“There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Easing the stress you feel begins with S-E-L-F!
S is for Serenity! A simple technique called “relaxation response” is one of the best and easiest ways to achieve a greater degree of stress-reducing serenity.
What to do? - Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes. Choose a calming word or short phrase, such as “letting go: or “all is well.” As you slowly exhale, repeat the word or phrase over and over. Or. . . sing, pray, pet a cat, make yourself laugh.
E is for Exercise! Exercise doesn’t have to be a sweaty workout at the gym. Stress-relieving exercise is any motion - walking your dog, going dancing, getting the tension out of your muscles with a yoga stretch.
What to do? - Exercise for at least 20 minutes five times a week.
L is for Love! A heartfelt connection to family and friends reduces stress.
What to do? - Just as you schedule any appointment, block out time in your calendar to spend time relaxing with family and friends. Even little gestures, such as sending e-mail to a friend asking how he/she is, can reduce stress.
F is for Food! Wholesome food is medicine for stress. Healthy food helps improve your mood, sleep and health.
What to do? - At least once a week, eat fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids (such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring, etc.), which nourish brain cells and have been shown to ease stress and reduce hostility and depression.
Avoid foods and beverages that aggravate stress, including coffee and tea with caffeine. . . foods high in sugar. . . and alcohol, which may seem to de-stress you, but when the effects wear off, you tend to feel even more anxious.
Copyright © 2008 - Bottom Line Personal. www.BottomLineSecrets.com.
When we honestly ask which persons in out lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief or bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness. . . makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other is what really matters.
Copyright © 2008 - Henri F. M. Nouwen.
