Stress can come from directly from the situations in which we find ourselves, but it can also come from how we look at those situations.
Sometimes stress can even come from how we look at things that don’t affect us directly. So nurturing the ability to think positively can help reduce unnecessary stress in your life.
But, can it be really that simple? A good place to start is to ask “What Went Right?” As Well As “What Went Wrong?”
A 2011 study conducted at the University of Minnesota and published in The Acadamy of Management Journal found that just as
positive events reduce your stress, positive reflection can also reduce your stress.
The study also recommended that we should not only avoid negative events where possible but we should also encourage positive events.
It also suggests that positive reflection could reduce stress more than negative reflection.
In the currently predominating business culture, something going well is what is expected and most reflection occurs when something goes wrong.
While this does help to identify areas for potential improvement, we could probably all stand to devote a little more time to look at why things that worked did work.
Not only would positive reflection help to improve services even when they are already working, it would also lead to less stressful environments.
Move On From Negative Experiences With Positive One’s
Stress is often caused by dwelling on things that have already happened. As a result, a significant amount of stress can be avoided by simply not thinking about things that have already happened, especially if they didn’t go well.
But, is it enough to just forget?
According to a 2010 study published in the journal Cognition and Emotion, people have an easier time moving on from negative experiences if they have a positive experience that they can concentrate on to help replace the negative experience in their minds.
A further 2009 study published in the journal Behaviour Research and Therapy found that while distraction is more mentally beneficial than rumination on a negative experience, it is not as beneficial as more positive interventions.
Similarly, other studies have found that while distraction causes some stress relief, its effects do not last long after the distraction ends. Distraction can be a tempting method to move on from stress but that introduces the white bear effect.
This principle suggests that if we are told not to think of a white bear, that is exactly what we are going to think of. Telling ourselves not to think of the white bear necessarily brings the white bear back to the front of our minds.
Accept Necessary Stresses
It’s important to realise that while studies have found that things like ignoring our stresses or thinking positively can help us to avoid stress, these methods should only be used when you are stressing over something that isn’t important like regretting having said the wrong thing to the cashier at the supermarket or something that has already happened and that we cannot change like making a mistake on a form at work last week.
It’s not a good idea to try to ignore or avoid stress that comes from the need to make decisions or respond to an unforeseen event in home or work life. That kind of stress needs to be dealt with and managed but will never simply go away.
Stress is a natural and healthy part of life and whenever a stressful situation occurs in which we still have time to make the right decision or solve a problem you should meet that opportunity head-on rather than trying to ignore your problems or find your happy place.
The tools discussed in this article are meant to be used to address stress when a situation occurs in your life.
There is no meaningful method that will remove stress from your life so the wisdom is to understand know what to worry about find a solution know what you can fix Learn to quieten your mind finding a solution
SELF HELP TIPS to remain positive in Stressful times:
I’m a great believer in doing what you can to help yourself and if for some reason you cannot book in for some acupuncture sessions here are a few things you can do.
First off remember Stress in your life can’t be avoided its part and parcel of life you have just come through the Christmas and new year period so you may have consumed a lot of sugary and rich foods. Your body now wants to eliminate all of that so help it along. A good habit especially if you are prone to a build up of mucous and especially to detox your liver.
Here you are:
- Know what stresses you out.
- develop strategies to quieten your mind.
- Focus your mind on the good things in your like develop a habit of gratitude.
- Start your mornings off with a light stretching exercise like yoga or tai qi.
- get outdoors and exercise.
- Take extra good care of yourself eat well, sleep, and exercise
- Book your acupuncture treatments.
There are over 2,000 acupuncture points spread across 20 meridians, but none hold as much weight to calm your mind than Yin Tang. Located between your eyes sometimes known as your third eye is an acupuncture point that’s particularly beneficial for calming your mind. You can try it for yourself using acupressure by pressing into this point.
Some more self help
Essential oils – lavender and camomile in a diffuser or in your bath, is a great way to clear your mind and relax and relieve your Stress
Encourage the release of serotonin the happy hormone by going for a brisk walk in nature, nurture your soul
If stress is taking over your life and you don’t feel you can manage on your own then plan on scheduling an acupuncture session. Stress Relief Acupuncture treatments will help to calm your mind and give you a fresh perspective on your life. give you a chance to look forward to all this amazing new growth.
I hope some of these Self Care Tips help you to relieve some of your symptoms.
Let me know below how you get on or give me a call today to learn how acupuncture can help
0 Comments