You can only control a situation that you are aware of. Making conscious choices based on moment-by-moment mindfulness is how you control how stress affects your life, for good or ill.
Let’s De-Bunk these Myths:
I’m Too Busy-Being present, or what I like to call “Practicing Presence,” only requires the time it takes to take 2-3 slow deep breathes, 30 seconds tops. Learning to sit and be quite, uninterrupted by activity or attachment to your thoughts, for 10-15 minutes a few times a week will make quick check-in breaths like this easier and more affective. You will be amazed at how helpful breathing can be-it takes you out of your head and into your body. As your body is always talking to you, being more mindful helps minimize the effects of stress on your body, such as pain, tension, or anxiety.
It’s Impossible to Stop Thinking- Contrary to popular belief-he goal is not to stop thinking but to stop BELIEVING every thought you think. Many of us are our own worse enemies; we judge and critique ourselves more harshly than anyone else. This has severe physical consequences, which is why emotional stress is a major contributing factor to the 6 leading causes of death including cancer and heart disease. The goal with meditating or breathing is to learn how to watch or observe your thoughts come and go, (as they always do). How to be calm, no matter the storm, this is Practicing Presence.
It Doesn’t Affect My Symptoms- Among other things, stress can activate the immune system and create inflammation, which can heighten symptoms like pain, neuropathy and other debilitating dis-eases. Having a daily stress management plan is critical for anyone who will learn to live with chronic pain and illness. Breathing, meditating, yoga, walking, hanging with friends; if it makes you smile, or stop to smell the roses, then you are learning to acknowledge and control how stress handles you.
Attitude and mindset are everything. Believe all things are possible, and they are. We can help.