You might be tearing your hair out with all the aggravation, grief, anxiety, and of course, frustration. You may be in at a point and place in your life that you would love to find inner peace but not sure where to start looking. It’s been so long since you felt at peace with your life.
But I’d like to point out that being proactive is the best way to find peace.
As one stressed-out person to another, I know how it feels, and believe me there are many alternatives when it comes to stress. Coping with life, and carrying the problems that may or may not belong to you can scratch away the little joy and happiness that you can carry once you head out that door. You can’t blame them for being like that; they have their own reasons, so much like we have our reasons to allow stress to weigh us down. They say that stress is all in the mind, well, what’s bugging you anyway?
There are several ways to manage stress, and eventually remove it out of your life one of these days. So I’ll give you seven triggers that if you recognize them when they come I promise you you’ll feel better when deal with them head-on.
1. Accept that stress can be good
Make stress your friend! Based on the body’s natural “fight or flight” response, that burst of energy will improve your performance at the correct time. I’ve yet to see a top athlete entirely comfortable before a the big game. The athlete uses stress to push themselves harder.
2. Dodge stress sneezers
When your stressed your immune system is suppressed and more susceptible to infection.
Protect yourself by acknowledging your stressed and limit your contact with those with infections until you can get your stress under control.
3. Keep your cool
When everyone around you seems to be going crazy look around and see who’s keeping their cool. How are they acting? What are they doing differently? What is their attitude? Does their body language seem different from others?
Watch them learn from them. They are the natural stress managers.
4. Be a heavy breather when your stressed
This is something I’ve learned from Anthony Robbins. You can trick your body into relaxing by using heavy breathing. Breathe in slowly for a count of 7 then breathe out for a count of 11. Repeat the 7-11 breathing until your heart rate slows down, your sweaty palms dry off and things start to feel more normal.
5. Give Negative thoughts the red light
If your ever ruminated and I know you have because everybody does about something that may happen it’s almost always negative. For example what am I going to do if I fail this test; its not what am I going to do when I ace this test. It’s what am I going to do if this project is not done on time, it’s not how am I going to celebrate when I get this project done on time. Without putting the kibosh on those negative thoughts it will cause unnecessary worry.
Stop stressful thoughts in their tracks. The simplest way to do this is when you get a negative thought say “STOP” to halt that thought in its track.
6. Know your trigger points and hot spots
Presentations, interviews, meetings, giving difficult feedback, tight deadlines…. My heart rate is cranking up just writing these down!
Make your very own list of stress trigger points or hot spots. Be specific. Is it only when you get ready to give a presentation to a group that gets you stirred up? Does one project cause a lot more tension than another? Is it when you drink 3 cups of coffee instead of one cup?
Understanding what triggers you tension is powerful information. Do you need to acquire upgrade your skills, optimize your environment or switch to decaf coffee.
7. Burning the candle at both ends
Poor sleeping habits, bad diet, lack of exercise ruins our body and thoughts. Have you ever heard the saying don’t burn the candle at both ends? Well pay attention because this is worth listening to.
So being stress can be a drag, but it doesn’t have to keep us to finding the peace of mind that we have wanted for a long time.
Leave a Reply