By enjoying it!
By enjoying it?!! OMG, this sounds so off-hand and superficial. However, it is the shortest possible way I could sum up the many ways to alleviate stresses – anytime! And in the end, it does all come down to this. Let’s look at some ways of how to cope with the stress of a COVID holiday season, and taking the steps to get more enjoyment out of it.
How being stressed can become a choice
It all begins with the practice of self-awareness. When we slow down our habitual reactions and observe our own thinking, that is when we begin to see that being stressed can be a choice. The key then is to
- notice that you are stressed,
- slow down and allow yourself to take full responsibility for your mental-emotional state,
- and take appropriate action.
Once the first and second steps are taken, the actions that allow you to slow down your heart rate, stand up straight, put that smile back on your face, and go back to authentically enjoying the moment don’t have to be huge.
Stress is optional?
Stress can be optional? Not conditioned by external circumstance – ie the holidays? Well, think about a situation that caused you stress before – like an unhappy patient, a day spend running at work – and ask yourself, truthfully and honestly, have I ever had a situation like this that didn’t cause me stress? In my experience, I worked through many hectic days with great enjoyment; I have loved helping an unhappy patients feel heard. AND I also was stressed at times about these things – BUT the initial stress was within my mind. I’d already been stressing before these situations occurred.
Simple actions to bring yourself back to smiling and enjoyment
once you have taken step 1) and 2), could be:
- Taking 5-10 deep breaths. I know, it’s ridiculously simple! If it doesn’t work, that’s because we take 1, or 1.5, then go back to running; and decide it’s not worth our while. Not working. Or better even, we believe the thought that: “I don’t have time for this right now!”
- Feel your body. Acknowledge the emotions of stress, find the corresponding physical sensations, and watch them for a little while – 30sec. You’ll begin to enjoy being in touch with yourself this intimately! Extend the enjoyment for a minute or two (unless you don’t have the time 😉).
- Ask yourself: Is it true? When you get annoyed or stressed, find the thought being it, and check-in with yourself. Find out if it’s true and serves you. If it doesn’t, thank it for bringing this to your attention, and allow it to go back to where it came from. You’ll feel a weight shift, and peace and joy come in instead.
Cope with the stress of this holiday season by acknowledging others
- Acknowledge other people’s stress. This is VERY powerful! Rather than feeling annoyed, notice how people who are rude, short, or aggressive, must be feeling really uncomfortable right then. If you do this, you will find your annoyance replaced with compassion – and that feels so much nicer!
- Do something for someone without wanting a return. Bring your boss some coffee. Compliment someone. Help someone. At heart, we are social and kind beings, and we absolutely adore ourselves when we do something nice!
- And finally, going back to the first part of this article, for advanced practitioners: Let go of being right. Yes, yes, a good passionate discussion can be a great and enjoyable thing, and you need to stand for your opinion to have it. AND if it creates negative emotion in yourself, that is when you are called on to take full responsibility. Is your point of view that important to you to wage internal war on your loved ones? The choice is yours.
Cope with the stress of this holiday season by taking responsibility for your mental-emotional state.
Being stressed is a choice. Being relaxed and at peace is a learnable skill. Learning to work with my mental-emotional state is one of the most rewarding commitments I have ever taken. It is making my life so much more enjoyable!
During this holiday season, I’m taking time off to be with my family. And I’m committed to my daily meditation, and to noticing my stress and continuing to inquire into it when it spoils my fun – and that of others.
If you want help to become proficient in doing the same, book a 2 hr Be Supported Strategy + Facilitation Session with me!
