It's so easy to get overwhelmed during these stressful times we are living in. The skill of combating stress is one that we can learn to achieve a heightened quality of life. A very effective way to battle stress is with cognitive redirection as well as focusing on positive aspects of our lives instead of negatives. By acknowledging any good fortunes in our lives, while not allowing problems and setbacks to take over our outlook on life is a simple, yet important way to deal with any stress we may encounter.
It may be easier to feel ungrateful about the bad situations and circumstance we are dealt with than to be grateful for those things we have, and the achievements we have made. Occasionally it takes something disastrous happening to get us thinking about how grateful we can be for the things often taken for granted: a roof overhead, a warm bed and hot shower. By identifying those things we should be grateful for is an exercise in positive thinking, and can actually change the way that we see things, and how it can balance out the effects of stress.
Stress is caused by many factors, but it is defined as a maladaptive state where the individual is not in equilibrium with his or her surroundings. We now know that the distinction between the body and the mind is of limited usefulness. Trauma to the body can affect the mind and negative thoughts can affect the body. Stressful experiences that prompt negative emotions have a direct affect on the chemistry of the body. Our bodies produce hormones and other chemical substances, including adrenalin and cortisol, in response to threat and stress.
We are fortunate enough to have the opposite apply as well. Any calm environment and/or positive thoughts are able to combat both the physical and mental effects of stress. Taking a little time out of every day to concentrate on the positive - even a small period of time as little as five minutes - you can easily separate yourself from stressors and their effects.
Problems can hang over the things going well, leaving a shadow and distorting perceptions. By learning to recognize those gifts of good fortune can drastically change our perspective. For example, we panic about uncompleted work instead of giving ourselves a pat on the back for our achievements. Especially in situations where stress is of a prolonged nature, it could develop into patterns of automatically jumping to negative conclusions. By focusing on those things that make us happy is quite the technique for disrupting that negative pattern of thinking, and thus reducing stress. It can even give our immune system a boost!
When you are stressed or tense, it may start out looking like quite a bit of hard work to identify those things you are grateful for. Practice and patience will provide you with the ability to take the time to smell the roses so to speak. At first it may be a case of hindsight being 20/20 but with time it will become automatic.
While training yourself to be able to recognize those many things to be grateful for, you will stop taking things for granted. Seeing those items that may seem trivial to some, such as the bud of a new leaf on a tree, or a new tulip in the garden, will trigger the recognition and with it the internal need for celebration. As it becomes integrated more easily into your daily routine you will be able to see just how the process can reinforce your ability to deal with stress while you practice positive thinking. - 16036
It may be easier to feel ungrateful about the bad situations and circumstance we are dealt with than to be grateful for those things we have, and the achievements we have made. Occasionally it takes something disastrous happening to get us thinking about how grateful we can be for the things often taken for granted: a roof overhead, a warm bed and hot shower. By identifying those things we should be grateful for is an exercise in positive thinking, and can actually change the way that we see things, and how it can balance out the effects of stress.
Stress is caused by many factors, but it is defined as a maladaptive state where the individual is not in equilibrium with his or her surroundings. We now know that the distinction between the body and the mind is of limited usefulness. Trauma to the body can affect the mind and negative thoughts can affect the body. Stressful experiences that prompt negative emotions have a direct affect on the chemistry of the body. Our bodies produce hormones and other chemical substances, including adrenalin and cortisol, in response to threat and stress.
We are fortunate enough to have the opposite apply as well. Any calm environment and/or positive thoughts are able to combat both the physical and mental effects of stress. Taking a little time out of every day to concentrate on the positive - even a small period of time as little as five minutes - you can easily separate yourself from stressors and their effects.
Problems can hang over the things going well, leaving a shadow and distorting perceptions. By learning to recognize those gifts of good fortune can drastically change our perspective. For example, we panic about uncompleted work instead of giving ourselves a pat on the back for our achievements. Especially in situations where stress is of a prolonged nature, it could develop into patterns of automatically jumping to negative conclusions. By focusing on those things that make us happy is quite the technique for disrupting that negative pattern of thinking, and thus reducing stress. It can even give our immune system a boost!
When you are stressed or tense, it may start out looking like quite a bit of hard work to identify those things you are grateful for. Practice and patience will provide you with the ability to take the time to smell the roses so to speak. At first it may be a case of hindsight being 20/20 but with time it will become automatic.
While training yourself to be able to recognize those many things to be grateful for, you will stop taking things for granted. Seeing those items that may seem trivial to some, such as the bud of a new leaf on a tree, or a new tulip in the garden, will trigger the recognition and with it the internal need for celebration. As it becomes integrated more easily into your daily routine you will be able to see just how the process can reinforce your ability to deal with stress while you practice positive thinking. - 16036
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Using gratitude to reduce stress can become a regular part of your day. Visit the Gratitude Circle Blog for tips for positive thinking and making gratitude an important part of your life. While you're there, claim your free subscription to the Gratitude Circle Newsletter, full of inspiring stories, articles and tips for maintaining a happier, more fulfilling life.
