This present is yours for the taking. It’s a simple gift. Why don’t you open it and receive the benefits of stress relief, peace, serenity, and healing?
Sometimes, simple is best.
Stress (or more accurately, how to relieve it) is a favorite research topic of mine. I’ve read dozens of books, written books and articles, and taught workshops on the subject.
Sharing ways to relieve stress really gets me going.
But, despite the fact that Amazon features nearly 85,000 books on the subject, stress management doesn’t have to be all that complicated.
Here’s the most important thing you need to know:
Stress happens naturally.
Stress-relief does not.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m going to try and feel stressed out today.” Or, “I really should be stressed more often.”
Of course you wouldn’t!
Getting stressed is usually an unintentional process. But getting unstressed takes intention. We have to DO something to get out of stress. We have to put thought into it and plan, take action, and practice new behaviors.
To Relieve Stress, Start Here
Wondering where to begin?
Take a deep breath and read on.
Here are a few simple techniques to try. (And, you’ve already done one of them!)
- Deep breathing
- Stretching (shoulder rolls are great!)
- Sipping water, tea, or your favorite green juice
- Laughing
- Inhaling mood-boosting and healing scents (essential oils are great!)
- Reflecting for a moment on your current physical surroundings
- Aligning (improving) your posture
- Keeping a gratitude journal
Trigger This, Not That
Do you know why these techniques work to relieve stress?
These easy practices cause us to break an unhealthy pattern. They trigger the parasympathetic nervous system to engage and get to work (the relaxation response).
For a moment in time, at least, we’re not ruminating about the past, or worrying about the future. We’re simply aware of the here and now.
By shifting our focus away from either the past or future, we halt the stress triggers to the brain. When worries, fear, and anxiety are present, our brain sends out the signal to generate stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline.
For obvious reasons, it’s important to break this pattern as often as possible. And, in a way, it’s as simple as choosing to accept present as a gift.
Mindfulness. The present moment.
Unwrap one simple moment in time for #Stress relief. Click To Tweet
To initiate stress relief, unwrap one simple moment in time.
The Present as a Gift
Here’s a great quote from a family physician who has made the study of stress reduction his business:
“Each time you mindfully let go of thoughts about how life should be,
and enjoy life as it is, you change your brain.”[1]
– Dr. Jay Winner
For more articles on stress and chronic illness (there’s even such a thing as good stress!) check out this Feeling Stressed Out article.
Can you give and share this gift of stress relief today?
[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stress-remedy/200810/the-challenge-living-in-the-present
Hey kiddo, just a quick note to let you know I want your cook book! LOL…Seriously, I have been searching out different ideas for receipe’s to get rid of all the inflammation in my body, my last lab’s came back with the inflammation off the richter scale….probably due to the CRPS/RSD, and the Fibro…so I am trying to eat non- inflammatory foods, tough to do when I have a husband that is one picky eater. I am also starting to do water walking again, I walk my little doxie at least a mile if not more a day, stretch morning and evening, and do a whole lotta praying! God is SO good, and he has done some amazing miracles already to this busted body of mine. One two many years of playing with horses…..but they are the Love of my life!
Thank you so much for being my friend, and bringing miracles to me….take good care!
Karen Blaine <3
Karen – it sounds like you’re on the right track! God IS good — all the time. When it comes to mealtime, do what’s best for you and everyone will benefit.