Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month?
Stress plays a huge part in our sense of inner balance and wellbeing.
Often we become accustomed to a certain level of stress and no longer notice that it’s there. It has become our ‘norm’. But it’s still having an impact on our health and can lead to burnout and chronic dis-ease.
Our e-motions are meant to be energy *in motion*. They need to be allowed to come up and then flow on.
However, when we place expectations on ourselves or worry that we’re being judged – and found wanting – it blocks this flow, which adds to our stress levels.
Life is not a test, so don’t take it too seriously. Remember to laugh, and don’t be afraid to feel.
Our bodies know exactly what they need in order to heal, and they know the steps to take to get to wellbeing.
Our role, then, is to provide the right resources – rest, nutrients, hydration, fresh air, exercise – and to do our best to clear the way, removing those things that hold us back and keep us stuck.
Emotions carry valuable information about what’s going on for us. As such they can be very useful.
However, if we don’t listen and explore ways to support ourselves and meet the needs beneath the feelings, then they can become toxic, both to ourselves and to those around us.
Opening to all that our emotions can teach us help us to develop the emotional intelligence that brings the resilience we need to deal with change and the challenges that life brings.
Next week I’ll look at some tips for dealing with stress when we feel it beginning to build.Posted on April 14, 2019