Can you really lead a stress-free life? In actual fact, living a stress free life is not a reasonable or desirable goal. What you should be aiming at is to deal with stress actively and effectively so that it does not become a destructive force. One way to do this is to study and copy those people who are naturally resistant to stress. These are the people who cope in the most appalling circumstances with what appears to be an uncanny serenity.
When researchers studied these people, they discovered that they all share distinctive habits. First off, they tend to focus on immediate issues rather than global ones. They couple this with an optimistic, explanatory approach. A stress resistant person may, for example, say something like, ëI am tired today,í rather than, ëThat’s it, Iím all washed up,í thereby assigning a temporary nature to their troubles and diminishing the associated negativity.
Stress resistant people also tend to be specific about circumstances and attributes rather than dealing in generalities. They may, for example, say something like, ëI have a bad habit,í rather than, ëI am a bad person.í They also give themselves credit when things go right and externalise their failures by, for example, saying something like, ëThat was a difficult audience,í rather than, ëI gave a horrible presentation.í By emulating these stress resistant people we can certainly lead a stress-reduced life if not a stress-free one.
Other known antidotes to stress include techniques such as meditation, massage and relaxation exercises. Exercise is another excellent way to manage stress as it increases the body’s production of morphine-like endorphins while improving the oxygen supply to the brain and releasing tension from the muscles. Other stress reduction and management options include yoga, biofeedback and music therapy. All of these techniques can be used in conjunction with one or more of the others so do what works for you.
But why is it that such vastly different techniques have similar benefits when it comes to combating stress? Experts agree that they work because they counteract the feelings of helplessness and powerlessness that often accompany stress. It would seem, therefore, that taking steps to manage and control stress moves us forward towards a life that, if not stress-free, is productive because of stress rather than in spite of it.
Can you really lead a stress free life? No – but then you wouldnít want to. Stress is a part of a life well lived, the sort of life that inevitably involves change. While change, or rather resistance to it, causes stress, by simply embracing it and re-framing it in positive terms we can use it propel ourselves forward to newer and even better things. As stress resistant people know, all situations are temporary. By externalising them when they are negative we prevent them from overwhelming us and by owning them when they are positive we set ourselves up for a healthy, stress resistant existence.
Check out Stress Relief Secrets to learn effective ways to manage and even eliminate your stress!
