Post by Samana:
Considering how much emphasis is placed on stress in our society, it’s worth exploring further. The next definition of stress I found was this, “ the physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another; strain.
That’s often how I feel when I’m stressed. I feel a strain to get something done or to get somewhere on time. Again, this is self-imposed. There is nothing weighing down on me other than my own beliefs and expectations.
It’s funny how stress can almost feel like a weight on our bodies. We all tend to feel it in different places, some in the belly, some in the neck and shoulders and others in the lower back. Some people get irritable and angry. Some get anxious and worried and still others get hopeless and despondent.
It's good to become aware of how you feel stress. Then you can better address it early. If you feel yourself getting stressed, breathe, pause and look at your thoughts. See if they are really true for you. I find often they aren’t for me and I can more easily let my tension go.
Unless a bookcase has fallen on you, you don’t really have a strain or stress other than a story playing in your mind. Since your stress is based on a story, you can start to break free of it.
The first step is awareness. Next time you find yourself screaming at the kids, pause, breathe and notice what you were feeling and thinking. Through simple awareness, we can start to detach from our beliefs and expectations, and feel less stressed.
The less stress you feel each day, the happier and healthier you’ll be. The whole family will benefit.