Taking Control of Your Stress

When you decide to take action and move forward, you can deal with the stress affecting your life. One of the biggest problems we face is procrastination. We keep putting off what we do not want to deal with. This only adds more stress to the situation because the day will come when it can not be put off any longer.

What are you avoiding? If the problem is within your control, determine what needs to be done to resolve it. Do you need to make a change in your life? Do you need to find a resolution to a financial problem? Take control of the situation a step at a time. What are your alternatives? What can you do now? Make a list and review the options. No matter how painful it may be, decide on what step to take first to resolve the situation. Take the action needed. When that step is completed, move on to the next. When you get to the end of your list, your heart will be lighter and the stress of that problem will be wearing away.

If the problems are in our control, we can minimize our stress by the time it will take to resolve it. Refusing to act or avoiding the situation only makes it worse.

There are some stress situations that we procrastinate about so long that the problem moves beyond our control and someone else is in control of us. This type of stress is very unhealthy. It leads to low self-esteem and depression. You feel as though you are falling into a deep hole and mud is sinking in behind you. You become filled with despair. This leads to problems in your relationships with your family, friends, and co-workers. At this point, a trusted confidant, friend or mentor can help. You need to relieve the burden you feel. And you need to make sure it is someone you can trust to talk to, someone who will listen and not betray your trust.

Pretending that life is okay when it is not adds to the pressure. Keeping negative thoughts bottled up adds to the pressure of stress. It is only when we decide to deal with the problems causing us stress that we can be more open and receptive to what is going on around us. it is then that we will be able to find pleasure in the small things that make up our being.

Changes will have to be made in your life. Dealing with that change will be emotional and filled with tension. After you accept this, stress will become easier to deal with.