The Newsy Neighbour
October Issue 108
4 Quotes about Stress That Can Actually Help You Manage
Better.
We have all been there, and we will be there again, because
it’s just how it life is. Times of stress happen to all of us.
These 4 quotes may not be able to fix the cause of our
stress, but perhaps they will help us to remember how to manage our stress
while we are in the midst of it.
1. We can easily manage if we will only take, each day,
the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry
yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow
before we are required to bear it. –John Newton
Avoid being overwhelmed by taking things one step at a time.
Knowing where you want to end up is important but keep your eyes on the ground
in front of you, one foot in front of the other, until you are able to handle
lifting your eyes to the horizon. This allows us to continue to do the things
that our daily life requires, and also move our efforts forward without
becoming paralyzed by the size of the task.
2. Movement is a medicine for creating change in a
person's physical, emotional, and mental states. –Carol
Welch
Change your physiology. Stress is often rooted in our mental
and emotional states, yet there are significant physical ramifications. We are
actually mentally inhibited because our body is assuming we are in danger and
need to be in preparedness to fight or flee our enemy. The body is unable to
distinguish between the stress of avoiding physical danger and the stress of
too much happening at work or home. At least when we are out of physical danger
the mind can let the body know that, and the chemicals will cease production.
When we are experiencing mental or emotional distress, however, it is much
harder to escape from. We are unable to kick out of this physical response
until we do something that activates the opposite reaction in our body.
Exercise, yoga, meditation, laughter, time spent in nature all have the
opposite effect of stress in the body. If you feel stressed every day, then you
should be actively engaged every day in an activity that can change the
physiological response, even if there is nothing you can do to change the cause
of the stress.
3. The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to
choose one thought over another. –William
James
Learning to observe the activities of your mind, while
actively not participating with them, is a powerful tool. When we do this we
can see our patterns, our beliefs, our insecurities and fears. We can recognize
the undeniable link from thoughts to feelings to physical manifestations. If
you don’t know how to start this process, there are many ways to learn – taking
a meditation or yoga class, working with a psychologist trained in cognitive
behavioural techniques, asking a trusted friend to talk you through a problem
and help you to see your repeating patterns. There are tools once you begin, as
well – goal setting or vision boards to give you a positive place to aim for;
mantras or affirmations to retrain our mind (the brain acts like a muscle –
repetition is how it learns); read books and be around people that reinforce
your efforts. It may feel daunting, but the efforts of wresting your mind into
your conscious control will decrease the battering you take from within.
4. Encourage, lift and strengthen one another. For the
positive energy spread to one will be felt by us all. For we are connected, one
and all. –Deborah Day
Ask for support. When we feel isolated in our experience, we
become prone to depression and anxiety – a vicious cycle of stress symptoms can
take hold. When we try to remain a lone island, we risk remaining in a place of
fear. But when we reach out to a support system (be that family, friends,
counselling, co-workers, leaders) and share our experience we create the
opportunity for connection on a mental and emotional level, and the physical
body responds with relief as well. We open the door for assistance and that
assistance (be it the relief that comes from the simple act of sharing your
worries or in a tangible action that person can do to aid you) will bring with
it a lessening of the burden.
Stress comes in fluctuating waves. Some days are an easy
breeze. Other times we feel buffeted and blown around as if we were in the
midst of a great storm. Or buried by the weight of it all. So one last quote to
reinforce those above and bring comfort if you need it: “When we long for
life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds
and diamonds are made under pressure.”
– Peter Marshall
– Peter Marshall
You got this.
Namaste, Becky
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