Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which is understood to be a threat. It can be any force or pressure put on a system (living or nonliving) which may result in a need for the system to adapt or change. Stress on human beings is like a rubber band. You also stretch to meet the environment around you, the demands of your lifestyle, and the pressures you put on yourself. If pulled too far, stress manifests itself in real conditions mentally, physically, and emotionally. Like a rubber band breaks when stretched too far, human beings have a breaking point too. The secret is to learn how to handle stress in your life and avoid becoming over-stressed.
The A B C's of Stress
Activating event
Belief about the event
Consequences of the event
Stress is the internal pressure we put on ourselves from external factors. Living with moderate stress keeps you sharp and ready to move forward, however extreme stress can put you out of commission. It depends on your stress levels---how much you can deal with effectively. Some people thrive with stressful situations and some people snap at the slightest uncomfortable circumstance. Depending on your current stress level, when confronted with a stressor, you may respond with shock or feel stuck.
The fast-paced, technologically advanced, complicated world has brought many changes to our lives. The pace of change does not seem to be decreasing, but rather increasing all the time. These changes put more demands and pressures on each of us to make adjustments to do more with less. While stress is a definite modern world reality, being "stressed-out" is not. We mistakenly believe that being stressed-out is "just the way it is." And we often get in competition with each other about who feels the worst!
This is crazy thinking. Stress can be a powerful motivator in our lives, and in fact, you can learn to use stress to your advantage. If you think about it---one form of stress or another is responsible for everything big and small in our world. For example, the earth "stresses" a piece of coal until it turns into a beautiful diamond. The key is to find out how you can use the stress in your life to create a diamond out of a rock!
As with most things in life, prevention is the best medicine. By learning about your personal health risks, family history, current health, and life choices (eating, exercise, smoking, drinking, stress) you can make smarter decisions. Ultimately, your life choices affect how you feel and how you function.
Stress management comes down to self-management. It is about selecting appropriate options as well as making smart decisions.
The best way to avoid "burn out" is to become aware of your unique stressors and coping mechanisms. Burn out comes from experiencing stress over a prolonged period and often leads to a visit to the doctor. There are many ways to alleviate stress, however, you must find what works best for you and commit to doing it on a daily basis.
***Adapted from NEW ebook, Get Smart! About Modern Stress Management: Your Personal Guide to Living a Balanced life
About The Author
Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed., is a Whole Life Coach, Speaker, and Author of the Get Smart! LearningBook Series, which includes books and workbooks on romantic relationships, career development, life purpose/life strategy, and stress management. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching. She empowers people to live with passion, purpose, & possibility and inspires people to freely shine their brightlight to the world. To learn more or to subscribe to the Get Smart! Live Smart newsletter, Visit virtually: www.getsmartseries.com or www.getsmartseries.com
taxi o'hare Wisconsin Dells ..Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
While free-lancing for business magazines, I was assigned to write... Read More
I'm so excited that I have discovered this secret today.... Read More
Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More
Every woman needs her own personal space for relaxation, not... Read More
I recently received this e-mail message about stress management (author... Read More
In my experience, most of us spend a lot more... Read More
Quote of the week"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Leonardo da... Read More
If you're like most people, you have your bouts of... Read More
1. The Law of StagnationThis is also known as first... Read More
Let's face it. If you are stressed, agitated and flitting... Read More
Many people go through the motions during Christmas. If not... Read More
According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions' (A.C.T.U.) 1997... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
It's summertime and chances are you can remember a summer... Read More
Q: Someone told me that the Chinese symbol for crisis... Read More
Did you know that more than half of our adult... Read More
Everyone knows that stress isn't good - that it can... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
Too much driving, too much shopping, too much rushing around,... Read More
A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I... Read More
If you are an anxiety and panic sufferer, then you've... Read More
I just got through reading some troubling news in the... Read More
bmw rental chicago Ackley .."Smash!" It was a sunny autumn Saturday. My cousins and... Read More
"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More
Meditation, relaxation and visualisation are the standard recommendations for reducing... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
I learned a valuable lesson recently. A short while ago,... Read More
Training Your Mind For Better Business and LeisureModern life moves... Read More
Life is funny.Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous... Read More
Have you ever listened to someone, perhaps even to your... Read More
Several studies, including one of medical students around exam time,... Read More
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into... Read More
Stress is defined as a response by your body to... Read More
1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a... Read More
"I'm stressed out."If you find yourself thinking--or saying--this on a... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
Stress Vs PressureStress is something we all have, it's not... Read More
We all have it; we live with it daily: stress.... Read More
Most of us are trying to balance work, home, and... Read More
Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More
Have you ever noticed what occurs when you are suddenly... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
Managing stress is not easy if you don't have the... Read More
Are you looking for stress relief? No drugs, no meditation?... Read More
Insomnia is usually the result of the modern way of... Read More
For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
Stress Management |