To manage your stress, a common situation we face on a daily basis, it is critical to have a plan, to follow it step by step and to stick to it.
Step 1.
Find the source of your stress. Either it is considered as a major stressor such as changing your job or ending a relationship, or a minor one, it is your response to it that dictates how much stress you are going through. Identifying the source of your stress is big step toward analyzing your response to it.
Step 2.
Now that you know the source of our stress, lets take a closer look to your response to it. Think about your feeling about your response. Usually, it is not the situation but OUR FEELING ABOUT OUR REACTIONs TO IT CAUSES MOST OF OUR STRESS.
Step 3.
Time to change our unhealthy response to stress. Whatever your reaction to stress is, change it if doesn’t make you feel better. List your reactions AND WRITE THEM DOWN ON A PAPER. now shorten your list by removing the ones that are not helping you to solve the actual cause of the tress. Procrastinating, drinking, sleeping, blaming the others….don’t worry if nothing will be left on the list after summarizing your original one. Take it as good sign, as it points you the actual source of your stress…NOT HAVING A RIGHT RESPONSE TO IT!
Step 4.
If you can not eliminate a stressful situation (most of them are just in our minds and never get to reality, we can simply eliminate them), try to resolve it rather than avoiding it. Resolving it has two sides itself. Either changing the situation, or changing yourself to adopt to situation. To change either of them always consider the right strategy, avoid people who stress you out or feel your mind with negativity. You don’t think negative yourself. It is however the physiological nature of our minds to focus on negative aspects of life rather than positive ones. This is the mechanism for survival during evolution to recognize danger. But you must have control on it and stop it when you see it goes to a vicious self-repeating cycle.
Step 5.
Chronic stress is toxic to your brain and will damage your neurons. So try some new response to protect you from making your mind a permanent home for it. Always look at the big picture. Most of the thing that happens to us, happens for a reason. Don’t be afraid of expressing your feeling or talking to people who are ready to help you. Try to make a balance it your life, as there is always a reason to be happy. Adjust your standards, do not try to control people, but to connect to them.
And finally move on, life is going forward, and that is our decision to move with it.
