Stress is such a small word that means so much. We are living in tough times right now and I know for myself and in my patients that stress can cause physical problems (pain, tightness, hives, stomach aches, headaches, colds, anxiety, depression, ….).

How did we get to a point that our stress levels are at a 7-8 (0=no stress 10=severe stress)? What I do know is that it is our interpretation of stress that gets us in trouble. It is our expectation of what SHOULD happen or how things SHOULD go or how people SHOULD act. I expect people to treat others with respect and kindness and when this doesn’t happen I get angry. This certainly doesn’t work for me.

There are many self-help gurus out there that say What is Is. We need to go with the flow more and stop placing so much emphasis on the outcome. We need to do our best and not worry about being perfect. Remember we are humans having a human experience. Why is it we will tolerate a computer not functioning right but not another human. We have glitches too. So what if it takes a couple extra minutes at the drive through at Starbucks, ultimately how is that going to ruin your life?

So now what do we do about it?

***Play more – do what you love to do – camp, hike, run, bike, paint, knit,…

***Exercise – there is something out there for everyone you just need to find it.

***Sleep – get your 8 hours of sleep. Reduced sleep makes everything in life worse.

***Laugh more – get those endorphins released.

***Re-frame how you see things – unless it is truly life and death it most likely isn’t

as bad as we think. Most people see the worst. They think any mistake is going

to be the end of the world. Most mistakes are fixable and even the ones that

aren’t don’t mean much in 5 years.

***Deep breathe a lot!!

***Slow down and enjoy life more. When you walk look at the flowers and trees.

Don’t rush by them. These are the things that matter.