Changing Your Relationship with Stress

Stress is often perceived as the environmental or external situations that occur around or to us. These events or circumstances often trigger stress responses such as emotional distress, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and surged adrenalin and cortisol. Overtime, these effects can take a toll on the body and the mind. However, thoughts and narratives created in the mind play a powerful role in the body’s response to what is happening. Learning how to deal effectively with stress requires thoughtful responses rather than automatic reactions to external events. Transform your relationship with stress by practicing these skills to change your thoughts and state of mind!

Meditate – Learn to heal and strengthen mental wellness through the practice of awareness. Awareness is the art of acknowledging the present without judgment and letting thoughts simply come and pass. Research shows that people who practice meditation regularly have reduced risk for hypertension, heart disease, and anxiety.

Conscious Communication – Words have the power to evoke strong emotions so choose them wisely! Try to be thoughtful when communicating. For example, try to avoid words with negative connotations and replace them with positive ones. This will encourage you to seek the bright side in every situation!

Body Awareness – The next time a stressful situation arises, tune your attention to physical sensations. Are your teeth clenched? Are your brows furrowed? Is your breath shallow? Paying attention to the body’s automatic reaction to stress allows us to relieve physical tension that can exacerbate stress.

Source: www.chopra.com