You probably think I'm wacko, but it's true - stress can be your best friend! Stress is actually a positive experience to be channeled to improve your life.
For instance, let me tell you about a small moment of stress I faced a few minutes ago.
Just before I boarded my flight from Phoenix to Seattle, I was talking to my husband Wade on my cell phone. Toward the end of our conversation, he told me how someone had commented on how the kids are dressed better when I'm around.
Now, I already know some of the things he's taken the kids to church in.....YIKES!
But, then he proceeds to tell me how Maegan had syrup in her hair, and it was all tangled, and he couldn't brush it out; so he took her over to the baby sitter that way anyway (uh-oh).
When he picked her up, they said they were going to do swimming the next day, so he took her back the next day the same way so the swimming could wash it out!!!
I about DIED!
No wonder they commented!!!!!
Now, to me, that is definitely a moment of stress!
But did you know that I gave me an opportunity to make my life and Maegan's life better?
Here, let me walk you through it.
How did I feel when I hear this story? I felt a little angry, embarrassed, frustrated, incredulous, shocked...
But did you know that it is a good thing that I felt that way? It is a good thing because it meant that it was going to cause some action.
Now, I could do a harmful type reaction and have an argument with husband, never go on a trip again, etc
or....I can use that emotion to think of a solution so that it doesn't happen again.
Which is precisely what I did.
First, I explained to my husband how to brush a girls long hair. It never occurred to me that I was the only one brushing her hair - and being a girl with long hair, it never occurred to me that someone would start brushing it from top on down! No wonder he could never get the tangles out. So, now he knows to start at the bottom and work his way up.
Secondly, I explained to him that when syrup is in the hair, you HAVE TO WASH IT! I don't know if he was waiting for it to deteriorate :-), or if he thought it would rub off on her pillow :-) or what......it's probably best I DON'T know what he thought! But anyway....
Thirdly, I explained how I washed her hair. Actually, as I right this, it is soooo hard NOT to laugh. I mean, for the moment our first two boys were born, Wade's done everything in taking care of them. And I guess he did for Maegan too, until her hair started getting long. Who would have known that a little hair could scare such a big, strong guy so much?
But, in a way, I do understand. Her head is sensitive from her cranial surgery, and he is particularly sensitive to his daughter. If she says "oww", he can't tell if it's real or not. I guess that's a mom thing.
Anyway - after I went through all of that, I told him when he needed to brush her hair and how often he had to wash it.
I just created a system so that the next time I'm on a trip, she will look great, he won't feel lost, and I won't be embarrassed.
If you look at ANY situation in life, you can go through the same process. You can face a stimulus, negatively re-act, or creatively solve.
What is in your life right now, this very second, that you are stressed about? Are you just ignoring it, hoping that it will go away? Are you trying to cover it up with eating, or are you suffering physically by lack of sleep from worry and insomnia?
Here's five steps to put your subconscious out of commission and use your conscious mind to use the stress to improve your life:
Stress can be your friend. Without it, you'll never be motivated to make a change for the better. And, it will NEVER go away. Life will never reach the point where everything goes great all the time.
And don't forget to teach this to your kids! They can have such an advantage in life to learn now how to positively channel negative experience into an opportunity for growth.
You can do the written exercise with them - or hey, you can even do it while cooking!
Show them:
You'll be teaching them really valuable important life skills and they'll be having the time of their life doing it!
About The Author
Laura Bankston is author of Internationally selling Cooking with Kids Curriculum: "Homeschool Cooking in a Box" and the "Homeschool Cookbook". She currently home schools her three children, maintains home school support websites, and manages their family-owned service business. For information on her curriculum that includes lots of recipes with cinnamon, visit http://www.homeschoolcookbook.com
http://www.homeschoolcookbook.com
Alto Pass chicago limos ..It's summertime and chances are you can remember a summer... Read More
It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to... Read More
WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYSExperts in the stress management field have... Read More
When we think about stress in the workplace, we usually... Read More
Everyday can be full of stress but we all deserve... Read More
If there was a way of relaxing quickly and easily... Read More
The main problem in a down economy is that workplaces... Read More
Living in our world today can be very stressful. While... Read More
Have you ever listened to someone, perhaps even to your... Read More
A stressless lifestyle? That's very easy to say. Yet it... Read More
I once worked with a woman whose zest,joy and enthusiasm... Read More
We've all been there, right? We find ourselves living with... Read More
Statistics tell us that more people have migraine headaches on... Read More
What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More
In our article about Exercise & Stress, we looked at... Read More
Self-Care Strategies:Substantial breakfast daily Regular sleeping habits (minimum of 7... Read More
26 ways to minimize and manage the unhealthy effects of... Read More
Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into... Read More
Make stress less of an issue for you in your... Read More
Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
Training Your Mind For Better Business and LeisureModern life moves... Read More
Everyone knows that stress isn't good - that it can... Read More
Ask a hundred different people how to deal with stress... Read More
Alto Pass cool limo ..What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More
When something happens in our lives, we automatically assess the... Read More
Statistics show that all of us experience stress at one... Read More
Many CEOs see stress as an intractable problem which would... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
Use these simple tips to minimize stress in your day... Read More
This is the time for daydreaming about your annual vacation.... Read More
Deceiving? You bet they are. How? Without your even knowing... Read More
Have you been feeling so stressful and almost losing your... Read More
The pace of life seems to quicken every year. More... Read More
Comedian George Carlin once remarked, "Have your ever noticed? Anyone... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
Aromatherapy is very therapeutic when it comes to healing emotional... Read More
Too much driving, too much shopping, too much rushing around,... Read More
In order to understand stress better, it is a good... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
Q. So many times in my life, I seem to... Read More
These days, when people have become so conscious about what... Read More
This heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How... Read More
* Play Romane's stress control seminar recordings, and read "The... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
Modern stress is habitual, and is something that the vast... Read More
My first real job (schedule, time clock, paycheck, boss) was... Read More
Stress Management |