So this is the last in a 3 part series of posts around stress. If you missed the first 2, you can go here read the first post here and the second here.
The goal of this series was to get you thinking differently about stress and how you can control IT and not let it control you…which as I mentioned before, the key is managing YOU, dear friends and readers!
When we shift our mindset from trying to “manage” stress (which to me is kinda like trying to herd air) to managing our energy and our mindset, that shift can make a profound difference in your life. This leads me to the last “big idea” strategy…(drumroll please!) and that is reframing your thoughts.
I know, ho hum, you thought I was going to come out with some radical stuff didn’tcha? But notice the title of the post…feeling “blessed” not stressed. When we can think about a situation or challenge in a new way, it’s then that we take back control of our mindset. So here we go…
- Acknowledge it. Quite frankly, life sucks sometimes. It’s not fair, and stomping our feet and having a pity party feels good! But what’s important is that we acknowledge that…but don’t stay stuck at the party. Start looking for ways to minimize the impact when life throws you a curve ball.
- Keep your perspective. I’ll admit it; slow drivers make me want to crawl out of skin, but in the grand scheme of things that’s a tiny bump not a major full on stress maker. Prioritize the situations that seem to escalate your stress levels.
- What can I control? Taking a step back and figuring out what you can control and what you can’t is vital in the stress equation. There’s all kinds of brain research that suggests when you feel in control it “exercises” the brain for the next stressors that come along.
- Whose vision are you using? What assumptions are you making about situations? In other words, are you imposing other’s expectations on your actions?
Let me use myself as an example. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (SUCKS)- and I was stuck fighting it for a while. When I shifted my mindset and acknowledged it, I took control back. In the grand scheme of things, I’m pretty healthy otherwise (PERSPECTIVE). Once I’ve accepted, now I can be proactive and look for ways to manage it (CONTROL). Finally, I was wearing myself out trying to be SUPERWOMAN because I thought that’s what my family expected of me; (OTHER’S EXPECTATIONS); which, by the way, were totally false!
So there are we have it. Essentially what it boils down to is YOU. How you manage your mental, physical and spiritual health is so important!
What say you? What strategies do you think you’d find the most helpful? What have I missed? Let’s chat!
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