How do you handle stress?

Thanks for a great post! I have been a little stressed this week and this is a gentle way to snap me out of it!

You are so right...it is all about the attitude!  Being positive is also a self-fulfilling prophecy.  I joke about living a stress-free life, but a few years ago I decided that's exactly what I wanted and today, that's what I have. 

Most people bring a certain level of stress to their own lives by their attitude;  watch people in a long line at a grocery store or in heavy traffic, the agitation is palpitable with every second they have to WAIT.  I used to be very impatient and then realized, hey, it's ALL up to me.  So I made a conscious decision to change MY reaction to things and voila, life is much grander now.  Thanks for a great post!

Connie:

Recently, I've implemented a new strategy to manage my stress level. When I awake in the morning, I say to myself...........

Whatever the obstacle......don't complain about it! Address the issues and MOVE FORWARD!

Hopefully, my blood pressure will benefit from this new strategy.

p.s. -- Great Blog Connie!

Wonderful words of wisdom!  We cannot change most of it from around us, but as you say, we can choose how we react to it.  One of the thing I used to do is have a comparison to "well, it's not brain surgery".  That was a real comparison for me as my sons' father had many brain surgeries.  Now I try to use humor in as many situations as I can.

Wonderful blog Connie!  You know, to say that I had humble beginnings is such an understatement.  We were, how do you say... poor as dirt, maybe?  If we didn't grow it, harvest it, can it and ration it, we didn't eat.  The early seventies were tough on my family of nine - with me being the middle child.  My husband, however, had the experience from the other end of the spectrum.  He was the oldest and had every thing his little heart desired.  It is very interesting how we handle stress.  I usually say, "oh well," and meander my way back from a bad situation and he visits the negative cave and camps out a while.  Don't get me wrong, he is the most wonderful man in the world - seriously!  However, he get's stuck on stressful situations and can't seem to get over them.  I've noticed the same trend in our three children, but I try to remind them that, "No, life isn't always going to be all warm and fuzzy for you."  I remind them that they will take some really hard knocks sometimes, but it won't last and they will come back out of the stressful situation learning a lot about their own character. 

Honestly, I've been on the lean side of things and now enjoy a very full, blessed life.  I would not take all the money in the world for all those lean times.  Don't get me wrong, I really don't think I want to go back to that... but IF I had to, I could cope.  In my very neutral opinion, I think that we, as Americans, are really spoiled.   We view every little situation that doesn't go our way as "overwhelming stress."  Sure, there is a lot of stress out there - if you choose to recognize it as such.  But most of what goes on now is just LIFE.  Life happens and we make choices.

I loved the comments from the other bloggers too... it's all about how we choose to aim our attitude.  What most folks don't realize is, it is much more stressful to ponder over, stew in, and hold onto negative stuff, but there is so much liberation in unloading all the negative baggage. 

I walk everyday and that is a great way to destress!!!  Have a great weekend!

I think counselors would refer to your approach as Cognitive Theraphy and Behavior Modifcation.

I agree with Mary that walking is a huge stress reliever for me.  Find something that you really enjoy and try to do it more often and it will make your attitude improve.

Every day I take a few minutes to lay down and just breathe for a few minutes mid day, all the better if a little family member joins me. Some times it is just 5 minutes, but it makes a real difference!

I think most of us spend too much time stressing about what we don't have or what we haven't achieved.  Our lives would be much better if everyone would just take some time each day to be thankful for that which we do have.