Is there a woman alive who doesn't suffer from stress? Yeah, I didn't think so. But if there IS...find her, make her tell you her secrets, beat it out of her if you must. Whatever works for you! OK..violence might not be the best solution. So let me offer this...I have spent the better part of this year dealing with an ABNORMAL amount of stress. For serious. Weird, unrelenting, imaginary, real, difficult, miserable, crazy stress. I've had more than my fair share. And I'm stubborn...but I do eventually learn. So in lieu of imaginary no stress lady..I'd like to offer the following suggestions (most of which I have learned the hard way and struggle with..daily..):
- Cultivate gratitude. Be thankful. (We do 'Thankful Conversations' around the dinner table every night.)
- Take an hour a day to indulge in solitude. (It's so hard...I know...but it's important.)
- Begin and end each day with prayer, meditation, and reflection.
- Keep it simple. And by 'it' I mean everything. (Life is not a race..or a competition, people.)
- Keep your house picked up. (I personally fail at this alot. But we all know that we feel better when our house is tidy. Order begets order.)
- Don't over schedule, overextend, or overdo. (Chill out...relax..we all have the same 24 hours in a day.)
- Strive for realistic deadlines. (Rome wasn't built in a day.)
- Never ever make a promise you can't, or won't, keep. (Especially to yourself.)
- Allow an extra half hour for everything you do. (This one seems a little unrealistic..but shit happens and we get behind and then we get frustrated. Bring on the stress.)
- Create quiet surroundings at home..and at work.
- Go to bed at nine o'clock twice a week. (Sleep is rejuvenating. Indulge a little.)
- Always carry something interesting to read. (Gossip Rags, NYT Bestseller, your kids geometry book, The Bible. Whatever floats your boat.)
- Breathe...deeply. And often.
- Move...walk, dance, run, swim. Whatever you enjoy.
- Drink water. Lots of it. (After you've had your coffee of course.)
- Eat only when you are hungry. (No more standing in front of an open door fridge at midnight.)
- If it's not delicious, don't eat it. (Enjoy what you consume. Take time to savor it.)
- Be instead of do.
- Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal. (Even God took a day off. So can you.)
- Laugh. Out loud. Often. (Laughing with others is better.)
- Always opt for comfort. (There's a place for LBD's and stilettos. Go with the sweats.)
- If you don't love it, live without it. (Especially true for people. Learn to let go.)
- Let Mother Nature nurture. (She's good at it.)
- Don't answer the telephone during dinner. (Don't text either. And turn off the T.V.)
- Stop trying to please everybody. (You can't.)
- Start pleasing yourself. (You can.)
- Stay away from negative people. (And try to limit your own negativity.)
- Don't squander precious resources: time, creative energy, emotion.
- Nurture and cultivate friendships. (Healthy ones.)
- Don't be afraid of your passion.
- Approach problems as challenges. (Overcome them.)
- Honor your dreams. (Happiness is found when you are doing what you love.)
- Set achievable goals.
- Surrender expectations. (This is the big one. Expectations breed disappointments and resentments.)
- Savor beauty. (Especially yours.)
- Create boundaries.
- For every 'yes'..let there be a 'no'.
- Don't worry; be happy. (Now you're singing...it's OK to admit it.)
- Exchange security for serenity.
- Care for your soul.
- Cherish your suffering. (Learn from it.)
- Express love every day. Every. Single. Day.
- Show kindness.
- Search for authenticity.
Remember, happiness is a living emotion. Will you wake up one day stress free? Probably not. But you can learn..as I have..to slow down and begin living. And you will notice change. I promise.
XOX
