Chelsea Speaks: On beating stress
Life in today’s modern world is so demanding that functioning through long-standing stress has become a way of life.
Between work, managing finances, daily household chores and maintaining relationships with family and friends, it can be hard to find a steady balance. But be careful — your mind, body and attitude ultimately pay the price.
Stress is your body’s natural response to threats, worry and uncertainty of the future. It creeps up so suddenly that the severity and toll it takes on your body, mind and behavior is often overlooked.
You are responsible for the way you react to life’s everyday circumstances. Some unhealthy ways to deal with stress include: excessive drinking, emotional eating, illegal drug consumption, gambling, oversleeping, procrastination and compulsive spending.
Decide what is the most important in your life. Is it family and friends? Love? Financial gain and material processions? Inner peace? Whatever the focus of your life may be, visualize and affirm the things you want.
Your thoughts and words are powerful. Be mindful of the things you think and speak; keeping your focus on positivity and goodness. The basic law of attraction suggests that like attracts like. To bring peace and tranquility into your life, you must become a reflection of peace and tranquility.
Step away from unpleasant memories and things, and shift your energy towards positivity, loyalty, love, good health and peace. By doing so you will attract more of those things to your life. If you chose to focus on negativity and worry, you are not only bringing those negative thoughts into fruition; you are also inviting more negativity into your life.
Mediating for at least 10 minutes a day has the proven ability to produce positive effects on the body and mind. Take a break from all of the craziness and decide to quiet your thoughts. If you’re new to meditating, keep it short and sweet. Start by focusing on your breathing. Take long, deep breaths, tune out your surroundings and clear your mind.
Decide that you are not going to be life’s victim. You’re strong, worthy of good things, and will achieve great things in your life. Understanding and finding healthy ways to deal with stress will improve your quality of life and the relationships around you.
10 ways to beat stress:
1. exercise
2. eat healthy
3. improve your sleep patterns
4. limit internet and cell phone usage
5. organize your life
6. meditation
7. listen to music
8. laughter
9. aromatherapy
10. spend time with loved ones
Sometimes admitting that you are unsure about your future is the first step. Instead of getting caught up or bogged down by daily drama, look at your life as a movie that is unfolding bit by bit.
Don’t continue down a path that you know is not right for you. There’s freedom in uncertainty because it gives you the opportunity to test out different avenues. Instead of demanding, wishing, or waiting for things to change – grab the reigns and take control of your life. The more you focus and prioritize on your life’s purpose, you will worry less and find fulfillment.
Chelsea Settles of Uniontown is a former MTV reality television personality who starred in a show of her same name.