5 Tips To Change the Way You Deal with Stress

Do you feel Stressed? Or burned out?

Dr. James C. Dobson once said “there are very few certainties that touch us all in this mortal experience, but one of the absolutes is that we will experience hardship and stress at some point.”

Stress may be an inevitable part of life, but how we handle it depends upon the choices we make. Stress is different for all individuals, so there is no single solution to managing it. You may have to experiment to find what works best for you and finding healthy, positive ways to deal with stress will add to your overall well-being.

When dealing with stressful situations, you may consider the five points below. They may aid in decreasing the amount of stress and changing the way you view it.

1. Accept things you cannot change and change those you can.
How you feel and the way you deal with a situation is a choice. You cannot control others’ actions, but you can be responsible for your reactions.
 The serenity prayer states “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” When applied, this can be a great stress reliever. Look at the situation and ask yourself “is this something I can change?” If so, start exploring positive ways to change the situation.
 If the situation cannot be changed, such as an illness or the economy, accept it for what it is. Accepting does not mean giving up. By accepting the situation and finding ways you can cope with what cannot be changed, stress can be drastically reduced.

2. Exchange attitude for gratitude.
Our attitude has a profound effect on how we deal with situations. Negative attitudes affect our physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing. When in a particularly stressful situation, try exchanging attitude for gratitude. When you are running late for a meeting because you are stuck in traffic, change your attitude. Instead of being frustrated about the traffic, find some gratitude. Look around and think of all the things you can be thankful for. Sometimes you can find gratitude in the smallest things. You can be thankful for life, health, strength, friends, family, nature, etc. You can’t change the traffic but focusing on gratitude can definitely change your attitude to ensure you are in a less stressed state when you finally arrive at your destination.

3. Have a “me” time every day.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. If we do not help ourselves, how can we effectively help others? Relaxation rejuvenates the body, mind, and spirit and leaves us better equipped to handle stressful situations when they come. Try to find something that you enjoy and do it every day. If you can set aside time for relaxation, do it. Try to set aside a designated, uninterrupted time and stick to it. Many people state they don’t have time to relax, but relaxation does not have to be time-consuming. Relaxation can include periodic 5-10 minute breaks of breathing exercises or watching your favorite show for 30 minutes. Relaxation can also include connecting with positive people.

4. Look at the big picture.
Evaluate your stressful situation from a “big picture” point of view. Ask yourself “how important is this?” and “will this matter in the long run?” If the answer is no, it’s likely not worth your time and energy.

5. Try something different like holistic medicine.
Holistic therapies do not involve medication and are non-invasive. Techniques such as Meditation, Reiki or Energetic Kinesiology are natural ways of helping you reduce and manage life’s stresses and can actively help restore and re-balance your body and mind.

Energetic Kinesiology is a recognized technique for unlocking physical, mental, emotional, chemical, environmental and behavioral stresses trapped within the body and mind which may cause emotional and physical problems. Every Kinesiology practitioner is trained in techniques, which help identify and relieve stresses within the body. All correction techniques are soft and non invasive and every consultation includes techniques to relieve some kind of stress and restore balance in the body’s natural energetic flow.

Energetic Kinesiology can help you work out what these stresses are, where they came from and how to change them to change your life and ultimately improve your health and well-being.

Stress does not have to be a part of life. Successful stress management is about learning how and when to take control. It’s important to remember that you control how stress affects you. You can control the stress or let stress control you.