These posts are meant to lead you be your most empowered self and help you overcome those things that are holding you back from reaching your goals. Some of this might resonate with you, or not, and I’m not here to judge anyone or their actions, only to give you something to think about.

This month is Stress Awareness Month and I would like to discuss how stress can impact your life and how it can get in the way of reaching your intended goals. We have spoken before about the importance of the journey to your goal, here is where stress can trip you up. It can, also, stop you in your tracks before you even get started.

So, what is stress? Stress is a result of something that triggers a negative response within you. Stress is your body’s way of responding to potential dangers, for example. Your body may also recognize emotional threats as physical ones and trigger a stress response within your body.

Stress is unique to each individual, as is how each person deals with it. It can mean different things to different people at different times, depending where you are mentally, emotionally and physically in that moment in time. Although it is a normal physiological response, stress can become harmful and affect your physical, mental and emotional health as a whole.

Stress triggers

As you can imagine, stress awareness starts with identifying your triggers. These are typically related to your personal and professional relationships as well as the expectations related to these relationships. For some, also, the lack of relationship with others can also trigger a stress response.

Here’s how to do identify your triggers: 

Think of a stressful event that was triggered. First, identify an example of the moment that made you react impulsively. Next, take that moment and break it down into multiple parts. After that, reflect on each part and identify what it was that triggered you and be honest with yourself about why – for example “I felt powerless”, “I felt disrespected”, “I felt ignored”, “I felt manipulated”, “I felt unheard”, “I felt judged”, etc. Lastly, determine what you want to do with this information and how you will learn from it.

COPING

Coping can look different to different people. Keeping a “Feel Good” journal that you keep on your bedside table helps keep things in perspective.

Here is what it what it would look like:

In the morning, when you wake up, before you check your phone, write down one or two affirmations for the day, something personal to you and meditate on them. An example would be: “I am capable”, “I can get through this day”, “I am loveable”, “I am intelligent”, “I have come so far”, etc.

At the end of each day, reflect and write down what you are grateful about from that day or the day to come, it can be big or small or seemingly insignificant things. I suggest adding one challenge from the day and what lesson from it you are grateful for to the list of positive points.

Interpersonal Relationships

Stress can affect your interpersonal relationships as well. A study that followed 80 couples “found that those who experienced more stress outside of their relationship reported feeling less comfortable and less close with their partner.” Additionally, experts maintained that, “when people are stressed, they become more withdrawn and distracted, and less affectionate. They also have less time for leisure activities, which leads to alienation between partners. Stress also brings out people’s worst traits, which may lead their partners to withdraw as well.”.

Your Takeaway

1. Stress is your body’s way of responding to perceived emotional or physical threats. It can mean different things to different people at different times.
2. Although stress is a normal physiological response, it can become harmful and affect your physical, mental and emotional health.
3. Identifying your stress triggers is the first step to overcoming them. These are typically connected to your personal and professional relationships.
4. Coping can look different to different people. Keeping a “Feel Good” journal that you keep on your bedside table helps keep things in perspective. In it you would list your daily affirmations and gratitude.
5. Stress can affect your interpersonal relationships by making you more withdrawn, less comfortable and less close with your partner.

TRY THIS: Identify what triggers your stress and try and reflect on why. Then find a way to either avoid or better deal with your stressor.

POST IT NOTE: I will not let stress overcome me

Click for recorded segment exclusively on BlastTheRadio.com: STRESS [5:57 min]

READERS: What are your thoughts on this? Please share in the comments!

One.Step.At.A.Time.

Suzie