Stress: To Stress or Not to Stress...
Yes, that is the question. The goal to health is to neutralize stress. Stress is everywhere: driving to work, dealing with customers/family/friends, even watching television. So, neutralizing its effects and protecting our bodies against the damage it has already done is important. When we experience stress, our bodies naturally produce hormones to help the body deal. In the long term, though, too many of these hormones can be harmful. They suppress immunity, increase the risk of heart disease, and bother the digestive system, among other problems. Children often express this pain as “tummy aches.” Repressing stress can also cause physical problems later, such as harm to our bones, back, and neck. Also, it is important to realize that stress and tension can cause problems in places which might not necessarily have a physical problem, such as pain in the shoulders, stomach, or chest. It can also cause problems with the skin and gastrointestinal tract (hives, acne, rashes), as well as sleeping problems and nerve damage in the brain.
Outlets for neutralizing stress include meditation, hypnotherapy, and breathing.
Breath work: a powerful connection between the body and mind. This involves both the conscious and unconscious mind because breathing is both voluntary and involuntary. Work on making the breath deeper, quieter, slower, and more regular. Breathing is a great representation of our emotional state (either calm or upset). We are unique in the way we are able to control our emotions with our breath.
Spirituality: taking advantage of the nonphysical aspects of our being. This can be as simple as taking inventory of the people and things which make us feel great. Spirituality helps elevate our spirits. Focus on spending time in these situations, rather than in negative, unproductive ones. Also, doing things which make you feel good is important for your spiritual well being. This also includes doing things for other people, which can be valuable in making you feel like a whole, contributing member in your family and community.
Emotions: dealing with negative emotions is as important as inviting positive emotions. Putting mental energy into optimism paves the way for more positive, happy things to happen to and around you. These are the things that matter. This also includes accepting sadness and doing something about it. Try this in the morning: When you wake up, look outside, smile, and say to yourself, “Today is going to be a wonderful day.” This will help start your day in an optimistic way. No matter what happens throughout the day, just remember that it is a wonderful day to be alive, breathing, and full of fortune.
Sincerely,
Chef Veronica Rains
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