Try this for immediate stress relief 

I see on Facebook and hear in conversations that people are looking for strategies for stress relief. Did you know that one of the most effective ways to managing stress is found in the present moment? If you are asking what the heck that means….read on.

Those that have known me a long time know that how I handle stress in my life is completely different. Things don’t get to me in the way they once did. I’m generally relaxed and upbeat. My secret which I’m sharing with you now lies in the present moment.

I am being both literal and figurative with the statement. Being in the present moment means that we are not living in the past and wishing for a different outcome. When we are in the present moment, we are not future-tripping and trying to write our future (I am the BEST story-writer… I can write out a whole life story in under 3 seconds in a really good future-trip). When we are living in the present moment, we are focused on one thing, and that thing is what is happening right now.

What is happening right now?

Right now, where are you sitting, standing or laying? What does the surface feel like? Is the air around you warm or cool? What sounds do you hear? Are there any smells that you notice? 

How are you feeling in this present moment? Whatever feelings you have, honor them by noticing them. Give them space to exist. By recognizing and allowing our feelings, they lose their control over us. We can act more logically and thoughtfully. It is when we are in amped up emotional state that we begin to act irrationally or thoughtlessly. Those are the moments that I find myself saying things I wish I wouldn’t have said and reacting in ways I’m not proud of.

We hear about mindfulness a lot. Many people are afraid that mindfulness means some kind of “Woo-woo” you out there kind spiritual-ness. In fact, mindfulness is a way to get grounded. When you’re grounded, you’re making decisions from a place of balance and calm. And mindfulness is the path to do it. When we are mindful and live in the present moment we find that our stress is greatly diminished. Wonder why?

Stress = resistance 

We feel stress when we are resisting. We could be resisting any number of things ranging from our workload, relationship status, our health, our family situation, our finances, etc. 

When we allow what is to exist without fighting it, we feel our stress dissipate. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to change the things we can, but we have to first accept them as they are. Honor your feelings and allow them to exist. Notice this moment and feel the resistance and stress begin to fade.

I hope this serves you. Please consider sharing this with someone else you might benefit by  liking or sharing.

All my love,

Brenda