We are all aware of the stressful times we are surrounded with, and these situations can easily lead us to feeling overwhelmed. Learning to combat stress is a helpful skill we can learn so as to regain a maximized quality of life. There is a very effective way of doing this, through cognitive redirection, and focusing on the positive aspects of our lives instead of the negative ones. By taking the time to acknowledge good fortune in our lives, and not allowing setbacks or problems to become dominating factor in our outlook allows us to deal with stress on a more successful level.
It's easier to be ungrateful about the bad cards we are dealt than to be grateful for what we do have and achieve. Sometimes it takes disaster to make us grateful for the things that we take for granted: a roof overhead, a warm bed and hot shower. Identifying the things we should be grateful for is an exercise in positive thinking that can actually change the way that we feel and balance out the effects of stress.
The factors causing stress are many, but it is defined as a state where an individual is not in equilibrium with their individual surroundings. It is known to us now that the distinction between both body and mind is of limited usefulness. Negative thoughts are able to have an affect on the body, just as trauma can affect the mind. Experiences of stress prompting negative emotions may have a direct affect when it comes to body chemistry. In response to any threat or stress, our bodies produce hormones and other chemicals, such as adrenalin and cortisol.
Fortunately the opposite also applies. A calming environment and positive thoughts can combat the physical and mental effects of stress. By taking a little bit of time out every day to concentrate on the positive - even as little as five minutes - you can separate yourself from the causes and effects of stress.
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!
It may initially be difficult to identify those particular things you have to be grateful for, especially if you are already stressed, tense and can't see the forest for the trees. Take time to practice, and start with easy things such as a sunny day, or a new rose on your bushes. You will more than likely rely on hindsight to start, but with time and a little effort you will notice it becoming easier.
As you train yourself to recognize how many things you have to be grateful for, you will stop taking these things for granted. Seeing that flower blossoming will immediately trigger the recognition that there is much to celebrate. As you integrate this appreciation into your daily functioning you will discover how the process reinforces positive thinking and with it your capacity to deal with stress. - 16890
It's easier to be ungrateful about the bad cards we are dealt than to be grateful for what we do have and achieve. Sometimes it takes disaster to make us grateful for the things that we take for granted: a roof overhead, a warm bed and hot shower. Identifying the things we should be grateful for is an exercise in positive thinking that can actually change the way that we feel and balance out the effects of stress.
The factors causing stress are many, but it is defined as a state where an individual is not in equilibrium with their individual surroundings. It is known to us now that the distinction between both body and mind is of limited usefulness. Negative thoughts are able to have an affect on the body, just as trauma can affect the mind. Experiences of stress prompting negative emotions may have a direct affect when it comes to body chemistry. In response to any threat or stress, our bodies produce hormones and other chemicals, such as adrenalin and cortisol.
Fortunately the opposite also applies. A calming environment and positive thoughts can combat the physical and mental effects of stress. By taking a little bit of time out every day to concentrate on the positive - even as little as five minutes - you can separate yourself from the causes and effects of stress.
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!
It may initially be difficult to identify those particular things you have to be grateful for, especially if you are already stressed, tense and can't see the forest for the trees. Take time to practice, and start with easy things such as a sunny day, or a new rose on your bushes. You will more than likely rely on hindsight to start, but with time and a little effort you will notice it becoming easier.
As you train yourself to recognize how many things you have to be grateful for, you will stop taking these things for granted. Seeing that flower blossoming will immediately trigger the recognition that there is much to celebrate. As you integrate this appreciation into your daily functioning you will discover how the process reinforces positive thinking and with it your capacity to deal with stress. - 16890
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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.
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