Managing Stress in Today's Uncertain World
Tips for Survival
Two effective stress management tools are managing the events of the past and managing goals. Not always an easy task, granted, but tasks that will lead to peace, accomplishment and rest.
Past
Traumatic events of the past can directly or indirectly affect how stress is handles through life. An individual may be in denial or in a daze and not even recognize it, namely connect it to a past event. Regardless of the severity of the event, it is not the event itself that causes the emotions and moods experienced from it. Those emotions and moods are generated by the response to or thoughts about the event.
As tough and unattainable as it may seem, the event must be acknowledged and worked through. What happened, happened. Nothing will change that fact. Acknowledge it, release it, just let it go. Spend extra time communicating with trusted others, those who will honor the decision and provide encouragement. Live a healthy life. Replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones and spend time with like-minded others. Finally, learn to be optimistic. Every evening, recall one positive thing about the day. It doesn’t have to be much, as simple as appreciating the wildflowers or the smile a child’s laugh brought. As time goes on and it becomes easier to be optimistic about small things, start looking for positives in everything, even the traumatic event.
Goals
Other stress is brought on by goals, or the lack of goals in some case. Everyone needs a clear direction in life, hence the necessity of goals. But having too many, conflicting, or unattainable goals can cause stressors to pile up. This stack of stress can be likened to a house of cards – unstable and unuseable. Before setting goals, remember that for goals to be be acted upon, they must be personal. There’s no satisfaction in working toward a goal that has been forced or that the individual hasn’t bought into.
Once goals are clear, attainable, manageable, and personal, it is critical to take the time to prioritize them by value or importance. Concentrate on what can be done now to begin moving towards fulfillment of the goal. Don’t be afraid to step back. It’s perfectly acceptable to revise or even discard a goal.
Conclusion
Stress can be positive or negative, managed but never eliminated. Regardless of what the latest self-help guru is touting, trying to eliminate stress is as futile as trying to eliminate breathing. Moving on from the past and setting goals for the future allows individuals to use those stressors for personal good. In stressful times, people are searching for an anchor, whether they realize it or not. Don’t let the past become that anchor. Move on, relax, work on those goals and choose life.
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