Deal with Stress Today » Reduce Stress

Mindfulness Meditation Techniques to Deal with Stress – Part 1

donnam — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:00:34 +0000

I write frequently about how to deal with stress using mindfulness meditation. In this series of articles I’m going to go deeper into the practice of mindfulness meditation so you may more effectively include some part of the method I will describe in your daily practice for health and wellbeing. If you don’t already have a daily practice, please follow this series to learn three very simple techniques that will have you reducing your stress in no time at all.

I’ll be focusing on one technique at a time. Before I introduce the first technique, I’d like to give you a little insight into how we typically experience stress and especially how we learn to respond to stressful events in life.

When you are feeling stressed it is because you feel that you cannot control outcomes that you would like. Most of us aren’t really aware of the actual causes of stress. We experience all manner of negative feelings – stress, discomfort, anger, sadness, frustration – in response to events, situations and the behavior of others in our lives.

Most of us believe that external events, situations and behaviors “cause” our distress, and therefore they must be controlled, managed or eliminated somehow in order to reduce our stress. We soon discover it’s not possible to manage all of the things in our lives that bother us. So, we become discouraged believing that we must either put up with ever increasing stress or numb out in some way (often with alcohol or food – also known as “Happy Hour.”)

Here’s a little model I use to show how stress really works. Instead of the external situation directly causing our stress there are two intervening steps to consider:

We often become aware of stress when we notice our actions or the reactions in our bodies.

We miss the whole intervening process of observation, thought and meaning making, and emotions. It’s not the event, itself that causes stress, it’s our take on it, which then tells us how to feel about it and ultimately how to respond.

Focusing on the negative, distressing aspects of an event or another person’s behavior, or interpret situations as threatening, causes the stress hormones to flow freely. On the other hand, if you manage your thoughts to be at least neutral or find positive aspects of the situation you will experience far less distress.

You have no control of the many situations going on around you that seem to be the cause of your stress.

However, the one thing that you do have control over is how you decide to think about those situations. That is the bottom line.

Managing your thoughts is tricky if you haven’t even been aware of having them. That’s where Mindfulness Meditation comes in. Mindfulness helps you to slow down long enough to become aware of what is happening in your mind, body and emotions where you have more control. Mindfulness meditation helps you to become aware of how your body responds to stress, the emotions you are having and of the thoughts that trigger your emotions.

Mindfulness Meditation Technique #1:

Sit down (right now) and take 5 deep breaths.
Now focus on your breath going in and out.
Notice it without identifying it as “Am I doing this right or wrong?” Many people stay in their heads when first doing this, so practice on noticing your breathing as is goes in and out, without judgment.

Simple? Easy? Yes it can be. Practice is the key. Do this throughout your day. Set an hourly timer if you want to remind you of this practice.

Doing frequent deep breathing sessions will help you focus in the moment and allow you to notice your thoughts, emotions and tension in your body.

In the next article I will discuss how long held beliefs shape our stress reactions and the second Mindfulness Meditation Technique.

Make your daily practice easy with Donna Marie’s Relaxations for Inner Peace audio program of guided meditations, soothing music and soundDe-Stress Store.

Check out Donna Marie’s upcoming experiential workshops at http://www.dealwithstresstoday.com/events-calendar/

A Mindful and No Cost Gift – Reduce Your Holiday Stress

donnam — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:53:07 +0000

As we go through this season of giving, finding the right gift for the right person may have one feel stumped not knowing what to purchase or create for another.

The most rewarding gifts I have given are words from the heart. They can take the form of a letter with specific acknowledgements to another.

I have sent many Word Gift Letters to family and friends. Words of gratitude, thankfulness, and/or encouragement fill the soul with love.

Written personal words can take on a deeper heartfelt love. Many assume others really know how we feel about them, yet often they don’t. So why not tell them?

Write the letter and trust that you will find the perfect words. The spoken and written word is so powerful when shared with love and compassion.

This season send a letter to someone who has impacted your life; your partner, parent, a care-giver, friend, lover, family, etc.

I encourage you to stretch outside your self and share with them your appreciation of the relationship. Recall specific incidences and be creative.

Using loving words from your heart will never be unheard! Want to top this? Read it to them in person!

The results are priceless! Happy Holidays!

Fondly, Donna

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Take an Inventory to Successfully Deal with Stress

donnam — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:04:06 +0000

Everyone everywhere has fears and stressors that can influence their daily lives to a greater or lesser scale. Many people do not deal with stress that has entered their lives. Stress can pop up in your life in a multitude of ways. Stressors ignored can build beyond the point of manageability. Understanding where your stress is coming from will help you reduce the pressure.

Stress can come from your family, from your kids, from work responsibilities, or from added activities that you place on your own shoulders. Some stress is internal, and can be controlled by daily practices such as meditation, rest, journaling or active communication. Other stress comes from external sources and needs to be dealt with by figuring out active strategies to prevent these added sources of stress from overtaking your life.

Yes, as we see, stress is a part of everyone’s life and cannot be avoided entirely, but by making a few simple choices, you can easily reduce the level of stress in your life and deal with stress once and for all.

Start by doing an inventory of all the added stressors in your life. Try to pinpoint where your own personal stress is coming from. Once you have made your list, begin to target each stressor one by one, to actively find a way to remove it from your life or to find an way to deal with stress specifically.

Do you have to take too many stressful phone calls throughout the day? If so, designate a specific time of day where you will return all your calls, and allow yourself to remain focused at work.

Does your partner or spouse pick fights at home? Schedule some time to sit down and communicate your issues once a week, allowing the rest of the week to be stress free!

Make a list of things that bring joy into your life. Is it taking walks, relaxing with friends, catching up on reading? The more positive energy you bring into your life, the more your stress level will decrease.

Mindfulness: Two Powerful Techniques to Reduce Your Stress at Work

donnam — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:04:54 +0000

Have you found yourself becoming more stressed out then usual? Stress, especially in the workplace, can occur for many reasons. Most people fly through life very quickly, not taking time to slow down and enjoy their lives, but simply push through one day to the next.

Moving through the workday at this speed does not allow you the time needed to process any of the daily ups and downs you might encounter during your workday. Dealing with stress at work is an important skill set to cultivate. The more you take the time to work through the minor stressors at work, the easier it will be for you to let each little work incident go, and the happier you will be overall with your job and work situation.

One important thing you can do when it comes to dealing with stress at work, is to give thanks as often as you can. This is a practice called Mindfulness Meditation.

Being aware, in your body, and living life moment to moment, gives you the ability to be thankful for what you have, and analyze the situation around you before responding. Mindfullness Meditation is a wonderful way to relax your mind and your body at the beginning and end of the day.

Another way you can deal with stress at work is to accept that there are certain things in your life that are not within your control. You can’t control assignments you are given, an individuals opinion of you, the hours you have to work every day- but you can make huge strides towards feeling stress free by accepting that there are some things that you personally cannot change.

Instead you can focus more specifically on things that are within your control. You can control how you react in a certain situation, how you communicate with your boss or co-workers, and how much time you give yourself daily to relax and reflect.

Thinking through the things that are within your power to control, gives you the ability to deal with stress at work in a proactive and productive way.

Begin the Day with Mindfulness Meditation to Calm Stress at Work

donnam — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:27:48 +0000

The work climate is sometimes a difficult one, and many people may find it hard to cope with the pressure of dealing with stress while at their job. It makes sense. Most people spend the majority of their day at their job, and the stressors of co-workers, bosses, and looming projects and deadlines sometimes contribute to a difficult working environment.

It’s easy for a small issue at work to become a larger one very quickly, and if you don’t take time to deal with stress at work as it comes, you might find yourself feeling the pressure. While dealing with stress at work may seem like an insurmountable obstacle, it is one that can be easily overcome simply by adding a few simple steps to your day.

In the morning, when you wake up, think about your morning routine. Is there any time for you to stop and give thanks for the blessings you already have in your life? Most people jump from task to task to task throughout their day, and never have even ten minutes to stop and think about things they can be grateful for. Stopping and taking some time to ruminate and give thanks is called Mindfullness Meditation.

Simply reminding yourself of the good things will help you not focus your energy and attention on the negative aspects. Take ten minutes every morning to practice Mindfullness Meditation, and you will quickly see the benefit this practice can have on your day to day life.

You need to make it your goal to not sweat the little things. When confronted with a difficult or stressful situation while at your job, take time to think before you react. Think back to your morning practice of Mindfulness Meditation. By channeling the positive energy you brought with you from the morning, you will be able to deflate some of the mounting frustrations that may arise while on the job.

Remember that everyone deals with their own stressors in different ways, and sometimes their reactions may have nothing do with you. Mindfulness Meditation can be a good addition to your morning routine and can help you when dealing with stress at work.

Use Mindfulness Meditation to Deal with the Stress of Job Uncertainty

donnam — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:06:54 +0000

In this challenging economy, many people are dealing with constant stress at work. As more and more jobs begin to cut positions that are non-essential, the careers of many hard working people hang in the balance. You may be convinced that your job is not secure. You might be worried about the added pressure of remaining at the top of the pack. A job environment such as this one can breed stress and frustration.

It is hard to remain calm and productive in a work situation where your job hangs on the line. Situations like these are extreme examples of stress at work, but an example that more and more people are encountering every day.

Almost everyone sees situations where they are dealing with stress at work. When in one of these situations you have choices. You can choose to allow the stress to take over your life- cause you physical and emotional stress, and perhaps decrease job performance; or you can choose to deal with stress in positive, uplifting ways.

Do not feel, even in a climate of threatened layoffs, that your attitude needs to be a negative one. The more positive you are, the more positivity you will attract. One great way to deal with these added burdens at work is to practice Mindfulness Meditation. Mindfulness Meditation encourages you to begin and end your day, every day, by taking a few minutes to express what you are grateful for.

Our lives are sometimes so quick and busy, with pressures and stresses coming at us from every angle. It is a wonderful idea to stop, breathe, and be grateful for all the blessings that we encounter in our lives every day!

Try to start with the basics. Be thankful that you have a job, be thankful for friends or family, and be thankful for your health. You’ll find that once you begin a Mindful Meditation, the list can go on and on! Keeping yourself aware of all the positives can help you enter each and every day with a more uplifting attitude about your life, which can translate into your job.

It is important to remember that all you are in control of is yourself. Dealing with stress at work, step by step, and being as productive and positive as you can, will hopefully secure your job position and reduce your stress level for years to come. Choose to practice Mindfulness Meditation, and see how beginning and ending your day with a moment of gratefulness can enrich your life monumentally, and decrease your stress level along the way!

Manage Your Emotions to Deal with Stress

donnam — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:20:17 +0000

Do you find sometimes that aspects of your life are holding you back from what you really want to be doing? Has stress taken over, and it is hard finding ways to thoroughly enjoy your life? Do you feel sometimes that you are just going through the motions without a path?

Maybe you have forgotten how to enjoy your life? You are not alone. Many people feel that their lives have become routine, and that the stress in their life may be piling up around them. The wonderful thing about stress, however, is that it can be removed as easily as it was created. By taking a few small steps every day, you can deal with stress in a positive way, and find your way back Buy Viagra to the life you deserve to be living.

The first thing you can do is to take a look at your emotional and spiritual self. Do you have an outlet for your emotions? Holding in emotions on a day to day basis creates an environment where stress thrives!

There are many ways you can combat this. You can try finding a trusted friend to talk to. You can purchase a journal and make sure you write down your thoughts and feelings on a daily basis. You can seek help from a professional therapist if there are deeper issues you need to address. The most important way to deal with stress is not to hold back your emotions, but to express them.

It is also important to take a look at your spiritual self. Whether you believe in a specific religion, a higher power, or just a feeling of connectedness, delving into spirituality in some format can remove a lot of stress from your life. Knowing that there is a master plan within the universe can remove some of the day to day worries.

The next thing to tackle can be any fears that you have. Fear can be paralyzing sometimes, and can grow in intensity if not dealt with. Begin by tackling a small fear, and slowly expand to larger ones. Enlist a support system if need be. Fear can create much stress in your life and should be tackled appropriately.

If you know that there are changes you need to make in your own life, but fear seems to be holding you back, take a risk and push through the fear to change your life. You will be glad you did,.

Finally, make sure that you have a sense of humor about life. Things will not always go your way, but taking the time to relax, and appreciate the joy surrounding you can do wonders, even for a bad day. Step by step you are moving closer to living the life you want to live.

Five Important Ways to Deal with Stress in the New Year

donnam — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:30:12 +0000

Are you feeling like stress has taken over your life? Do you have too much on your plate or too many tasks that need completing? Does it sometimes seem a bit overwhelming? Relax! There are many easy and simple ways to deal with stress.

Here are five ways you can banish overwhelming stress from your life! The first thing you need to do is take a look at your surroundings. Many people find that they have unknowingly surrounded themselves with people or things that bring added stress to their lives without even knowing it!

If you have a friend whose life problems are always bringing you down, or a family member that places too many burdens on you on a regular basis, your first action may be to limit your interactions with them. Instead choose to surround yourself with other people who bring positive energy to the table!

Next, remember to be mindful at all times. Take some time every day to check in with yourself about the great things that are going to happen during the upcoming day and to be thankful for the blessings you do have in your life. In such a fast paced world it’s easy to focus on things that might weigh on us or bring us down. It is sometimes an after thought to focus on the things that may bring us up.

Your next challenge while dealing with stress is to stop your judgment of others (and yourself.) By judging other people we simply bring harsh words and negativity into our environment, which does not do any good for anyone!

Next up is a tough one for many. It is important to learn how to say no. For the “people-pleasers” out there, this is one written especially for you. When you are in a situation where someone is trying to have you take on more then you believe you can handle – summon up your courage and say “no” to them. You’ll find that this becomes easier the more you practice this skill. Many people will respect you more if you graciously decline to take something on, rather than taking on more than you can chew at the present moment.

The last item on the short list of how to deal with stress, is to make sure to have a time and a space just for you. Find a comfy chair or a sunlit porch or a park where you can relax. Take the time to breathe and allow your body to relax. Many people practice meditation, listen to music that relaxes them, or practice deep breathing for 20 minutes at a time.

Once you begin taking some time for yourself every day, you will find a reduction in your stress levels almost immediately! If you begin these daily steps to deal with stress, you will find yourself on your way to a better, more relaxing daily life.

Four Simple Ideas to Deal with Stress Right Now

donnam — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:49:41 +0000

Are you a person that must deal with stress on a daily basis? Is life bringing you more downs then ups? Are you finding that you are more and more stressed out in your day to day life? If this describes you to a “T”, don’t worry! There are many all natural ways to deal with stress in your life. All you need to focus on are a few simple steps, and you will soon be on your way to a calmer, more productive life!

One of the most important things to think about when combating stress regularly is your breathing. When many folks get stressed out or frustrated they forget to breathe, or may begin breathing too shallowly. When either of these things happens, it contributes to your feeling of pressure or anxiety! In order to combat this symptom, you need to remember to breathe. Sounds simple, but for some, it takes a bit of effort.

Did you know that deep breathing, in addition to relaxing you, will also bring many additional help benefits into your life? Your deep breathing in stressful situations will help increase your brain activity and functionality, reduce the feelings of pressure, help you relax so you can think out your situation as clearly as possible and in general enhance your mental well being. How can you garner all these benefits?

When you are in a situation that demands a lot of you, and you can feel yourself breathing shallowly, make a concerted effort to take just a few deep breaths. Try to breathe deeply into your abdomen and slowly release the air. You may be shocked to find out that this simple “treatment” can help you deal with stress extremely effectively!

There is another very simple way for you to reduce stress in your life! Try to find a few situations in which you can pause for a moment to give thanks for something in your life. In our fast paced lives we may not regularly pause to give thanks for any of the things we have in our lives. Giving thanks reminds us that we are lucky to have what we do, even when stress seems to be infiltrating our lives.

Additionally, you can take the time to be kind to others. Go out of your way to help someone, spend some time volunteering or helping out a charity. Doing something selfless will allow you some time away from your own personal stressors.

Finally, make some time to laugh. Laughter, as they say, is the best medicine, especially when it comes to dealing with stress! Find a TV show that amuses you, have a conversation with a friend that makes you laugh, and you will find that the simple route to deal with stress in your life starts as simply as one step at a time!

Deal with Stress Today – A STRESS Tip You Can Use NOW!

donnam — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:12:56 +0000

Did you know that you can deal with stress right now with the simple act of breathing deeply. You can reduce the intensity of stress you are feeling by BREATHING deeply right NOW? Take a moment . . . and breathe deeply several times.

Try it Now – Here’s How!

DO IT THIS WAY: As you breathe in, breathe down very deeply as if you are by-passing your lungs and breathing into the pit of your abdomen. Think of this as breathing deep into your tail bone then breathe out slowly. This will help you to become aware to breathe deeper than usual.

We tend to hold in stressful feelings with the shallow breathing. Think about when you are in traffic and someone cuts in front of you. Do you step on the brake, gasp, and hold that experience in that breath? Feel some fear? Most do.

So in other words, when we are startled we breathe in the stressful experience. We do not know that we can deal with stress and breathe it out too. As we hold in many emotions we actually hold them in with our breath. Over time this contributes to very shallow and ineffective breathing. We unintentionally create a container of stress within our bodies.

So do this throughout the day . . . Take several deep breaths as you feel stressed … Take several deep breaths as you think of someone or a situation that is uncomfortable.

Deep breathing has become one of the most effective means to deal with stress and move towards a peaceful existence. Give it a try. Try not to underestimate something simple that can work. There is nothing to lose.

If you care to, let me know your experience. Please leave your comment below.

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