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.