All posts filed under: Stress Management

Hitting the Reset Switch

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  Many days don’t start off in the way we anticipate.  Sometimes it’s just a slow progression mounting problems and trying individuals.  While we would like to expect our day will be filled with only the positive, the reality is that stuff happens. (There’s another term that I won’t use!) The good news is we have the choice to restart our day at any point.  We have to consciously hit that reset switch.  It seems to get a little worn out at times, but it’s always available.  When we train ourselves to design a new frame for the negative events and difficult people we encounter during the course of our day as simply being moments in time, we are able to proceed with our day letting go of it. We develop the attitude of this too shall pass. (And it usually does!) The reality is that the other person we may be having difficulties with has already moved contently on down the line, without any concern about our resentment or anger. Why shouldn’t we do …

Talking Back to Stress Anxiety

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    When we live in anxiety, it amounts to a constant state of worry. While it’s normal to be concerned about the daily occurrences in our lives, it takes on a “life of its own” when we become consumed with negative thoughts. Our bodies and mind are equipped to handle routine stress with the levels of adrenaline on an as needed basis. At times, we enter into that flight or fight mode, even when no real physical threat exists. When this happens we’re asking our bodies to go beyond the call of duty, and the extra effort takes a toll on our balance of mind, body, and spirit.  There are some things we can do to talk back to our stress anxiety!  The approach used in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), asks us to take a more realistic approach. This requires us to look at a situation as it really is and give ourselves some feedback. By questioning the facts, as they REALLY are, we can look at situations as being positive, negative or simply neutral. Here …

Free-Floating Anxiety

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    We’ve all experienced that pervasive feeling of being “out of sorts.” We can’t quite put our finger on it, but somethings’s out of whack. If we really examine the root cause, it’s usually something going on inside that is a result of an outside influence. Of course it’s fear-based. We have a fear of losing something we have or not getting what we want. We dread future events that usually never come to pass, at least not in the way we anticipate. It kind of goes back to the acronym for F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) We play out all of the worst case scenarios. We even rehearse in our minds the way things are going to go down. “Well when they say that, my reply or argument is going to be this.”  There are the times we are anxious about an event or encounter because it might not have the desired outcome we have in mind. There are still other circumstance when we have that free floating sense of Dis Ease because …

Finding Value in Imperfection

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We live in a culture where looks and appearances are everything. We are bombarded with images of how we are supposed to look, act, and spend our time. All of these messages come to us from a variety of sources. The media and entertainment industry present us with depiction of successful people, and those who have arrived. The truth of the matter is that for most of us, we are as far removed from this type of existence as most of these people are from reality. Our young women have a desire to live up to a standard of beauty and sexuality that is neither realistic, nor does it promote spirituality. Many people feel the need to enhance pics of themselves on Instagram, or constantly keep checking their Facebook during the course of the day to see how many “likes” they have. Thank goodness there isn’t an option for “dislikes” or “so-so”, because we would have yet another means for bruising other people’s egos. It’s been said the “Comparison is the thief of joy.” There …

Finding Serenity in Chronic Stress

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    Previously we’ve been discussing two types of stress, eustress and DIStress,  and how we can use some techniques and tools at our disposal to better deal with situations. Another type of stress is chronic stress, and is the most pervasive and dangerous of all. Acute stress involves the things that require our immediate attention. Hopefully we can deal with it successfully on some level, and move onto the “next drama.”  Unfortunately there are some circumstances and situations that just won’t go away, and this becomes chronic stress. Things such as an illness, divorce, a family member abusing substances, or ongoing disputes with others can take a toll on us. We see no end to the trouble, nor a light at the end of the tunnel. Chronic stress begins to affect our perceptions because they are usually based on emotions. We lose our joy for life, our focus, and most importantly, our health.  A life coach specializing in stress management can empower a client to be able to begin to see the “light at the …

Dealing with DIStress

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    Previously we discussed Eustress, which is the type of stress generated by basically happy, and positive life changing events.  There is another form it can take when we find ourselves in situations that are a bit more serious in nature, and force us into areas we might not feel equipped to handle, and out of our coping zone. It sometimes presents itself as an immediate situation provoking anxiety or concern. It might be short term as in a job loss, brief illness, or accident. It may be long term, such as an ongoing divorce battle, or an extended illness of a loved one. It is unpleasant or may even be perceived as unbearable because it brings us so far out of our comfort zone. It can impact us greatly in that it diminishes our ability to focus or perform the tasks that are required of us. During these times, a life coach can be an invaluable partner giving you an objective appraisal of the situation.  In this way offering suggestions based on their life …

The Good Stress

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  When we think of stress, we conjure up images of ragged nerves and having a short fuse. However there is actually some stress that’s good for us. Eustress can be positive and actually motivational. It involves an element of newness or excitement, and usually falls within our coping limits. They are circumstances where we are called to rise to the occasion. It usually affects the happiness and joy of others as well as us personally.  Some examples might be planning a large function, vacation, retirement, wedding, or buying a home. Since motivation can serve to improve focus, it increases our ability to perform or complete a task. Some people still experience a sense of anxiety when dealing with eustress involving happy situations involving change or adjustments. A life coach can help you identify some of the things that get in the way of the enjoyment of these events such as procrastination, indecision, fear of failure, or people pleasing. A personal growth plan includes setting small goals with realistic time frames. Though the life coaching partnership, opportunities for …

Stress and Balance

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When our lives are fraught with stress, our “Cross of Life” becomes lopsided, and no longer resembles the a balance of work, play, love and worship. Usually one aspect is getting more attention than the others, or in some cases one is being completely neglected. An individual will attempt to meet their temperament needs by pursuing fame, fortune, power, and control but is left with a spiritual void that can only be filled by God. By turning to God in times of stress we acknowledge this by taking on this philosophy: “It occurs to me that God takes me very seriously. If that’s the case, I must be free of that chore.” This brings us to the relation between stress and spiritual well being. Our spiritual side has needs that must be met, and we can only do so with establishing and maintaining a relationship with God. This in turn gives meaning to our trials and tribulations by recognizing the things that are out of our control and those which require a plan of action on our part. A …