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Self Help Stress Management
- Self Help Article
Bust that stress with this self help stress management guide. You can feel more in control right away.
Actually, this is more than just a simple self help stress management guide. By getting into this powerful mindset, you can have more control over other aspects of your life too - don't just "manage" it, take control of your life!
The first thing to realise is that stress is a symptom or manifestation of a deeper issue. That issue is the absence of the resources needed to deal with a particular challenge. It doesn't mean you're incapable or unworthy in any way - just that you don't have access to the necessary tools... yet.
A mechanic may have the most impressive collection of tools for any possible job, but if he doesn't have all the information about the task, he won't know which ones will be most useful.
A symptom shines a light on its cause - so it makes sense to pay attention to it. Don't resist or try to suppress the feelings of stress - acknowledge them as the indicator they truly are. You could even thank them for raising their concern. Once acknowledged, they no longer need to try so hard to get your attention.
Now, about that cause and how you may notice it. Examine the triggers:
- What needs to be true for the feelings of stress to appear?
- And how do you it's stress, not something else?
There will be a unique signature or combination of feelings that you can learn to spot for any future occurrences. That could be useful...
Next, on to locating those elusive resources. In "full-on stress mode", you're actually too close to it to be able to affect anything. What you need is some distance from the problem:
Let's take a positive move from subjective to objective. This is also called a 'disassociated' position:
- Locate some floor space with room all around you.
- Stand in the middle of the space and acknowledge the feelings of stress.
- Physically take two steps back, leaving an imaginary representation of yourself behind.
You are now in a place of resources, as the stress is with the other you. Look at your stressed self, as an impartial observer.
- As you look at yourself, what do you notice about the situation?
- How much more are you aware of the bigger picture now, and free to be able to realise solutions that the other you is presently unaware of?
- Which elements are affecting you, and which elements are you able to change?
- How much more control do you actually have over the situation than you initially realised?
Like the mechanic with all the tools, allow the information to present itself to you in this place of impartiality.
- Take this knowledge with you, and take two steps forward into your other self.
- Re-integrate and allow these new insights to take hold and inspire you.
Now, who's in charge? That's right, you most certainly are - and with renewed clarity and purpose. Go to it!
You may also be interested in
this article on Daily Motivation
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