Stress is a part of life whether we like it or not.
There are different types of stress, some that is pretty good for us (like the nervousness before an interview), but the majority of stress we feel is of the detrimental kind – the kind that puts unnecessary strain on our minds and bodies. Our stress is most likely caused through our mind only and not our situation – by thinking of what has happened in the past or what may happen in the future.
The stress response of our mind and body is automatic. It is not something we consciously decide, instead the emotional center of the brain – the amygdala – senses danger (real or perceived), sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which then sends instructions via the Central Nervous System to the adrenal glands to excrete adrenaline and cortisol throughout the body. These hormones prepare our bodies to fight, flight or freeze. This all happens in seconds without us consciously being aware. It’s the mind taking control of the body so the body can respond immediately.
A constant stressed state, and a continuous supply of adrenaline and cortisol throughout the body is a real cause for concern. Perhaps another blog post on this.
What matters most here is that the body should, shortly after the stress has passed, go back into a state of homeostasis – a state of balance. However, for a lot of people, stress continues to build with very little awareness of the compounding nature of stress and the detrimental effects of it.
So, for a life less stressed, how do we deal with these to ensure we take care of our wellbeing? We approach our emotional stress differently. We use our superpower – choice. We choose how we respond to it.
“A life less stressed is a life well lived.” ~ the healthy homosapien
Here are some ways to choose:
Can you avoid this stress. Sometimes we deal with things we don’t need to deal with.
Alter the situation as much as you can so it doesn’t happen again or to make the situation more bearable. Can you communicate your concerns, come to a compromise or does planning ahead make the situation better?
Do you need to adapt yourself to the situation by changing your mindset to be more positive? Does whatever causing you stress really matter in the big scheme of things? Ask yourself how you can reframe the problem to see the benefits of what you are needing to deal with.
And lastly, do you need to accept it if you can’t change it? Control what you can control and see if there is a lesson you can learn by having to deal with it.
Stress comes in all forms, shapes and sizes and there is not a one size fits all for handling it. But we can learn how to work with it, without causing ourselves more of it.
Next time you are feeling yourself getting stressed, take a deep breath and a moment to look at what is causing you to feel that way and ask yourself: Can I avoid it? Do I need to alter my situation? Do I need to adapt? Or do I need to accept what is happening?
Just this small moment you give yourself to reflect, will be enough to engage your thinking brain, to bring you into the present moment, and to consciously choose your action. And with that, you are taking more care of your wellbeing.
#Lifestyle #selfawareness #Change #Health #Wellbeing #stress #mindfulness
