Introduction
Tangible sources of stress are many. They are the outside influences that send us in to fight or flight mode. Difficult relationships, financial pressure, threatening environments, or illnesses are examples. The various types of stress our family and friends experience also impacts our individual level of stress.
We often believe that stress will go away once the outside cause is relieved. In many instances that is true.
We must, however, consider an underlying cause of overwhelming stress that goes unnoticed. That cause is the pattern of our thoughts. Our thoughts can contribute to high stress levels. Some women know how to release this way of thinking and they free themselves of the burden of overwhelming stress.
Our thought pattens influence how we feel which impacts stress. In this blog post, I am going to share why and how amazing women deal with stinking thinking. They put it in the trash where it belongs so that they can feel amazing, enjoy life, and live healthy.
Background
Overwhelming stress is like a burden that seems impossible to release. We believe that our circumstances cause the overwhelm. We think “if my situation changed, I would not feel overwhelmed. I would not be overstressed.” The way we view the circumstance influences our mental and emotional response. Science has shown that the stress response is initiated when we see a lover in the same way as when our boss unexpectedly calls us into the office.
Our hearts beat harder and faster. Our muscles tense, blood pressure increases, and we prepare to fight or flee. The difference is in how we think. Seeing a lover is pleasurable. As a result, we view our body’s reaction as excitement. When our boss calls us into the office unexpectedly, we may view it as a threat. Our thoughts are different although the physical reaction is the same.
Stress free women take several steps to release stinking thinking and I outline them in the following bullets.
They Understand their Thoughts
Women who successfully maintain low stress levels recognize how their thoughts make them feel. First, they understand that thoughts influence how they feel. They recognize that thoughts can cause them to have positive feelings about themselves, their abilities, and their value to the community at large.
Second, they know how their mood affects their ability and willingness to act. They take steps to consider the resulting feeling caused by their initial thought. When a person has a positive feeling, they are more likely to act. A negative feeling may cause a person to procrastinate, avoid or stand still.
Finally, stress-free women have clarity regarding their natural thought patterns. Dr. David Burns, the author of Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy developed a list of distorted thinking patterns. Knowing their prevalent thought patterns empower these women to focus on the truth and avoid the distortions.
They Monitor Automatic Thoughts
Automatic thoughts are thoughts that we often miss. They occur within seconds and are fleeting. We do not notice them. We notice the subsequent feeling or emotion the thought causes. We must take an introspective look to identify the thought that preceded that feeling. Once we identify the thought, we must then determine if there is truth in the thought. Stress free women seek evidence to prove or dispel the thought.
They also identify triggers and trigger patterns that cause the automatic thoughts. These triggers could be in the form of experiences or repetitive messages they had over their lifetime. Just because a person has a thought, it does not mean that thought is true or born out of factual information. Reframing is necessary to clarify and embrace the truth.
They Let Go
The next step taken is to reframe the thoughts based on facts. As stated previously, a thought is not necessarily true just because a person thinks it. Reframing based on facts can lead women to release the negative feelings. This will free her to act in her best interest.
I have just shared Why stress-free women release stinking thinking to be amazing. I shared the importance of women understanding their thoughts and though patterns. It is also important to monitor whether automatic thoughts are factual or valid. Finally, stress free women must reframe their thoughts based on facts and release the negative feelings associated with the thought.
M.L. Bailey Consultants helps women who work in service industry professions live healthy lives through strategic stress management. We encourage you to TAKE THE QUIZ – Are you Blessed, Stressed or Burned Out? to get resources and support that fit your specific stress management needs.
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