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We may not realize it, but as much as we're defined by the goals we reach and the ways in which we choose to present ourselves, we're also defined by the challenges we face in life, and what we do to overcome them. Whether or not we look at each obstacle in life as a potential gift, if we think about it, most of us inherently know that there is indeed a gift with most of the difficult things we face in life; the trick is to find it, or rather, to remember to look.
Moving to a new city can be a major challenge that brings homesickness and hard work, but can also bring new opportunities, new independence, and of course, new friends and neighbors. Surviving a major car accident and resulting injuries may bring serious tears and fears, or it can bring an understanding of how precious life is, how lucky we are when we have our health, and a realization that we may possess more inner strength and resilience than we ever thought possible.
When we first face a stressor, our initial reaction may be negative. However, with practice, we can all learn to see more positives mixed with the negatives. We can all start seeing our stressors as challenges instead of threats. And we can all use these challenges as tools for growth rather than mere harbingers of stress.
The following articles can all help you change your perspective and your initial responses to stress, to have a more optimistic, resilient outlook: Resilience: What Has Your Stress Done For You? originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 05:52:42.
As I was reflecting on the gratitude I felt for the support my friends and family were giving, I also thought about all the emotional support we share, and all of the other types of support that help us all keep stress at bay. While relationship conflicts can be a cause of stress, the right circle of friends and type of social support can work wonders.
I recently read some interesting research on types of support, however, and found confirmation on what I've always instinctively felt: that not all types of support function in the same way and, even more interesting to me, some types of support can actually be damaging if given in too-large quantities. Read more about the research on different types of support, and see the resources below on how to share stress relief with your loved ones through supportive relationships.
Relationship Resources for Stress Management:
What are some ways you've given support lately? What are some ways that people have supported you? Share your experiences in the comments, we'd love to hear them! And if you've found this post helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and family via the 'share' button. Thanks! Support For Stress Relief originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 22:18:28.
I recently created one of these Reader Response articles on the topic of cognitive reframing. The question I posed is as follows:
Cognitive reframing--the wonderful practice of looking at things in a more positive light in order to experience them as less stressful--is a simple and effective stress reliever. And there are unlimited opportunities to practice cognitive reframing to maintain a more optimistic world view. Sometimes it helps to see how others can take lemons and make lemonade; sometimes it's nice to get a pat on the back for a brilliant example of cognitive reframing you've used in your own. Either way, I invite you to share your best examples of cognitive reframing in your own life, and get inspired by the stories of others.
I received several great responses. Here's one I particularly like, from Linda.LongIsland: Several people, including Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, have written about the benefits of gratitude. Instead of focusing on what's going wrong, we can focus on what's going right. A friend of mine was complaining that nothing went right one day. I said, "You have to look at things correctly. Lots of things went right. Can you walk? Can you see? Do you have a roof over your head?, etc." She answered yes and then thanked me for giving her "a gift." We all have so much to be grateful for and by concentrating on the daily miracles in our lives, we will have the strength to get through stressful times.
How would you have responded? Here's your chance--add to the Reader Response article on cognitive reframing yourself!
In the comments section below, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, or any topic ideas you'd like to see turned into a Reader Response article. I'm always appreciative of suggestions!
See More Reader Response Articles Reader Wisdom: Reframing A Bad Day originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 05:48:29. |
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As many of you know, I have some great articles on my site that are generated almost entirely from the wisdom of my readers. I pose a question (with a link to additional information on the topic), and readers respond with their experiences, stories and tips. I've really enjoyed creating and reading these articles because they provide a variety of angles from which a given topic can be viewed, and they add some interesting 'color' to a given topic.