focus in this moment. 
• If the answer is Yes, get out your journal and deal with what you are feeling.  

Look at what you value 

• If you have currently been under a lot of pressure or tension, take a look at what you are valuing and focusing on. 
• For example: working too many hours could mean you value being seen as a hard worker. 
• Other areas to look at: money, time, relaxation, health, sleep, tv, etc.  

Focus on the Positive 

• Practice looking at all you have in your life.
• Make a Gratitude list of 5 new things you are grateful everyday, non-repeating!
• Notice your positive qualities and gifts, and then share them with those around you.  

My hope for you is that you are beginning to stay calm in the storm, are practicing dealing with your real feelings, and are choosing to be relaxed and balanced!  Next week we will learn how to accept!

Managing Stress: Part 1

A W A R E N E S S

Stress can become a positive opportunity to grow and develop.  Sometimes, however, we let stressful situations beat us up and drain our life force energy.  Instead, lets begins to energize the self by learning and practicing a new approach to everyday life.  

This four part series: Managing Stress, will break down how to manage stress with the four A's: Awareness, Acting, Adapting, and Accepting.   When life events happen that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way, instead of reacting, try to first practice awareness by being mindfulness of who you are inside.  This will help you better understand how to respond on the outside.  You can increase you awareness with these four tips: 

1. Learn your limits to what you can handle. 
• Practice saying “No” if you are overwhelmed.
• Know your stress limits and stick to them.
2. Notice the people who stress you out.
• Limit the amount of time you are around them.
• Create a positive response in dealing with them before hand. 
3. Observe how things in your environment affect you. 
• If the news stresses you out, turn it off. 
• If traffic stresses you out, take a different route. 
• If your teenager stresses you out, find a different inner response to him or her, so you stay calm and balanced. 
4. Avoid Hot-Topics 
• Religion, politics, etc.   Cut them out of your conversation when you are under stress.  
• Excuse yourself if it is brought up.

Many of these tips are simple and easy to understand, but it takes your willingness and application for them to work. The goal is to stay calm, relaxed and balanced, because when you are in that state you are more likely to meet challenges and turn them into opportunities.