In my last post I talked about getting out of your comfort zone – now!
We talked about things like:
For some of you, that post was a breath of fresh air and and you are well on your way to breaking out of your comfort zone and seeking new possibilities.
For others, it was just another source of stress.
Never fear – that is today’s topic!
Stress has probably been written about more than any other health issue. Why? Because it is something all of us have felt at one point or another in our lives. It is an inescapable reality of existence.
Some of the things I will say will be things you have heard before – others may be unique. Take what you need, leave others behind, but be open to the possibility of change.
If you are living, you have felt stress. Studies have shown that the act of getting up in the morning is precipitated by a “stressful” event.
Several hours before you wake each morning, a tiny region at the base of your cerebrum called the hypothalamus sends a signal that ultimately alerts your adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys, to start pumping out cortisol, which acts as a wake-up signal.
That signal – is a stressor. This may help explain why so many heart attacks and strokes occur between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Stress is a fact of life – it is built into our very makeup as human beings. Accepting that fact is the first step towards overcoming.
Here’s a truth for you to consider:
Stress is inevitable, what matters is how you react to it.
Most of us do not take the time during a given day to breathe properly. We flit and flutter from one activity to another without the first thought for how we are breathing and how that breathing is affecting our bodies.
Insurance claims for stress, depression and job burnout are now the U.S.’s fastest-growing disability category.
Your body loves to breathe.
You exist because you breathe.
Stress hates proper breathing because it makes stress roll away like water of a ducks back.
This post is not a lesson on breathing techniques (Google it), but let me simply say this:
Slowing down to take a few deep breaths 3 to 4 times per day can greatly enhance your well-being.
Sit down, turn off all distractions and breathe for 5 minutes. In and out, deeply and slowly.
When it feels good, (and it will) try 10 minutes!
I believe that one of the best and most powerful things you and I can do to relieve stress is to dream about the possibilities of life.
Can you take a few minutes to think about something that you want to do in life that you are not doing right now?
Guess what? That is dreaming.
When was the last time you made a list of the things you would like to do, places you would like to go or adventures you would like to pursue?
I thought so.
Looking forward in life is key to keep us moving out of the grasp of stress that strives to hold us back and push us down.
Dream. Write it down. Get moving!
Stress is the great thief in our lives. It seeks to steal and destroy.
Do not let it.
Accept it
Breathe
Dream
I’m rooting for you!
What are some ways/techniques you use to relieve stress in your life?
