Opus I - Getting A Handle On Your Stress : Take control of your life

Being stress-free is not an option to living your life because you need stress to live and be creative in giving and receiving what you are here to give and receive.

Yes… 

You have a purpose, a reason for being here.

Do you know yours?

Do not wait another day to find your purpose because without knowing your purpose, your life may appear to be be meaningless and without the passion needed to live each precious moment.

Business and personal stress must not be avoided because you need stress to be creative and feel alive.  It is when stress becomes distress (negative stress) or eustress (positive stress) you must learn to manage and overcome your stress reactions.

Stress reactions are your body signals that tell you what you must change doing, eating, feeling, thinking etc. if you want to change the signals your body is sending.

Managing and overcoming distress and eustress involves being aware, acknowledging and accepting what your body is telling you because if you ignore the signals you face discomfort, disease, illness or worse.

[This addition posted on July 15, 2008]

Did you know that your stress, distress, and eustress is your choice?

That’s right - you choose the cause of your stress, distress and eustress by the choices you make with the following stressors:

Breathing, Environment, Attitude, and Nutrition. [B E A N]

Your Breathing…

Check your breathing to see when it is jammed, natural, reversed or shallow.

Holding your breath until after you have completed an activity (talking, walking, etc.) creates a physical response, a stress reaction.

What is your physical response, your stress reaction?

For natural normal breathing, your chest and belly expands when you breathe in and deflates when you breathe out.

[Caution: Go slow. Attempting to fix your breathing style by taking in more oxygen than your body knows may cause hyperventilation. If this occurs, cup your hands lightly over your mouth (rather than look for a paper bag) and breathe in and out slowly. You can do this while sitting or standing, preferably sitting.]

Are you able to follow your breath as it moves through your body?

Your Environment…

Living, shopping, and working in sick-buildings and under fluorescent lights create stress reactions.

What allergens do you live with every day?

Your Attitude…

Blaming others for your situation makes you the victim and this creates stress reactions.

Thinking positively rather than negatively, and using questions that begin with what and how rather than who, when, and why helps you take control of your life.When you feel like crying, cry. Crying is one way your body releases your stress reactions.

Your Nutrition…

Drinking caffeine creates stress reactions.

Eating three meals and two snacks a day works wonders.

Eating white products — sugar, white flour, white rice — creates stress reactions.

Fresh fruit and vegetables help reduce your stress reactions.

What about nitrates and preservatives? Are they in the foods you eat?

Bottom line: There are no “stress management pills” that help you take control of your life, so go ahead and share your feelings, don’t act on them. Instead, discover that your stress matters and how to live with less of your stress reactions.

Yes, you are able to live with less stress reactions each and every day; the choice is yours. Discover your choices; do it now.

Your body is telling you what choices to make.

>>>More coming soon.<<<