We all experience stress in today’s fast-paced world. We are constantly challenged to do more with fewer resources and faster. The damage that stress can cause in our lives extends far beyond what we see and feel. Although our bodies are designed to protect us from harm, stress causes physiological changes in our bodies that can result in long-term physical damage.
Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone,” is a hormone. When we respond to our environment with a “fight or flight” response, our bodies secrete much of it. High and sustained cortisol levels in the bloodstream have been linked to various adverse effects on our bodies. When I talk about stress, most people associate it with feelings of anxiety, headaches, muscle tension, and irritability. Still, stress can take many different forms, and they are not always what you would expect. Depression, indigestion, lack of motivation, increased abdominal fat, and decreased muscle tissue are just a few of the symptoms.
It’s difficult to pinpoint what causes stress because it varies from person to person. Some people may experience sporadic stress during difficult times in their lives. In contrast, others may experience ongoing stress due to troubled relationships or circumstances involving their spouse or children.
The best way to tell if stress affects your life is to assess your emotional state. Focus isn’t always apparent, but if you go through your days in a negative frame of mind, chances are you’re letting stress in through the front door. Negative emotions cause us to be unable to meet the demands of our environment. You cannot think of negative thoughts and achieve positive results in your daily life. Where the mind goes, the man follows, as the saying goes.
If negative emotions are harmful, it stands to reason that positive emotions should be beneficial. Scientific studies have shown that positive emotions cause the production of DHEA (the anti-aging hormone), and it’s worth noting that DHEA and cortisol are produced in the same place in our bodies. Which of these hormones is made at the expense of the other is determined by your emotions! When we respond to a stressful situation by transforming negative emotions into positive ones, we produce more DHEA and significantly less cortisol. Fat stomach serum or anti-aging serum? I believe the decision is self-evident.
You may be thinking to yourself right now…
“That’s all good, but you have no idea what I face as a woman. My husband is cheating on me, my child is being expelled from school, and I’m 40 pounds overweight. How do you expect me to be optimistic?!” Under these conditions, it would appear that having stress in your life is unavoidable. How can you change your negative thinking if you can’t change your circumstances? And how will you relieve stress if you can’t change your negative thinking? This is where I’d like to offer some insight with a single word.
Peace.
The most critical aspect of your life is peace of mind. Personal development is a continuous process, not a destination. You can achieve freedom from negative thinking by actively seeking peace. Of course, this will translate into even more liberties. Physical pain, emotional eating, and mental anxiety are all gone. Freedom from the desire for what you do not have. It doesn’t matter what’s going on around you when you have peace; when it doesn’t matter what’s happening around you, you’re free to enjoy your life.
As with anything worthwhile, achieving peace will necessitate some effort. The cost will be the consistent and ongoing maintenance of positive thoughts. The benefits are far-reaching if you are willing to pay this price.
Here are some pointers to get you started:
Stop putting yourself down. Eliminate the following thoughts as soon as you hear them creeping into your head – “I never do anything right,” “People think I’m stupid,” “I’m always going to be fat.” What would you say to your best friend? Then stop telling them to yourself. You will notice a difference if you replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk.
Don’t let your thoughts wander. Stop yourself immediately if you think about how your husband never helps out around the house or how condescending your boss is. When driving to work or walking the dog, it’s easy to let our minds wander down the path of least resistance. Positive thinking necessitates effort. Please don’t ask me why, but humans seem predisposed to negativity. Consider the last time you saw a positive news story on the front page of a newspaper. Thinking positively entails renewing your mind daily to keep negative thoughts at bay.
Begin each day with a smile. I live in the north, and it’s difficult to be optimistic when you wake up to cold, dark mornings from October to April. Getting out of bed can be difficult when you are going through a difficult time, but you can make your day a lot easier by taking some time first thing in the morning to set yourself up for success. Think about plans you’re looking forward to or someone special you can’t wait to talk to for inspiration. Consider how adorable your child is. Recall how you felt when you first started dating your husband. Life does not stop just because we want to have a bad day.
If you’ve spent your entire life complaining about everything wrong, maintaining a positive attitude will feel like a full-time job at first. Peace is difficult to find and difficult to maintain. The good news is that you’ll be willing to go to any length to keep it once you’ve seen it. God bless you…
“Everything will be all right in the end. If things aren’t going well, it’s not the end of the world.” not known.
More information and inspiration on how to live a stress-free life can be found here.
Read also: Learn To Control Your Anxiety As Well As Your Life