Manage Stress

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As daily life happens we often get consumed in the craziness. We go off in our head and start to contemplate the “what ifs.” Next we begin to worry about these mental constructs playing out. Why do we torment ourselves? Wouldn’t it be better if we could assert some control over our thoughts? This would enable us to get grounded and better manage stress.

To make things worse, most of what we worry about never happens. The vast majority of stress is a result of worrying about the future. The body’s response to stress is meant to be short lived. If a bear is coming after you, your hypothalamus instructs your adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol. Your central nervous system increases your heart rate and elevates your breathing. This sends more oxygen to the brain. You are now in the optimal physical and mental state to deal with the threat. The problem with modern day stress is that all these reactions are taking place in the body, but the threat is not immediate. The reaction is in response to something that may happen in the future. This causes the body to remain in this heightened state for long periods of time. Since the body is not designed for this, things start to break down. In the end it negatively affects your heart, your digestion system, your immune system along with many other bodily components. Stress also alters behavior. It can lead to the demise of careers and the end of relationships. It’s critical that we learn to actively manage stress.

Get out of your head and realize that you have the ability to direct your thoughts. Most of our self-induced stress is a result of an initial unpleasant thought, typically a projection into the future that morphs into a vicious loop in our mind. The stress builds with each repetition of the loop. With some discipline and practice you can begin to redirect your thoughts. Next time that unpleasant thought comes in, notice it, then immediately break the cycle. It’s helpful to have a trigger–flick your wrist, touch you nose, tap your foot. The key is to do something that will serve as a reminder for you to redirect your mind away from the negative projection and onto something more positive.

Stop trying to solve every problem with your conscious mind. I was raised to believe that there is a rational solution for every challenge. Sometimes things are just too big for you to handle, or you don’t have tools in your conscious mind to make the decision. Your subconscious mind is far more powerful than your conscious mind. This is the part of your brain that controls all of your body’s functions. A simple method for engaging your subconscious mind is to pose a question to yourself just prior to falling asleep. Your subconscious continues to work when you are asleep. The moment you awake ask yourself the same question. The first thing that comes to you is your answer.

Find an outlet. Short of the bear chasing you there is rarely stress in the present moment. I have talked many times about the need to perform a daily activity that brings you into the present moment. Exercise, yoga, meditation, and prayer are all great ways to help you get present. You focus on the activity which helps to clear your mind and move you away from the toxic thoughts that create stress. These activities are also helpful in dissipating stress that is already in place.

Realize that you are bigger than your life situation. Think back to some of your biggest life challenges from the past: job loss, relationships ending, health scares, passing of loved ones. Things often look bleak, but time and perspective help us get through difficulty. Human beings are resilient creatures. While it’s not possible to avoid the challenges that come with life, we can all benefit from incorporating a few techniques to help manage stress.