Stress Reducer Blog

When things are uncertain our natural inclination is to push toward the desired outcome. The problem is that when we’re afraid of the other possible outcomes we feel stress, anxiety and fear to such an extent that effective action becomes virtually impossible. 

By accepting the worst, energy is freed up to deal effectively with the situation at hand.

You really need to experience this to get it, so I invite you to take 15 minutes (actually just a bit over 13 minutes) to listen to this audio. Find a comfortable place to sit and follow along with the exercise.

Reminder – Jumping into the biggest, scariest scenario is usually too much so approach this exercise gently and begin with something other than the big 3 stresses…relationships, health and finances. As you become more comfortable with the concept and have some direct experience, you can move on to larger issues.

Technorati Tags: stress reduction exercise

I’ve always been one for jumping right in so here it goes. 

I know I’m starting with one of the toughest ways to reduce stress, and I will get to some of the easier stress reducers as we go along, but the lack of certainty in our lives is probably the most potent cause of stress, anxiety and fear. Befriending that lack of certainty is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress.

So let’s see if I can make some sense of this…

What do you think is more stressful…losing your job or fearing you might lose your job? …a relationship that has ended or worrying about it ending?…worrying about being sick or actually getting a dreaded diagnosis?

You catch my drift, yes?

Uncertainty always creates more stress even when certainty brings with it the most feared outcome.

When my mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1984, the first 4 months were much harder than the last 4. Why? 

In the beginning we knew she might die, but we had hope she might not. By February of 1985, we knew she was dying, and that was infinitely easier to deal with than the not knowing. Don’t get me wrong, it was not the outcome we as a family wanted, but knowing what we were dealing with and what we were preparing for was so much easier than not knowing.

Sounds a bit counterintuitive doesn’t it? Who wants to face their worst fears? Not too many of us, but it’s the unwillingness to face those fears that creates some of our most overwhelming stress.

So what to do? 

Tomorrow I’ll share a brief stress reducer exercise to help you make peace with uncertainty and reduce your stress by facing your fears. We’ll start small I promise.

In the meantime, think about uncertainty as a cause of your stress. Does it make sense to you? What about the idea of facing your worst fears? If you are so inclined, please share your thoughts and reactions.

Technorati Tags: Dealing with Uncertainty, reduce stress, Stress Reducer

Have you noticed how stress, anxiety and fear have gone viral? 

Yes, I know you have, but that doesn’t mean you have to catch it. 

In addition to a real live financial crisis, we are being fed a steady diet of doom and gloom that keeps magnifying the problem. It’s something akin to sitting in an echo chamber where all you hear is “Be afraid, be very afraid” over and over and over again.

It’s not good for the nervous system. It’s not good for anyone’s physical health. And it doesn’t do much for our emotional lives as well.

The worst part is that when we are overwhelmed by stress, anxiety and fear, we don’t think clearly. That means that we are less able to make good choices in the face of real life problems.

Mastering stress, anxiety and fear is what the Stress Reducer Blog is all about. That doesn’t mean beating it into submission. It does mean taking steps to diminish it’s effects so you can make good decisions for you and your family. 

I know lots about stress, anxiety and fear, but I communicate it best in dialogue. So let me know what’s on your mind. Let me know what you need right now to reduce your level of stress and meet the current challenges in your life. I would love to hear from you, and I would love to help.

Technorati Tags: Stress Reducer