Reducing Stress.

The way we think does have a great affect on us, Negative thinking increases stress, heart disease and numerous health problems while Positive thinking reduces these.

Harmony of the Body, Mind and Spirit is a key factor in reducing stress. However stress is part of the life style that we live today. So how can we reduce it?

Most of our stress is brought about by the perception of others expectations of us, so in other words, most of our stress comes from outside ourselves. They are also often based on perceptions that are not necessarily true; we stress ourselves trying to fit in this life style to please others.

Now it is true that we are all obligated to work with ‘a get along with other people’ attitude that is part of being human. So therefore we need to carefully analyse what is the motivation behind the stress; am I caring for myself and others or am I trying to please others and neglecting my own needs.

Unless we can have times of quiet reflection we don’t have time to charge our inner batteries. We run out of energy and fail to keep our purpose in life in the forefront of our mind.

Remember we have the power to choose so ultimately we are totally responsible for all the choices we make. Looking after our own self is too often neglected to our own detriment. This allows stress to take hold of us and this usually drives us into depression and with a very real chance of a mental breakdown.

It is important to keep short accounts so that each day’s stresses are dealt with each day. Stresses are like thoughts they can compound until they seem larger than they really are. Before going to bed find time to reflect on the day just gone. Unload the stresses; this is very good for your well being, enabling you to have good sleep and that in turn is helping you to rest your whole system. If we fail to have complete rest and good sleep then our ‘Body, Mind and Spirit’ are not ready for the next day.

This carry over from one day to another does not allow us the recharging of energy necessary to live a stress managed life. This is when the door is left open for stress to take over our lives, which in turn can end up with physical or mental breakdown occurring. Fun and relaxation are necessary parts of our life that help us manage our stress.

A physical workout will also relieve stress; as with anger, stress is a normal part of our life that gives us extra energy to do and achieve things. Just as with anger, stress has to be managed to allow our coping skills to work and bring satisfaction and fulfilment into our lives. When I am really stressed I will go for a long bike ride or power walk up and down a few hills. Stress creates toxins in our body that need to be removed and hard physical workout in a gym, or another way you prefer, releases the tension in the muscles and helps to release the built up toxins.

Our mind is a key factor in managing stress. As we think about our work and home environment that in itself can bring on stress. Therefore by having a positive input into our mind helps create an environment, where stresses can be dealt with before they become unmanageable.

Unmanaged stress is where we take upon ourselves the pressure from others and combine it with our own stress. This then becomes like a crushing weight of which we cannot become free and tends to be more than we can cope with.

We are all equipped with coping mechanisms these help us in times of pressure. We have to feed our coping skills by continued learning, daily reflection, relaxing and having fun.

Can I put a word of warning in here? The fun we have needs to be as a result of choices we make rather than chemically inducing our brain that tricks the brain into believing we are having a good time. Here I am not suggesting total sobriety but to limit the input of chemicals as they too are toxic to our body.

Taking a personal time out where your ‘body, mind and Spirit’ can be refreshed is most important especially in the frantic pace of life we live today. A change of environment is good, take a long walk in the bush, sit by the water, climb a mountain, all these activities help us manage stress.

Many people are under a negative oppression because of negative words spoken over them.

Are You Managing Your Stress?

Does Stress Impact Negatively On Your Life?

Where on the scale below would you say you are right now?
Lowest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Highest
What would it take to move you one number higher?

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(It is important that you include your answer on the line)

Seeing that you can’t write your answer here. I would suggest that you download the word document from the link below.

This would also allow you to add notes about thoughts and feelings that you could review at a later date and see if or how they have changed.

Click to Download as a Word Document.
Note: If you are using Windows 7 and you Click On ‘Open’
you may get this.

Just click on Cancel and the download should continue.