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Balance Your Life For Stress
Relief
By: Susan Stewart
Stress is a natural part of life. We need some stress to maintain our
energy for living. But we must find a balance and manage our stress or
it will manage us and our lives. Stress is a very personal experience
for each one of us because it is based on our personal perceptions. It
is our body's physical and psychological response to anything we
perceive as overwhelming.
We do not all respond to stress in the same way. How you perceive a
situation determines if it is or is not stressful. For example, two
people lose their jobs. One sees it as the end of the world while the
other is thrilled to now have the opportunity to start their own
business. Or maybe two co-workers are given the same deadline for an
assignment. One sees this as enormous pressure while the other person
sees it as needed motivation. What one person sees as a catastrophic
event may be a minor setback for someone else.
We can't always control what happens but we can learn to control our
reactions and responses to what happens. Always remember that you have
choices. Stressed out people tend to forget this simple fact. When
things seem impossible and you are getting stressed, remind yourself
that you have a choice. You can do things differently or if something
doesn't get done at the exact minute you think it should, the world will
not fall apart. Keep it in perspective.
Having a positive attitude can go a long way in managing stress. You can
choose how you will react. Learn to let things that normally stress you
just roll off like water on glass. React properly and your day will not
be ruined. React with stress and a wrong reaction may result in losing a
friend, having an accident, getting fired, etc.
If you are dealing with a big problem, break it down into smaller parts
so it doesn't seem so overwhelming. Take it one step at a time. When
life seems too complicated, make a list of your priorities in the order
of their importance. What must absolutely get done? Learn to delegate.
Visualize the stressful situation and how you can better handle it.
These little rehearsals boost your self confidence and can help you
handle situations in a positive way.
Remember that other people won't always measure up to your expectations.
Don't be disappointed or frustrated when this happens. We all have our
virtues and our shortcomings, so try to stay flexible.
Listen to your body. It will definitely let you know when it is feeling
stressed. Is there a churning in your stomach, a tight knot in your
neck, a migraine headache or an ache in your back that you are just
ignoring? Medical research estimates as much as 90% of illness and
disease is stress related. And most health professionals agree that
stress can be a contributing factor in making existing medical problems
worse.
Listen to your inner voice. It can be very helpful to just take a few
moments and close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and notice how your
body feels. And ten to twenty minutes of quiet meditation can restore
calm and put your problems in the proper perspective.
Put a few drops of lavender (or your favorite) essential oil on a tissue
and carry it with you. At the first sign of stress, take a whiff of the
aroma and it will calm you immediately.
Remember, we all must have some stress in our lives but the key to
happiness is to strive for balance. A balanced life consists of work
time, family time, relaxation time, hobbies, and exercise. You can make
it your reality...one step at a time.
Bio:
Susan Stewart is co-founder and partner of It’s My Nature, a
home based Aromatherapy business in Florence, Oregon. Providing dried herbs,
essential oils and many unique products. Catering to the beginner with small
sizes, recipes and an informative monthly newsletter. See It’s My Nature’s
large, informative website at
http://itsmynature.net or a catalog is available by calling 1-888-445-5051.
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