We would all like to see our stress just disappear as if by magic. But, those of us who are practical, realize that this is not about to occur anytime soon. There are many stress management approaches individuals can use. They will help reduce the effects of stress on the body, mind and emotions. Have you ever thought about how your thinking can effect stress?
You probably understand that your reaction to a situation can actually increase or decrease your level of stress. But, have you imagined that your patterns of thought may be able to impact how you manage stress?
Some people are extremely critical of themselves and even others. They have a negative way of viewing things, other people and themselves. This less than positive way of thinking can and does effect the intensity of your stress. It will also influence the amount of unhappiness that we associate with the stress in our lives. Negative thoughts about what is happening to us can have a damaging effect on our self-confidence and our self-image. By practicing negative thinking, we can also become distracted from finding real solutions to the problems that stress us out.
If negative thinking can create damaging effects on the way we react to the problems in our lives, what could positive thinking do for our ability to manage stressful situations?
Self-talk (the streams of thought that wander through your head) can be either negative or positive in nature. They are random thoughts and can come from logic and reason or from bad perceptions that we have developed due largely to misinformation. People who have mostly negative thoughts in their head are more likely to have a pessimistic outlook on life. And, they are more likely to approach stress in a less than positive fashion. A person who has normally positive thoughts in their head are more likely to be an optimistic individual. That is far more likely to be able to approach the stress in life in a positive and healthy manner.
Researchers assert that people who normally practice positive self-talk benefit in healthful ways. These may include: having greater resistance to colds and flu, having improved general over-all health, a reduction in the risk for heart disease, easier breathing if you are a person with lung problems such as asthma the ability to cope better when faced with stress.
It stands to reason that if our brains control all the control of our body that thinking can direct how we manage stress. We have a number of choices in life and how we think is one of them. Given the choice, most people should decide to think in positive ways. Particularly when they discover that there are health benefit to doing so.
To get more information on reducing stress, visit Dave Owen’s site “Stress Facts and Information”. You will find the information you need regarding how to reduce stress in your life.