75 to 90 % of all doctor
visits are stress related according to recent studies. Does this statement ring
a bell for you? Do you think about
living a healthier and more productive lifestyle or are you too busy to give it
any thought? If you are anything
like me, you push your limits daily and try to squeeze into your day more jobs
or activities than you are able to accomplish. I guess you can call me an “A” personality because I am
always thinking and motivating myself to strive harder. But in truth, you can be a less
motivated and even more sedentary personality who is worrying about things or
feeling lack of support or of friendships when needed.
Managing your stress and
anxiety is a full time job and one that needs your constant attention if you
are attempting to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. I often have people ask me how they can accomplish that task
and I always say the same thing.
You do not need to be a medical doctor or therapist or professional of
higher learning to fully understand and appreciate the positive benefits of
living a life in an environment with less stress, pressure and nervous tension.
So where do you begin to
change and re-shape your thoughts, attitude and behavior, you might ask? Some techniques that are definitely
helpful are:
1. Physical exercise—Many people shy away from even the simplest forms of
exercise but I can truthfully say that I am living proof that it absolutely
works and leaves me with long lasting benefits. Even the art of simple stretches has its rewards. It really doesn’t matter what age you
are, stretching daily opens the muscles and joints and allows air to flow
within thus helping you to maintain a healthier body.
2. Meditation --I receive thousands of excuses from people who say
that meditation is too hard and they always fall asleep during the
process. All I have to say is: “Practice
makes perfect!” I meditate daily, but
having said that, I want to clarify.
You do not need to sit in a yoga position or chant a phrase in order to
relax your mind. One practice that
I enjoy is meditating upon waking up in the morning because then I have no
excuse that I am rushed and can’t fit it into my schedule. But if there is a time when that
exercise is not practical, I have found that spending time in nature or
outdoors is relaxing, grounding and without a doubt conducive to releasing
stress, anxiety and tension.
3. Deep breathing –breathe deeply and fill your gut, your abdomen with
the healing energy of the Universal Flow.
We all have a lot of toxins in our bodies and deep breathing is one of
the ways to naturally release up to 70% of toxins within the body. Deep
breathing also can improve your lymph system and cleanse it from toxins as it
allows your cells to fill with an optimal exchange of oxygen.
When you consciously
breathe deeply, you begin to realize how this exercise naturally relaxes you
and sends signals to your brain to slow down and release. This specific
practice can be accomplished at any time and in any place and it works
too! After all, we all need to
breathe so why not do it meaningfully and deeply because once again the benefits
are life altering.
One point I would like
to make:
·
It is up to you
to take control over your emotions and mental attitude.
·
It is up to you to
find natural solutions that will work for you.
·
It is up to you
to seek a life that is healthier because you choose it. After all we each get one body and one
change to enjoy it to our fullest so why not make the effort to create a
healthier life. I know that that
is my goal and I hope it is yours too.
Joan Marie Ambrose
Author,
Creative Writer, Motivational Speaker
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