There’s nothing new I can tell you about stress. We’ve all got it to some degree, and it’s not a bad thing if you’ve learned how to regulate it. What most people find tricky is unraveling the steps that lead them to stress. You can call them triggers. It can be people or events. Or, you could be taking on too much, and need to learn how to say “no.” That’s been a new word added to my vocabulary, and maybe it could be helpful for you, too.
One thing I want you to know. You CAN quickly reset. I like to call it a CPR moment, which means a compassionate, pause and reset. I also want to share 3 of my favorite ways to reset my mind, body and spirit. Here are my go-to strategies:
- Laughter. Nothing breaks up an old, washed up story or trance state like laughter. When we can laugh about something, we’ve already started to change our perception of it. Changing our perception then changes the physical response in the body. Laughter therapy is a very common tool in order to manage stress. There are even laughter yoga classes popping up in most cities.
- Aromatherapy: This is my secret, stealth recommendation I share with my clients. I have a huge selection of aromatherapy oils in my office. I ask the client to choose the one that activates a calm, relaxed emotional state in their body. Here’s a little biology for you. The Olfactory Bulb is connected to the Amygdala. The Amygdala is the part of the brain that senses threat. Your sense of smell can become your greatest ally in calming that poor Amygdala down.
- Earthing: Getting back to nature is becoming more, and more difficult for people as they become more, and more addicted to their screens. Our mind, body and spirit long to be in nature to take in its full sensorial beauty. The earth is a battery that contains a natural, subtle charge and most everything is connected to it. This is why it’s called grounding. Electricians know they must ground electrical wiring in homes, for example. If you want more encouragement to get outside, here are some very encouraging results. After four weeks of earthing/grounding studies show and 80% reduction in pain, no sleep interference, and a 70% reduction in morning stiffness and soreness.
