Coping with Stress
DO YOU OFTEN FEEL OVERWHELMED WITH NO DIRECTION?
ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING?
ARE YOU CONSTANTLY WORRYING?
DO YOU FEEL THAT THINGS ARE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, OVER 80% OF PHYSICIANS VISITS ARE STRESS RELATED.
THE FOLLOWING PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES CAN HELP YOU COPE WITH STRESS
IN YOUR DAILY LIFE AND LEARN TO BALANCE LIFE AND EXPERIENCE JOY.
1. Begin each day with some deep breathing before
you get out of bed. Be mindful of the present moment. Clear the
clutter of the rational mind and stop dwelling on the past and worrying
about the future. At any given moment you have a choice.
2. Use your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual
energy for things you can control. While not all things are within
our control, we can control a full range of our emotions. Remember
to get regular check ups from your physician, take care of your
health on all levels and have a support person to assist you in
coping with your stress.
3. Pay attention to what you affirm. We have 60,000
thoughts a day. 95% of the time, we have those same 60,000 thoughts
the next day. You want those thoughts to be positive filled with
positive affirmations of yourself. Allow your inner chatter be your
inner champion rather than your inner critic.
4. Take control by taking action. Honor your true
priorities by making lists and being in alignment with what matters
most to you. We all have longings but we often don't achieve them
because we make excuses. Start now and complete one action step
at a time toward achieving your goal.
5. Take care of your financial health. This is a
huge stress for many but it doesn't have to be. Begin with balancing
your checkbook, make a list of expenses and learn to cut expenses
or increase income. Contact a financial planner if you are having
difficulty. You cannot afford not to.
6. Avoid gossip, negativity and criticism. These
are toxic behaviors. What matters most is you and not what others
have to say about you. Be a balcony person for yourself and others.
Be up in the balcony cheering for yourself and others.
7. Use humor and laughter daily. This is one of the top coping
strategies for stress reduction. As adults we get so serious and
forget to laugh. Remind yourself of something funny and laugh many
times each day. I t loosens up the abdomen and relaxes the solar
plexus. Watch comedy and read the funnies and make time for joy!
8. Let go of trying to be perfect. Perfection doesn't exist. Learn
to cut corners and not be perfect. It takes far too much energy
trying to be perfect. You'll only fall short and disappoint yourself.
Learn to let go and relax. It's ok.
9. Exercise Muscles of the Soul. Just as your physical muscles
will atrophy if you don't use them, the same will occur with your
muscles of the soul. What are muscles of the soul? Faith, hope,
courage, humor, optimism, love, joy, balance. There are many more.
Name your own muscles of the soul and exercise them regularly.
10. Be open to change. Humans are resistant to change. In fact,
the only human that seems to welcome change is a wet baby! Learn
to accept change as something positive in your life. Change is good
in many ways. By opening up to receive change you open yourself
up to new beginnings and limitless possibilities.
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