Stressed?

Stressed?

Who of us isn’t in one way or another, right?  I mean, winter break starts next week for school-aged children, Christmas is next week, COVID is still a thing, and no one knows what the year 2021 will bring…. Eesshhh.  Sitting with those thoughts, fears, worries is bound to cause some emotional (and physical) discomfort.  

And, what if we choose to not camp out there?  What if we choose to not set up shop in that fear and worry?  One of the most powerful things we have control over is our thoughts.  Pay attention to your thoughts.  Notice what you’re telling yourself.

Stress and worry don’t have to be our enemy.  How we feel is real.  However, what we think and tell ourselves is not always based in truth.  Our minds are built to be efficient, so we tend to jump to conclusions, often times built off previous experiences.  We “should” ourselves, thinking we should be doing this or that, or things should be going this way or that way.  We personalize things, feeling like it’s all our fault or responsibility.  

But, what if we notice those feelings of stress and worry, and instead of jumping to conclusions, should-ing, or blaming ourselves, we view those feelings as opportunities?  This might not sound fun, but I guarantee it will lead to feeling better.  Stress and worry can be opportunities to rise up, show up, do better, be better. 

Stress is real.  How we let it play out in our lives is up to us.  

No matter your circumstances, if you’re reading this, you likely have the power to control your thoughts (even if it seems hard or scary).  

So, how can you choose to view the stress or worry you’re feeling differently?  How can it become an opportunity?  Notice the feeling.  Pay attention to the thought.  Actively work to change the story that has been showing up.  Allow the story to serve you, and those feelings of stress and worry will start to serve you, too. 

We’ll get through this.  We’ll figure this out.  We always do.