STRESS IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT!!

Being relaxed is the opposite of being stressed. We live in times of incredible changes and life paces that threaten our sense of well being on a daily basis. As daily pressures mount over time, they can play havoc with our emotional and physical health if not kept in check.

The difference between getting sick and staying healthy can begin with learning how to manage our daily stressors in a positive way at an early age. That means learning to identify our symptoms of stress and to intervene to alleviate them as soon as they arise. Ignoring any problem is not the answer and it is also true with ignoring out of control stress.

1. STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE: A "crisis" today is not the end of the world. The world won't end if every problem is not solved or totally completed today. Will any of this really matter in a year? Life will never be exactly what we want it to be. Focus on the positive and adjust your attitude to deal with the rest.

2. SET BOUNDARIES: Learn to say NO when your "plate of obligations is full enough." Protect yourself from people, places and situations that overstress you. Know your acceptable stress levels and stay within them whenever you have a choice.

3. MAKE "MIND" SOUP: Learn to utilize the back burner of your brain. Think of it as making soup. In a pot put all the thoughts and ideas you need to mull. Leave the heat on low and simmer while you take care of daily responsibilities. When the "soup" is finished, the answers will come forward through the delectable aromas to the foreground of your mind.

4. PRACTICE STRESS RELIEF BREATHING: Excel slowly. Empty your mind completely of stressful thoughts. Take a long deep cleansing breath and inhale fresh air and peaceful thoughts. When your mind is peaceful and your stress level is lower, you'll be more effective in your daily routines.

5. CONTROL SNOWBALL THINKING: Self-control of your stress is a priority. Learn to control your thoughts of your "Daily Have To Do List/Deadlines" before they snowball into building a stress mountain. Things seldom are as bad as they seem. Learn that most stressors will pass or reaarrange themselves in intensity for easier tolerance.

6. LEARN TO LAUGH & CRY: God's gifts to cleansing the mind and inner soul, providing emotional support for ourselves and others. Learn to laugh with others and at yourself. Learn to cry to release pent up emotions, work through life events and gain strength from trusted persons. To learn to share love and compassion is a great gift of relaxation.

7. CREATE YOUR QUIET PLACE: Whether it be emersed in the warm soothing waters of a scented bubble bath surrounded by relaxing music and dimly lit candles or along a quiet winding garden path listening to the sounds and smells of nature, find your own special place to retreat from stress for a few minutes a day. Do this just for yourself. 15 minutes a day of peace and serenity does wonders for quieting the mind after a long stressful day.

8. RELEASE ANGER & FRUSTRATION: It is important to learn to relase your anger and frustration in a positive way through your choice of daily exercise. For one thing, the exercise encourages you to think about other things and forces you to inhale fresh air to help clear your mind. It is also a perfect time for attitude adjustment and accepting that you may not be able to rid your life of your stressors but you can learn how to deal with them in a more positive way by adjustiing your attitude toward them.

9. ACCEPT THAT IT IS OK TO PAMPER YOURSELF: Treat yourself regularly to those experiences you trully enjoy but seldom get. Learn to give yourself a massage if you can't afford a profesional one. Buy a CD and listen to your favorite music if you can't afford to go to a concert. Hire a babysitter and fix a quiet candle lit dinner at home alone with a special person. Remember to turn off the cell phones during your time of pampering.

10. DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU: EAT HEALTHY by avoiding sugar, fat and additives. Drink lots of water; limit soda, alcohol, coffee, sodapop. Rely on benefits of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains. SLEEP according to your body's needs. The 6-8 hr per night is NOT a universal golden rule. Making yourself lay in bed because you "should" when you are not sleepy only adds to your stress.

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. "Art Linkletter

“Life is what’s happening while we’re busy making other plans.” John Lennon