Life gives us competitive situations which ultimately have no other option but to end with one side winning and another side not. It could be as monumental as a presidential election, as emotional as the world series or super bowl, or as day to day as which show gets watched on the big tv in the living room.
What life doesn’t give us is a road map to follow on how to move on from the aftermath of these competitions. For those who did not triumph, it’s not easy to root for something, only to have to let go and walk away once the dust settles. For those who won, it can be just as difficult to do so graciously, humbly, and with empathy for the other side.
This week the media is filled with opinions on the rightness or wrongness of decisions our country has made, as well as where to go from here. Personally, I have found the best antidote for the toxic feelings of both sides is to generally avoid social media and focus on what is concretely in front of me in my daily life. There will be time enough to analyze once emotions aren’t so raw.
This is a reminder to myself.
Dear Self,
Remember to spend time with my pets and find humor within the chaos of life.
This has always been my best remedy for stress. It may not work for everyone, but for me, they are the only things that can consistently help lift me out of anxiety.
Given the fact that emotional stress take a physical toll on our bodies, it’s important to have a readily available weapon within our grasp to counteract it. Negative emotions release the stress hormone cortisol which then makes the rounds throughout our bodies, weakening our immune system and altering our brain chemicals.
Left unchecked, chronic anxiety far too easily can snowball into our emotional state weakening our physical state, which then further depresses our emotional state, which further weakens us physically, and so on.
It is therefore important to not allow this avalanche within us to continue running untamed.
Laughter, a subtle chuckle, or even just an uncontrollable smile, have positive physiological effects on our bodies. Laughing has been scientifically documented to lower our heart rate and blood pressure. This, in turn, reduces the surge of that cortisol rushing around our body.
Spending time with pets has also been proven to result in positive shifts in our physiology. Sitting alongside an animal has been shown to reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, all of which help calm us emotionally and physically. It has even been shown to assist people with social interaction and communication who would otherwise struggle to do so.
So what else would be in an arsenal of stress-fighting life habits?
- Get enough sleep
6-8 hours
- Drink enough water
6-8 glasses
- Eat healthy food
Veggies, fruits, and less junk food
- Exercise
Pick your method, just move for 30 minutes every day
- Meditate
Don’t worry about how, just sit quietly and try to keep your mind calm
- Practice Yoga
It’s exercise plus meditation all in one
- Find the bright side in every situation
Learn to have empathy and you will always manage to find it
- Find some humor in every situation
Watch Seinfeld reruns, he’ll show you how to do it
- Find an enjoyable distraction
Anything that can pull your thoughts into a more positive space
- Think before you speak
All words have consequences to someone
- Speak kindly to others
Remember what your mom said, if you can’t say something nice…..
- Laugh
Even if it’s quiet and by yourself
- Spend time with pets
It’s win-win, happy animal and happier you
We can’t completely avoid stress in our lives, but we can try our best to control our reactions to it. If we can stop the domino effect stress has the unfortunate ability to ignite, within ourselves and across the people we come in contact with, we create a more harmonious immediate environment to live in.
And if each of us can find our own unique way of doing that, think of the positive energy we can spread within ourselves and our web of family and friends.
And if we can achieve that, think of the change we could be across our world.