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Moving At The Speed Of Life

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Contributed by: Kendra Liedle on 6/14/2007

Remember when you were5 years old and the concept of turning 12 someday seemed like an eternity away? Summers lasted for lifetimes. Friends seemed to always be just around the corner.

Alas, now you're an adult and the pace of modern times has sped up considerably. You have bills. You have kids. You have deadlines. You have time for approximately nothing.

The years are gliding by like cascading dominoes and to top it off, you see yourself getting older. Life isn't exactly helping you keep up. Summer's finally here and there you are: totally and completely stressed out.

Stress can be very damaging, even life-threatening. I learned that the hard way. When faced with insurmountable obstacles at a job a few years back, I let the stress get to me. I wasn't taking care of myself; I wasn't sleeping. I allowed the stress to take care of me (which is never a good thing.) Subsequently, a major car wreck nearly took me out. After that, I made a conscious decision to never let stress get to me like that ever again.

When we feel stressed out, we naturally reach for things (or we do things) that will make us feel better right away. Unfortunately for most of us, instant gratification manifests itself in ways that are usually far from healthy. Some people take their stress out on others: yelling and screaming in their attempts to blame someone else or regain control over their life. Other people react by curling up and hoping to sleep their stress away. Others might reach for drugs or alcohol or engage in self-destructive behaviors such as compulsive gambling, shopping, or emotional eating in their attempts to cope with the stress that is running them ragged.

In times of stress, our body, mind, and spirit needs the most nourishment, but conversely, it's during these times when we are least likely to give ourselves what we truly need.

Next time you feel stressed, force yourself to take a step back and really look at your life and where you're headed. Yes, I know you don't have time for this, but TAKE THE TIME. As you know, life will keep moving forward regardless of what you do.

For many people, regular exercise is an excellent stress-reliever. Physical exercise can reduce your physiological reactions to stress while strengthening your heart and giving your body a much-needed boost of serotonin. The physical exertion effectively distracts us from our problems while making us feel good about ourselves. For Joey Dowdy, Owner of World Dance Groove Fitness, www.worlddancegroovefitness.com, dancing is both a call to glory and his solution for a lower-stress existence.

"Dancing helps me to relieve the stress and tension from every day life. I use it as a way to escape into my own personal, peaceful zone. I'm able to lose myself in the movement and create a new reality", says Joey.

There are other ways to create new "stress-free" realities. Physical activity is just one of them. The main thing is to take your mind off the stress you're experiencing in constructive, mindful ways.

For many people, music provides an outlet. To some people, this might mean blasting heavy metal or indulging in the latest TOOL album. To others, however, this might mean playing guitar or listening to classical music. The music of popular artists such as Jewel and Celine Dion, and even Johnny Cash and classical artists such as composer-pianist Richard Nanes can provide just the comfort food that your mind and senses need to unwind.

Before the next tidal wave of stress hits you smack in the forehead, here are some other simple ideas for alleviating and managing stress:

STRESS MANAGEMENT TIPS

· Get Physical doing activities that you enjoy. Aim for a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise, most days of the week.

· Don't Be Afraid to ask for help. Call a friend or consult with a professional.

· Try Yoga or Meditation: You don't have to be a guru. A few minutes of quiet and gentle stretching can do wonders for your emotional and physical well-being.

*Create Your Own Healthy Rituals
Have tea-time in the middle of the afternoon. Create a weekly "lazy Sunday" ritual. I routinely make myself an evening cup of hot cocoa-- full of chocolatey goodness,soothing warmth, and heart-healthy flavonoids.

*Try journaling. Sometimes you don't know what's bothering you until you see your mind's thoughts on paper. Writing can help you feel more focused and more self-aware.

*Spend time with a child and embrace the wonder of the world with them. They will open your eyes to new possibilities and show you that there is a world beyond the stresses of adult life.

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