REFLECTION SUNDAY By Douglas Logedi GET OVER IT What happens when you are under pressure? You cry, you curse, you mourn, you do all sorts of funny things. You lost your boyfriend to your best friend? Relax, you are not the first one. You lost your job because of your stalking workmate? Very well, that was not meant to last You failed an exam terribly and you are ashamed of it? Calm down, some people dropped out of school. You are better. Stress is such a distractor. It is a curving force trying to push you off your lane. You have a tough choice to make when stressed. You may not have the power to control the source of your stress, but you have complete control over your thoughts and response to it. Once you’ve identified the cause, you get to choose and decide to either immediately shake it off or face it head-on. Here are some questions to help you decide your next step: • Is the source of your stress from the past? Remember that the past no longer exist and that moment cannot be changed. No matter what’s happened before, recognize that you are here today, and you are OK. Your past does not define you or limit what is possible for you to achieve from this moment on. • Does it even matter? Consider how long the source of stress will affect you. Does one person’s hurtful opinions of you change the fact that 10 other people see you as one of the kindest, most amazing people ever to walk this earth? Will that annoying slow-driver from this morning take away the fun you’ll have on your awesome family vacation next month? Does that rude guy who cut in front of you in the grocery line get to decide whether or not your family will enjoy a delicious dinner tonight? • How much control do you have over the situation? You may have zero say over the sudden rainstorm on your wedding day, but you can choose to have the most Ah-Mazing time dancing in the rain with your new spouse and making memories with the people you love most! Well, sometime we don’t even have control over the stress we have and all we can do is get over it. But how do you do it? Here are some quick and simple ideas to help give your brain a break: • Play a game. Video games, board games, card games, tic-tac-toe, whatever’s available! When I find myself stressing out over “nothing” and need to get out of my head, I challenge my pals to a “win as many time in one-minute” game of Uno to quickly snap myself out of a funk. • Think about something else. Get your mind off the stress by thinking about something completely different. Focus on spotting as many objects of a specific color around you, or identify items in your space you’ve never really taken time to notice before. • Shift your thinking with touch. Trace a figure-eight on the palm of your hand. This helps release muscle tension on the spot and comes especially handy when you must deal with unpleasant people, in person. • Listen to Uplifting Music. According to some studies, you will immediately feel a positive shift by listening to music that lifts your spirit and frees your mind. • Avoid Asking “What If?”-The stressful situation can go in a million different directions, and the more time you spend worrying about the many possibilities, the longer you will continue to feel uncomfortable. Avoid adding fuel to the fire and stop yourself from having to worry more than you already are. • Focus on the Positives-Consciously select something positive to think about… your goofy kids, a supportive significant other, your recent trip with friends, or a special event you’re looking forward to. When your mind is flooded with negative thoughts, however, this can be a challenge; so it’s a good practice to have a list of positives that you can immediately shift your attention to when your thoughts turn negative. Peaceful Sunday From Douglas Logedi
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 03:25:00 +0000
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