To get a handle on this stress situation let's get into the topic of Wellness. Most people think Wellness is all about your health. That's only one part. Wellness is actually multiple aspects of your life. I really like the way The World Health Organization and The National Institute of Wellness define it...
"...a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
- The World Health Organization
"a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential."
- The National Wellness Institute
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Wellness is an ongoing, dynamic process of change and growth. The quickest way to move towards true wellness is to manage your stress. Stress management allows you to deal with ups and downs of life without losing yourself in the moment. You're able to manage the emotions of an argument with your spouse without it negatively affecting your kids or job.
As you can see, your physical, chemical and emotional stress has its origin in one of these Life Areas. Most of us weren't given the proper tools or mindset to deal with life. I'm not calling anyone out here. I'm making the point that we're all doing the best we can with what we've got. We might be awesome in some areas and not so awesome in others. We operate from a place of fear and scarcity. The trickle effect of this is nothing short of startling. Time to suck it up buttercup, YOU are the expert of your life and 100% responsible for it.
As you start to identify the stressors in your life you are cultivating awareness. Once you begin to acknowledge what you're experiencing you can move towards resolving it. You can't change a situation or difficulty that you refuse to acknowledge. It some areas this will be easy. In others it might feel much harder.
If we take a moment to reflect on each of these areas: consider the areas that feel easy, the ones where you struggle, how often you feel anxious or overwhelmed in relation to any of these. Maybe your spouse spends more than your household makes or you have poor boundaries with your co-workers.
I invite you to consider that life's challenges or stresses, fall in into at least one of the following: Physical Stress, Chemical Stress and Emotional Stress. If we can get to the root cause of stress and implement tools to manage it, true wellness is the result.
Maintaining True Wellness is about beginning again every day. Wellness isn't a state you reach and magically stay in. It's about your daily choices and staying in the process of growth and change...even when it's hard.
Breathe, You've got this!
It won't happen overnight.
It will take daily practice.
The more you practice the easier it gets.
Small steps daily = long-term progress
You can do it!
Read more about the 3 Categories of Stress here.
Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash
