The ABC's of Stress Relief!

Kathy Wortham RMT was a speaker at my networking group speaking on the ABC's of stress. Kathy is a massage therapist and her business is called Hands with a Heart.  Needless to say she sees lots of people who are dealing with stress. For me March was an INCREDIBLY stressful month so this was good timing. 

Why's of stress using A, B and C. 

• A = Awareness - this would cover physical, mental and spiritual.  We all deal with stress in one form or another but becoming aware of it is the first step in dealing with it. 
• B = Beliefs - it is often negative beliefs that causes our stress.
• C = Change - one thing we can be sure of is that in our lifetime change is going to happen (good and bad).  Even good things that happen in our life can cause stress.

Stress Remedies still using A, B and C.   

• A = Acceptance - we need to get our mind in the set of having an Attitude of gratitude about whatever life throws at us. 
• B = Beliefs - is the same as before but this time it was for positive beliefs.   She recommended that we try to surround ourselves with positive people.  As we all know we can't choose our relatives but we can choose our friends.
• C = Choice - we have the choice to control what we think.  No one is going to have control over what we think unless we let them.  With choice she talked about the importance that FAITH plays.  Attribute courage to yourself, it is not an absence of fear; it is about faith at work.  You can get through it if you go to the Lord; it is about keeping on keeping on.

On the SPOT Stress Relief

• Water, water, everywhere ... and every drop you should drink.
• Don't forget to breathe!
• Stretch like you mean it.
• Head work.  Get that attitude of gratitude.

She likes to use the Serenity prayer for those moments in life when the stress gets overwhelming.

• God grant me the SERENITY to ACCEPT the things I cannot CHANGE.  (There's that awareness stuff)
• The COURAGE to CHANGE the things I can. (Courage = Faith at Work).
• And the WISDOM to know the difference.  (Here's the catch ... where does that wisdom come from???

She talked about having the courage to be who you are.  Where your mind goes your body is going to follow.   We need to take care of the cracked pot; if we don't the stress can affect our immune system. 

I spoke earlier about how March had been a VERY stressful month for me.  My stress actually did not have to do with real estate.  I had a neighbor who died from pancreatic cancer and our son headed for Iraq for his second tour with the Army.  I am dealing with my grief over my neighbor and trying to accept the fact that our son is back in Iraq again.  He was actually supposed to get out of the Army in July but received the infamous stop gap.  He is taking it like a man and I am taking it like a Mom.  I am very proud of him and his attitude; my attitude needs to follow. 

To the left is a picture of our son, during his last tour, Spec. Tarren James Peterson.  He is an Intelligence Analyst and is somewhere in Baghdad.  Our daughter met a Marines Mom who said her son was stationed at Camp Cupcake.  Our son unfortunately did not get Camp Cupcake.  He is at a base in south Bagdad. Considering his orders say he is to be there until June 2009; I need to somehow develop an attitude of gratitude.  I can see this is going to make my walk with the Lord stronger. 

Like I said this is going to keep me on my knees.  I have been reading a book on Prophetic Intercession and one of the things she talked about was keeping our spirit sharp.  She was standing at a meat counter once and saw a sign that said "Sharp is safe - dull is dangerous."  Eccl: 10:10 "If the ax is dull & he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength.  Wisdom has the advantage of giving success." 

At this point I can't change this circumstance but I can take care of myself (mentally, physically and spiritually).  I can send him care packages, I can sharpen my spiritual attitude, I can take deep breaths, I can drink lots of water and I can exercise.   You don't know how hard that last one will be for me because I really don't like exercising but I know that I need to do it.  I thought Kathy gave some great advice and I hope it benefits your stress also.   Maybe at some point I will treat myself to a massage with Kathy.