The first step in understanding the role stress plays in your life is to remember, stress is a perception. What one might perceive as a stressor another might not. Phone ringing, door slamming, heavy traffic or heavy work load can be stress for one person and not another. When your stressors are channeled properly, it can help push you toward your best outcome. However, if not channeled properly, a stressor can create havoc.
The havoc that is created is illness—mental or physical. Through illness your body is working to get your attention. Every malady or pain—either physical or mental is your body's way of communicating what it needs. It is the body's alarm system. It is a physiological reaction to a threat in the environment. Are you familiar with the term, 'fight-or-flight' response, which means that when confronted with a threat, the brain instantaneously triggers a release of stress hormones, which in turn create a series of physiological changes. These physiological changes manifest in various body dysfunctions.
To reach your optimal abilityto channel stressors properly the following tips will keep you on the right track.
• Make a list of all the things that prompt you to have a stress perception. Include everything, even if the list becomes long.
• After a break review your list. Prioritize each item as to how strong a stress perception you have when each issue is active in your day-to-day activities.
• Some issues will remain out of your direct control—such as: heavy traffic, phones ringing, etc. Create a dateline to complete your plans and mark the items off your list. Example: I will change my perception regarding heavy traffic, phones ringing, people’s behavior. I will eliminate those issues in my life which are using time with little or no reward. For example: Resigning from committees which use time and give you little reward.
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