Stress - Transmute and Transform

Nowadays, people are experiencing higher stress levels on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. One of the best ways to solve this problem is by fortifying joy and peace in our lives. How do you nurture yourself when news makes you sad, frustrated or angry? Life comes with its challenges. There’s no doubt they are unavoidable. However, we must rise above the fray. When we experience stress on a constant basis, it raises the level of cortisol in our body, which increases inflammation. Some symptoms of inflammation are chronic pain, heart disease, acid reflux, high blood pressure, among others. Needless to say, we want to eliminate stress, but when stress is unavoidable we can transmute it by nurturing ourselves. In so doing, we amplify our joy and peace. As a result, we transform and naturally reduce the stress in our lives. Here are 6 tips to get you there:

1. Laughter - Are you laughing as much as you did a year ago, 5 years ago? What makes you belly laugh? Make time to call that friend who cracks you up, put on your favorite old movie, YouTube cat videos or binge watch your favorite funny tv show.

2. Talk about it - Call up that friend that really hears you and tell them what’s going on. Let them know you’d like a sounding board of friendship. However, if you’d prefer simply to be heard and not receive advice, share that too. “I’m really stressed about this thing that happened but I’d prefer not to get advice… I’d just like to get this off my chest. Thanks so much!” Most good friends will embrace this sentiment.

3. Journal - If you’re more of an introvert, journal your feelings. Write everything out in detail that’s stressful for you. Don’t hold back. If you have a part in what’s going wrong, put that on paper as well. Forgive yourself, and if needed, forgive the other party. Then write down that you know this situation is temporary and everything changes. Believe that. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly. Brainstorm and note what you can do to ease the situation.

4. Exercise - Get outside in the fresh air! Go on a walk, run, ride your bike. Exercise produces endorphins which help us to feel better. This is a great way to reduce and manage your stress.

5. Daily Meditation or Self-healing Reiki - When we meditate on a daily basis we begin to train ourselves to naturally go to a place of peace in the face of challenging circumstances. In doing this every day, we exercise the muscle of inner peace until it becomes a way of life. With self-healing Reiki, you’re not only in a state of meditation but you're activating each energy center in the body with healing. Each one of these energy centers or chakras corresponds to an aspect of your life. Reiki is tremendously healing and balancing for the body! If you’d like to learn self-healing Reiki contact me.

6. Integrative Medicines - There are certain Integrative Medicines, which are also known as Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) are very beneficial in releasing stress in the body, mind and spirit. Biofield therapies specifically Reiki, healing touch therapy and qigong for example, tap into and manipulate the body’s own healing energy. This is a non-invasive and holistic way of managing stress in the body.

The idea is to nurture yourself which counters the negative effects that regular stress can have on your life.

Take care of yourselves and each other.