The Wonderful World of Stress
How liberating would it feel to eliminate unnecessary stress from your life?
Moving is one of the highest ranked stressful experiences. Is it because we’ve become such an anti-nomadic culture that a momentary lack of environmental stability turns our universe on its head? Perhaps we’re so materialistic that the very thought of lost or broken possessions is unbearable. Or maybe we’re internally wired to fear chaos and crave order. (And quite possibly, I’m over-analyzing and the reason moving is so stressful is because it’s just a BIG pain in the ass!)
Unnecessary stress arises when we resist what is—when external influences are inconsistent with our perception of how things “should” be. This mental obstruction causes a physical imbalance, characterized by a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability and increased heart rate. Put simply, when we resist what is, the body suffers in the form of stress.
Mental blockage is at the root of stressful experiences. The thought or image of what moving means to you activates negative emotions, usually a form of fear. It is the thoughts and feelings about moving that disable us, not the actual move itself.
Thoughts trigger stress the same way thoughts activate joy; each thought coincides with a specific emotional response and bodily reaction wired in your nervous system.
For example, if the act of moving is mentally linked to displacement, loss and chaos, you’re likely to experience stress. Conversely, if moving is linked to excitement, positive change and an enchanting new beginning, you’re likely to experience positive feelings.
You have the ability to direct your thoughts. For example, what does the act of moving mean to you? If you have a negative association to moving, change the meaning to something positive (or at least neutral). Determine what the act of moving could mean for you. With positive intention, stay conscious of your new chosen meaning until it is ingrained within you. What if you could make moving fun?
If you master your thought patterns instead of becoming a slave to your mind, you will no longer be susceptible to negative external environments. By consciously directing your thoughts you become immune to the stresses of everyday life.
Release your hold on how things “should be” and stress dissolves into a wave of calmness. Chose peace by decision or experience stress by default.
Where in your life are you resisting what is?
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