STAYING POSITIVE REGARDLESS

STRESS FREE LIVING EVERY DAY

Part of our experience of living on this bluey green planet of ours is that from time to time we all find ourselves feeling either a little or perhaps even rather a lot stressed. If this is going to be just a short-term situation, more often than not it is something we can just deal with, let go and leave behind. Having said all that, life in the 21st Century can be quite stressful simply to participate in. Often with the simplest changes in routine or approach we can not only dramatically reduce the ability of stress to affect us; but also, free ourselves from the stress of getting stressed in the first place!
Continual stress has been scientifically proven to negatively affect our mind by causing mental issues and the body by breaking down the immune system, often leading to serious illness. What is clearly needed then is a recipe for easily handling stress and remaining actively detached. There are many suggestions throughout these pages regarding leading a more fulfilling, auspicious life and encouraging a more balanced approach when problems do occur. Inevitably there are going to be some occasions though when we are stretched beyond our usual boundaries and a little extra assistance is needed:
1. Develop the habit of eating when hungry, rather than when the clock says it is a meal time, this is listening to your body and places far less stress on your physical system. Many eat regular as clockwork and this can leave them either feeling hungry at those times when they are burning those extra calories or overfull because they ate when the clock said it was time for lunch, even if they didn’t really feel like it right then. Grazing throughout the day gives your digestive system an easier time by never overburdening it
2. Make you time. We all need to re-charge our batteries and step back occasionally to take stock of where we currently are metaphorically and literally. Find a park and smell a rose, read a book or enjoy some down time with people you care about. Whatever it is that’s taking you away from your preferred way of spending your time is never as important as your long-term well-being
3. Exercise is vitally important. If the thought of going to the gym is utterly boring, find an alte
ative which appeals to you. Walking and swimming are excellent forms of exercise, as is dance. Martial arts, such as Aikido or Tai Chi, not only benefitting physically, practised in their highest form they are also a meditation. Take up golf. Yoga is also fantastic. Find exercise you enjoy partaking in and do it often
4. Honesty with how we feel and frankly communicating this openly is so freeing. If this is done without resentment or hostility. You need to be honest with yourself about what you truly feel; and once you are true to your inner self, let others know calmly. If your relationship is the cause of stress in all likelihood your partner is going through a similar reality, sitting down and talking is the beginning to resolution whichever way the discussions ultimately play themselves out within your lives
5. Relying on alcohol or drugs in an attempt to put aside worries is, needless to say, never going to actually achieve very much
6. Setting achievable realistic goals is incredibly motivating. Especially if they are written down and can be ticked off one by one when they are achieved
7. Sleep when tired, if possible. Sleep is regenerating
8. Those who meditate are generally less stressed. Practice meditation as often as feasible and if you would like to take meditation further find a teacher or download extra guidance from a trusted source
9. Aromatherapy, deep tissue massage and reflexology are wonderfully relaxing
10. If you find stress completely overwhelming you need to make an appointment with a health professional and ask to be referred to a counsellor or registered stress consultant
THE QUICK TWO MINUTE DE-STRESS
We can all inadvertently find ourselves in temporary situations where our anxiety and stress levels can raise beyond what is healthy and normal. Perhaps it is just one of those kind of days, one challenge after another presents itself and personally it starts to feel like you are about to go pop!
I have developed this remarkably simple quick personal de-stress in cooperation with a professional stress consultant (thank you, Lee)
Two Minute De-Stress:
1. Sit still and close your eyes
2. Concentrate on the colours you can see behind your eyelids with your eyes tight shut, even if that is only black
3. In your mind start counting slowly backwards from thirty to zero
4. When you have arrived down at zero open your eyes
Many people from all walks of life have found this simple little exercise incredibly useful. The beauty is it can be practiced almost anywhere, at any time. Clearly when it is safe to do so - if you are driving please pull over to the side of the road first!
Feel free to share this…once it has been proved to you through giving it a go that it works. The more know about The Two Minute De-Stress the sooner we can bring a little more peace to this world.
Excerpt from STAYING POSTIVE REGARDLESS by Dean Fraser