STRESS AND THE POWER OF YOUR MIND

STRESS AND YOUR MIND PERSPECTIVE

Your mind is a powerful force in your experience of stress. In developing stress relief methods and stress management strategies, it is the power of your mind that will play a pivotal role. When you feel disquiet, anxiety, apprehensiveness, fearfulness, tension and worry then your mind plays an important role in how you react to these feelings.

DEFINITION OF PERSPECTIVE

In many cases your mind and the perspective you take are intimately interrelated with your feelings of stress. Perspective is about “the ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance” (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth 2009).

STRESS AND A DIFFERENT MINDSET

Therefore, your viewpoint, outlook and perspective that can make an enormous difference. Sometimes when you put your worries in a different perspective you can find another way of looking at the situation. Sometimes a situation that seems particularly stressful, oppressive or pressure filled can change when your mind and your perspective changes.

STRESS MANAGEMENT AND STRESS RELIEF STRATEGIES WITH YOUR MIND

So whenever you are dealing with a stressful situation, slow down, breathe and ask yourself some very important questions. When you ask yourself these questions, your answers can alter your feelings of how stressed or tense you will become. These questions can be an important part of your own stress management and stress relief techniques.

QUESTION ONE – A STRESSFUL PROBLEM

Question One. Is this really a problem? Sometimes by asking yourself this question it slows down your emotional reaction to the situation and stessors. You are able to begin to think a little more clearly about whether this situation is really a large or small problem for you.

QUESTION TWO – FROM PROBLEM TO CHALLENGE

Question Two. When I deal with this problem, what will I be able to learn from this situation? For you, something that seems like a problem can change when you change your perspective – it can become a challenge. Sometimes, the most difficult challenges you have to deal with can teach you the greatest lessons in your life. Those challenges are not easy but provide you with the ability to gain power over your stress. The lessons you learn are invaluable.

QUESTION THREE – OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU

Question Three. Has anyone else ever experienced this challenge that I am dealing with now? Once you ask yourself this question, your frame of reference can change as you realise that you may not be alone. Most likely, others before you have experienced similar pressure and stress in dealing with the same situations. You can learn from these other people. Find those who have already dealt with the challenges you are now facing and causing you stress. Find out from these people how they handled the situation, what worked for them and what did not work. Instead of struggling on alone find others who have gone before you and learn from them.

QUESTION FOUR – YOURSELF AND FEELING EMPOWERED

Question Four. Will I feel empowered after facing and dealing with the stressful situation? Even when the situation does not ‘play out’ as you might want it to. But the fact that you have faced it and taken some action is certainly something to feel proud of and empowered about. Finding ways to deal with your stress and the situations that cause you stress is an empowering experience in your life. It means that if you come across a similar stressful situation again in your life, you are that much more likely to be able to handle it. You are much more likely to have more power over what you will do and your own stress management.

YOUR MIND AND PERSPECTIVE CHANGE

So stress, burden, hassle, strain and pressure can change when you change your perspective and mindset. Asking yourself these four stress management questions whenever you dealing with a stressful situation, can allow you to manage the situation in a much more productive way. Using the power of your mind, you gain a greater ability to put it all into perspective.

FROM THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION FOR STRESS

These stress related articles and information are brought to you by the Association of the Global Organization for Stress. Sign up as a member and you’ll receive free membership and a copy of our complimentary ‘101 Ways to Less Stress’ Guide.

Please Note: Stress can result in severe health related issues. This stress related information is provided as guidance only and should not be considered as a form of therapy or professional advice. If expert assistance is needed, then a suitably competent health professional should be consulted in relation to your stress.

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