Is stress becoming a way of life for you? Don't let it.
You can have a stress-free life, if you alter
your life-style
a bit, with the help of arts and the
arty guidelines presented on this very page.
This is where you can learn not only how to cope with stress and reduce its intensity, but more importantly how to avoid stress altogether.
Stress is the word on everyone's lips nowadays. No matter where you are, people talk about being stressed. It became a way of life. Most people accept stress as a part of life, never really considering seriously all its downsides - how it affects the quality of work, relationships, and health for the worse. Stress is harsh on all those aspects of life, therefore if we are to improve life, we need to press the stress out of it, we need a stress relief.
There is a point when we all should say to ourselves: enough!
Just say no. No to all the unnecessary pressures and worries. We are here to convince you that there is a way to live a stress-free life, and to show it to you.
If stress is getting the better of you and you want a potent relief, you came to the right place. Here is where you get an artistic, not artificial solution. One that is most natural and most practical of them all. This stress relief is a multimedia compound that blends momentous achievements of science and arts.
Stress is a tough foe, but it's beatable. On this page you will learn how to tame this beast, how to charm it into submission, like a snake charmer or an artist. Most of all, you'll get the solutions you can't find anywhere else on the planet or net. So, don't go away!
Get ready, declare a war on stress, or peace on peace!
Instructions:
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FIRST AID
Arts As Solution
Visualize or look at the pictures orstress catcherswith green, turquoise or light blue colors.
put on the relaxing music - a special tune that brings peace or Talidari's audio stress buster
Take a walk in a park. Real or virtual. Nature is the best tranquilizer.
The first step in reducing and preventing stress is to understand what it is, how it affects you, and what really causes it. This section covers the basics, and you'll find everything from causes to symptoms.
Define stress: stress is not something that happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.
If you response to a demand for change with internal tension than you feel stressed. But what you feel is not what you are!
Symptoms
We often think we are stressed, but we might be 'just' worried or concerned or nervous or upset or afraid... It can also be the other way around, we might think we are only worried or whatever, when we are actually stressed. Before we start a journey of healing, we need to make sure to diagnose our condition right, judging from the symptoms. If you have any of the symptoms listed below, and you don't know why you've got them, consider pinning them onto stress.
physical
indigestion, constipation, or diarrhea
a tendency to sweat
sexual difficulties, such as erectile dysfunction, or a loss of sexual desire
cramps, or muscle spasms
muscular aches
dizziness
fainting spells
nervous twitches
pins and needles
skin problems
breathlessness
nail-biting
chest pains
frequent colds
stomach upsets
emotional
mood swings
anger
depression
anxiety
frequent crying
feeling tired
feeling restless
feeling tense
low self-esteem
increased irritability
increased sensitivity to criticism
increased worrying
difficulty concentrating
behavioral
changes in behavior
increased smoking or drinking
difficulty sleeping and
early morning waking
loss of appetite
food cravings
loss of sex drive
taking more work home
Symptoms of stress may be confused with other mood disorders, such as anxiety, angst, depression and so on. It's important to distinguish them and identify the symptoms of stress in order to start with the proper measures for a stress relief.
Effects
If you have been experiencing some of these symptoms for a long period of time, you are at risk of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and stroke.
Under stress the brain doesn't get enough oxygen to come up with the very best solutions and ideas. With stress breathing at your neck, you'll come to a bad end eventually if you don't mend your ways. All those carrying stress around will be knocking on heaven's door sooner rather than later. You can add many years to your life just by following simple guidelines on this page, all of which gets you off the hamster wheel of stress.
Stress can spiral into depression when people withdraw from friends and family and stop doing the things they normally do.
Stress Causes
We wouldn't bore you with the things that are common knowledge, if we didn't have something to add to it, or give a fresh perspective. So bare with us on this topic, for we are sure that the seed of the stress is planted other place than you might think. And if you find that seed, that true source of your continuous distress then you can face it head on and move on.
Many things can cause stress. Often it results from a combination of things. You might wonder why stress have reached such epidemic proportions without even being contagious. For one thing, everyone is howling at the wrong moon, while the true killer's on the run. Trouble is, most people think it's their work or study or kids that stress them out, but if we challenge our views and look the beast in the eye, most likely we would recognize that it is our reaction to all those that brings us there. Sure, there are situations and people that demand more from us than we are in position to give, but if we are to look at it all from another perspective and prepare ourselves ahead - build an armour of skills - then the outer conditions wouldn't have enough power over us to stress us out.
When peace doesn't come from the outside world, the outside world cannot destroy it. Find your peace there where no one can reach it but you.
Most of our problems are not caused by bullet wounds or stabs, they are caused by the way we react to the challenges in our lives. The intensity and the range of our troubles is due to how we are dealing with the world.
So here are real causes of stress:
Attitude: Whatever situation imposes itself upon us, it is our attitude that determines the level of stress we get. If you are prone to feelings of fear, for example, then the fear of possible negative outcomes could be the cause of your stress. Addiction to anything of value to you will set off pressure and hassle of getting hold of the object of addiction. Impatience, another attitude liability, increases stress levels.
stress begins
in head and
it ends there
Solution: realize that stress begins in head and it ends there. It's all in your head, both problem and solution. Fixing the wires between the ears is often all it takes for stress to take a leave. And how to do just that is only a scroll away. Keep scrolling.
Emotional weakness: No feeling is bad, as long as we know what to do with it. Feelings of stress are often caused by psychological conditions, especially emotional vulnerability. It weakens the immune system - body's natural way of fighting off any disruptive conditions, including stress. Raising emotional intelligence beats any emotional liability, pointing a way to prevent stress, not just deal with it.
No feeling is
bad, as long as
we know what
to do with it
Solution: If there is an emotion that leads to stress, such as worry or guilt, knowing what to do with it, using emotional intelligence, we can take stress by the horns and claim relief. Detailed artistic solutions coming up.
Self-afflicted stress: Some of us are stress junkies, thinking stress makes us high and alert, which probably is true. Now comes the 'but' part: but it brings us down in the long term, very much like drugs do. Some people welcome stress because they need it to get motivated to do the work, and even though stress can be helpful then, it is harmful on many other levels and therefore to be avoided. If you need something to motivate you to get things done better or sooner, then find other more effective means than cell-destroying stress. Solution can be found in re-examining your mission in life or re-organizing your daily activities and priorities.
JOB-RELATED
SELF-AFFLICTED STRESS
You are definitely in a wrong job:
if you need stress to give you a boost
if you are not motivated by the love of what you are working/doing
if you need a pressure from the superiors in order to give your best at work (or anything for that matter)
Lack of esteem: if you are stressing yourself in order to prove yourself to others, then it's the level of your self-esteem that needs to be readjusted. In the absence of self-esteem and regular dose of esteem at home, most of us take our affirmation where we can get it. We will never stop to wonder what it is about human nature that constantly craves for appreciation. Our lost sense of worth has made us look for it from others, often by means of domination. For some reason we feel more significant if we outdo others and we'll go to great lengths to do it, even if it takes
stress. Most people wear their ranks as a talisman, giving them higher self-esteem. It is not the prospect of receiving a reward that makes most go-getters buzz with adrenalin and work harder, but the craving for recognition. 'Cause winning a praise often means more than winning a prize. Needless to say, every praise and every prize have their price - a price which we pay with stress syndrome.
every praise
and every prize
have their price
Solution: get a sense of self-worth that doesn't come with a rank attached. It's time to ask yourself if you really need the admiration or recognition from others in order to be happy in life. This is a kind of invitation to answer negative, you know. Remember: stress begins in head and it ends there! It's all in your head, as you know. Clear your head of cravings for acknowledgment, then stress will stand as much chance with you as snowball in tropics. How soon the stress-meltdown occurs is up to the moment you discover who you really are. Arts can sure help you there.
Another way to deal with this issue is to find a hobby that fascinates you to the point where you become so good at it that through it you obtain your sufficient dose of esteem from others. Again, arts can help you there, so keep reading to find out how.
Stress Triggers
uncertainty, insecurity
family problems
unsatisfying and too demanding relationships
job issues
an unsupportive boss
poor relationships with colleagues
lack of consultation and communication
too much pressure, with unrealistic deadlines
lack of control over the way the work is done
work that's too difficult or not demanding enough
too much or too little to do
poor working conditions
being in the wrong job
the threat of unemployment
money matters
feeling undervalued
bereavement
divorce
moving house...
Physiology of Stress
Body's Self-Destruction
Whatever its cause, stress is not just a state of mind or heart. It is also related to physical changes in the brain and body - the release of the chemicals, such as cortisol and adrenaline. If the chemicals that are released during stressful situations build up from not being used, their effects are felt by the body. A build-up of adrenaline and noradrenaline increases blood pressure, heart rate, and the amount that you sweat. Cortisol prevents your immune system from functioning properly, as well as releasing fat and sugar into your blood stream.
Body's Self-Defense
There is a vagus nerve in our body, which is responsible for calming us down in any situation when our adrenalin gland gets hit too much. This nerve is a body's natural antidote for stress. If it's broken and not replenished, its functionality is decreased. When the telomeres - the caps on top of chromosomes - get worn down by stress, they need to be repaired.
Several decades ago, a number of pharmaceutical companies developed pills called tranquillizers, which were there to calm us.
By the late 70s, it was discovered that these medicines were not as safe as had been thought, and that millions of people were addicted to them. Breaking this addiction was as difficult for many patients as quitting heroin is for drug users. Thus we wouldn't recommend tranquilizers even if you are very stressed.
Many doctors are now reluctant to prescribe tranquilizers, but even if your doctor does want to put you on them, you should never take them for more than two to four weeks.
Stress Treatments ~ Stress Management
The standard stress relief methods advocate the use of medication and/or meditation. However, we offer here an alternative - art as therapy - passive multimedia art therapy, which aims at a stress treatment that is based on being a recipient of multimedia arts - audio, visual and written. The great idea behind this therapy is that each person is his or her own best healer, and with the inspiration of the arts targeted for the specific issue one can take control of one's own life and make the best out of it.
Most of us are hard put to cope with distress without resorting to a medication of some sort. We do it without much thinking, accepting it as a way to go about it. We are here to tell you this is wrong. Or at least that there is a much better way, one that is completely natural, most effective and costs nothing. We are not here to argue right from wrong, but to lead by example. We've been around the block and found a way to live a stress-free urban life, so if you are up for it, follow our lead, if not, good luck to you. This stress-free life-style didn't happen because we touch wood a lot, or wear our lucky Evil Eye protector, or rub our lucky Buddha. No, this achievement is a brainchild, born out of labor spelled out down under.
Our fellow-scientists have blown the whistle on a novel approach to life as discovered through quantum physics, and it's up to us artists to serve it to you in a pretty package. In case you didn't get it, what we are really saying, in a non-scientific way, is that living with stress is no way to live; there is a better way and it's yours for the taking, so common, take it! Read on.
There is a saying that goes: If you are looking for a fish, don't look into the sky. Just as well, if you are looking for a leading edge solution, don't look into the mainstream. One of the mainstream scenarios is a world packed with stressed individuals, with stress as a common disease. It's an outcome of the mainstream living. We are respecters of mainstream guidelines, six days out of every seven, but when it comes to issues of stress, we are at day seven, so to speak, 'cause last time we checked 9 out of 10 people in the mainstream world stress about something or other every single day. There's something about those numbers that doesn't sit well with us. As river can't flow both ways, so if mainstream is not leading you toward the solution but instead to more pollution (stress is only increasing), then we suggest you try the upstream. It takes swimming against the conventional square notions that didn't serve you so far. If you want to hitch your boat to a stress-free life, we are here to bounce something off of you, and you are there to make your choices and decisions, and follow up with the matching actions. Even though the same painter had painted us all, we are of different colors. Your true colors are underneath all the dust collected with years by living under pressures imposed by others that have their own best interests at heart. Now is the best time to regain your shine by dusting off. Get rid of all the beliefs that brought you where you are, and replace them with the fresh ones to bring you where you want to be.
Now, there are stress relief programs and stress relief programs. We at Talidari's have come up with a unique compilation to bust stress the natural way, using our triple action transition formula to make sure stress is treated on all levels - from body to mind, and from symptoms to causes.
Our message is, whatever you do, do not fall prey to the popular myth that you can be rendered helpless against stress or anything else for that matter. Instead take charge, stop thinking and feeling that you could not help it, and finally get rid of stress with the free tools given on this page, starting with the following success formula.
Transition Formula
Talidari's stress relief is concocted according to the transition formula, which is a concise way of expressing an innovative procedure of curing stress by stating constituent elements and their relations. It refers to a sure-fire method of stress relief using various forms of arts, such as music, pictures, literature and films.
Here is a formula for transition from disorder to order, from illness to health - from all things unpleasant to pleasant ones. In stress treatment this formula solves a problem of determining the variables that convert stress into composure.
combat zones
inner tools
outer tools
Desired Outcome =
(C + S + P) ×
(B + M + H) ×
(L + M + V)
cause
symptoms
prevention
body
mind
heart
literature
music
visuals
Talidari's triple action transition formulaembraces famous Einstein's equation of energy and matter as well as discoveries in quantum physics, and it works on:
three aspects of stress: the cause (past), the symptoms (present) and prevention (future)
three sides of human being: physical, emotional and mental
with three forms of art solutions: written, audio and visual art
Thanks to
generous donations
this treatment
is now available for free.
Stress Relief
So here we are. This is where your stress meets its antidote. You are about to learn how to exploit arts to do away with stress. Just learning how to cope with stress is not a solution. In this anti-stress program we assembled the newest scientific discoveries into a clarified artistic aid kit, designed to both prevent and relieve stress for good.
Procedure
To keep stress from overshadowing your life, the first step is the most important one -deciding to do something about it, instead of just being a victim. Deciding to get a relief can make all the difference. It's second only to deciding to get the right treatment. What's right for some might not be right for you. Our multimedia aid kit, designed after triple action transition formula, has no harmful side effects and it is a most natural way of stress relief.
Follow these steps:
jump on the transition wagon - decide. It's easy to cure, the hard part is to decide
read the illustrated booklet Quantum Healing, which explains you the foundation of this stress relief
get familiar with the transition formula and follow its instructions bellow
take the audio stress buster - listen to the powerful drone of didgeridoo, designed to lead you in your journey to a deeper relaxation
your third skin, your walls at home and work, influences you on subtle levels, so do the room acupuncture as a way of visual stress relief
Transition In Action
Triple-Action Transition Formula helps you identify different sides and aspects of stress in order to consequently apply different multimedia solutions
Time for action! Let's turn words into deeds, stress into mistress, calamity into calmness. With a help of Triple Action Transition Formula you can solve this issue, bringing into the equation all the key elements. To do it, let's cover these:
In order to fully release any affliction, including stress, we need to deal with all of its aspects: the cause, the symptoms and prevention. No use of just eliminating the symptoms, because if the source of the problem, the cause, is not attended to, it's never going to fully go away. And if the prevention is not taken care of, it will keep coming back. Eliminating the symptoms is as useful as shooting the messenger. Transition formula makes you counter all aspects of stress, from it's roots to its fruits.
Cause
By all means the best way to reduce stress is to abolish its cause, as well as avoid the stress triggers. It's no rocket science to determine what is stressing you out. Once you know what's weighing you down, then you can start countering it with suitable solutions.
Most likely you can't change
the situations and people that present the stressful conditions, but sure you CAN change the way you react to them, a way that allows you to
gain the upper hand
after all.
The aim of stress relief is to help you recognize and tackle the root causes of stress in your life, then find ways of managing the pressures without causing harm to your health.
Ultimately stress relief involves making choices about your attitude, lifestyle and how you behave.
The Root Cause
Unfortunately, everyone is howling at the wrong moon - work, school, kids... It just goes to show why stress is still not eradicated. What's more, it's still on the rise and an every-day occurrence for most people. Say what you want, but it's your internal conditions, not the external ones that determine the level of your stress. Only then when you look in the face of your own weaknesses, can you face the music that takes you high and away from stress for good. The good news is, we've got you covered here. So, don't go away, keep reading.
The causes and their respective solutions are up here. We mentioned earlier what the core causes of stress are: attitude, emotional weakness, self-afflicted stress and the lack of self-esteem. Surely, the list could be expanded, but they all come down to internal, rather than external conditions. Since it is an internal issue to start with, than it takes an inside job to spin it.
That brings us to a key point here, which is all of the attitude issues and emotional shortcomings are transient and subject to change with a proper set of tools. On that note, we are suggesting wholesome arts as your instrument of change.
Art therapy has been known to release any pent-up emotions that bring about emotional weakness. You can unwind through painting your worries or anger away, writing it off as a story or diary, shaking it off through dancing or whatever, and through it use the newly discovered creativity to uplift you and boost your emotional intelligence. Through the use of personal creativity many of the unsolved issues in your life will solve themselves, because unleashing and nurturing your soul, it brings a new perspective on life. If creating or engaging in arts is not an option for you, then enjoying the artworks of others can have the same effect if chosen rightly.
Many of the art-works are impressive, but few are moving. Those that move you, inspire you to do something about your stressful condition are the right ones for you at this point. We are talking here in no way of arts as means of escaping the painful world of daily experience. We are talking here about the kind of arts that transcend you in an illogical way, that somehow change your mood, your vibration and your view of the world & life, the kind of view that takes you above the common conceptions on stress, in this case.
You have to ask this question: can really a stressful society give me a stress relief? Who can then? Here's the thing: core subject of art is a feeling. Since stress is something that you feel, rather than think, then reasoning about it is not the smartest thing to do. Arts give you that tool you need to find long-term peace.
We live in a way that guaranties stress. Let's face it, we are strangers to ourselves. We know more about others than ourselves. And others know more about us than we do. No wonder we feel we can't help it. The truth is we can, we can make stress go away forever and ever, but the catch is we need to get to know ourselves better. At the end of the day, there is only one right answer to the question, and only one person who can give you a stress relief, and you know the answer.
Now, arts is there to trigger or awaken that what is already there inside you. Maybe to propound a stimulating tone, or a stirring hue, or a touching line, all in service of making you feel that there is more to your life's circumstances than you are willing to believe. In a spot-on package it's most likely to touch you deeper than a scholar report, or a friend's advice. The great thing about it, you don't really have to do anything but surrender to its force, let it bring out the best in you. Art has been known to do that.
Art appeals to the unconscious (breaking the censorship of consciousness), its power lays in suggesting, not explaining; in invoking innate understanding & feeling of the observer. The aim of art therapy is to achieve your ends whatever they might be, including stress-free life.
We dare to say, there is art in everything, and artist in anyone, who cared to see it. There is also art of telling you something, so that you can get it. Art of writing the kind of lines that bring you there where you want to be. Hopefully, you find some here that strike a chord with you.
If a deadline at work or school is stressing you, for example, then find a way to see it as a chance to cross the finish line in record time, rather than something that is imposed on you, or a threat. Make sure to recognize all the great benefits you are getting from it and shift your attention to them rather than to all the work that needs to be done. It's very helpful to keep a stress buster handy in times when you see stress on the rise. It can be a melody available at a push of a button, a stress catcher in a form of a picture hanging or framed at your desk or a favorite poem or song that harmonize you back to your natural stress-free state.
All the tasks and chasing better results would never be stressful if you come to work with a clear, unburdened mind in the first place. In order to achieve that, take time before work to relax and refresh yourself with thoughts and feelings that bring you up. We suggest arts as a way to bring yourself into that stress-free mood. If your work starts early, most likely you don't have any time to take up some arts, but you do have time to take in arts.
For example:
while taking breakfast, getting dressed or commuting to work, listen to the type of music designed to prevent stress or simply feel-good tunes. Sample.
sing to yourself as you go about getting ready for work -Sample
look at a painting or a poster portraying motives and colors that relax you - green, turquoise or light blue. A green plant would also do - place one near your desk at your eyesight.
watch a short video for a visual relaxation - take your pick from YouTube or watch this one:
write away anything that's on your mind and if you like structure your worrisome thoughts into a poem or a short story
find your favorite art form and use it somehow to help you prepare for the day
If your kids are triggering your stress, than that needs a new, fresh re-organizing. Most likely you are taking too much load onto yourself, without realizing that there are some people and systems around you that would be glad to take the load off of you, even if that means paying them to do so. On the other hand, learn to involve your kids to do the chores you normally stress about. If you present them as a game, they'll even beg you to do it the next time.
INSPIRATIONAL STORY
I used to be an au-pair at several families during my early adult years. I could see how different families coped with the issues related to disciplining their children and I learned what works and what doesn't. I also learned how parents could release themselves from a lot of stressful activities by employing me for a price of pocket-money. Unfortunately, there are families that take advantage of their au-pair girls and manipulate them into doing house chores as well, and I myself wasn't spared of such experience.
In one family there were two boys who were kind of competitive, so I tricked them into doing the housework instead of me by making them enter contests. Say, a bathroom needed to be done. I would divide it into two sections and nominate the two 'contenders' to clean it all for me, inspect afterward and declare the winner, the one who didn't leave any spots behind.
Or, in other instance, I would invent a game of hotelhousekeeping, where our house would become a grand hotel, and each room would be turned into a so-called lobby, reception desk, guest rooms and so on, and my newly appointed house-keeping 'staff' would be delighted at performing their playful duties of hovering or dusting or whatever.
Next time the house would become a pirate ship that needed to be cleaned of all enemies, such as bacteria and soldiers that looked like toys out of place. Sometimes I would even dress them up, to take their roles more seriously.
I was always surprised how well they had done their jobs, and never missed to praise them or reward them. Some kids love to play with real money, so I would give them a 'pay' for their jobs, but always managed to get my money back somehow, mostly by selling them some of their own toys in another game. After all, what do they really know about the value of money?! The point is they got what they wanted at the time and I got what I wanted. - N.D.
One way to occupy your children and get them off your hands is to introduce them to some engrossing, creative, fun activity. Art provides more than enough possibilities for that. Tune in to your children's needs and wants to find out what exactly turns them on and keeps them engaged to the point that they don't present a stressful condition any longer.
Symptoms
Stress in itself is a symptom that you are more or less out of harmony with the flow of nature, how things work. Your present consequences, as anyone's, are the symptom of a variety of conditions. The activities that are against your own nature will sooner or later hit the wall. It's bound to happen, due to the the laws of nature where everything in the universe has its beginning and end, as well as every action has its reaction. This section reveals a way how to tackle that particular aspect, showing you how to sync with your true nature. Solutions: One of the first steps to cope with stress is learning to recognize your personal signs and symptoms. When a symptom manifest itself, giving you a feeling of stress, take a few deep breaths first. Dealing with the symptoms is mostly done through taking appropriate multimedia e-pills, all listed further below in the next big chapter.
Other way of dealing with the symptoms is to acknowledge them and then convert stress into a positive force. Take the challenge as means to make a breakthrough in life, as means to take that extra mile, extra inch, so to speak. So, you can feel the pressures, but not get stressed about it; instead take it as an incentive that spurs you on to stretch a bit.
Here is the list of additional symptom-treating methods:
color therapy - it involves sitting in rooms of a particular color, or under colored lights, or just looking deeply at a colored picture. Different conditions are said to respond to exposure to different colors – so violet is used to counteract feelings of hopelessness, and blue, green & turquoise to relieve stress
sound therapy - fast-track way to relax with Talidari's sound bath; also, brass or crystal Tibetan-style bowls are used to produce the unearthly singing sounds which are said to aid relaxation in sound therapy, also known as chakra balancing.
writing therapy - another approach to tackling stress head-on is to keep tabs on our stress. Keeping a record can be one way to get a fresh view of a situation. One way of doing it is to write it as a story with a plot and happy ending
laugh therapy - when any intimidation comes your way, just laugh it off. Know it's not worth getting you stressed and ill
meditation - is about clearing your head of all the stuff that builds up over the day. Anyone can do it but it takes a bit of practice. Start by doing the steps below for a few minutes and gradually build up so that you are meditating for 10-15 minutes or more each time.
1. Find somewhere quiet
2. Lie or sit in a comfortable position
3. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a place where you feel relaxed. Sample of guided meditation here
To ensure that after relief you don't become a victim of stress ever again, there are measures to assist you. The basic solution for it is to follow the guidelines presented in our illustrated booklet Quantum Healing, available at no charge.
Next, avoiding stress is done through these:
Bring more fun into your life
enjoy yourself by giving yourself treats and rewards for positive actions, regardless of their outcomes. Even simple pleasures like a scented hot bath, a pleasant walk, comforting music or an enthralling book can help you build an armour against stress. Develop an uplifting hobby or interest,
one that is flattering to your soul. Making time for regular leisure activities will help you release any tensions from stress, as well as take your mind off
the worries, but most of all it will prop you with a mindset that is not likely to be disturbed by worldly pressures. With stronger shoulders, so to speak.
St. Augustine once said,
"Lord, I pray not for a lighter load but for stronger shoulders."
Manage your time
the best way to avoid pressure that leads to stress is to plan enough time for your tasks and make your schedule loose, so that you don't have to rush one thing to be able to do the next one on time. Also, making time for leisure, exercise and holidays is just as essential as taking time for business or home chores. Make a use of lists, they'll help you organize your tasks in a right timeframe.
Achieve a good balance between work and private life
Don't let work dominate your life. There is more to life than work, you know that. No matter how ambitious you are, it's important to make time for leisure. That might mean reducing the number of hours you work, or changing to a job that's closer to home so your commuting time is reduced. Use time management techniques to ensure you're more productive during your normal working hours, so as to prevent you from needing to stay late at the office.
Smile more
smiling is the first line of defense against stress. When you smile your body releases feel-good hormones, while the stress hormone, cortisol, is reduced. Smiling lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel good.
All these foster your immune system so that it can fight back effectively when stress strikes again. Watch all the comedies you can take, and let it out - laugh your head off, even when the things are not that funny.
Whenever you can, turn a smile into a belly laugh.
As well as they are beneficial for your general health, fresh air and physical activities are highly effective in reducing stress. It improves blood-flow to the brain, helping you think more clearly, and is a great way to release endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and feel-good hormones. There is also evidence that fit people are better able to handle the long-term effects of stress.
As a great alternative, take long walks in a park every day.
Get enough rest and sleep
Take regular breaks at work. Doing nothing gets you of the hamster wheel of stress so you can relax and reflect. Taking a rest isn't only about doing nothing. It's about counterbalance. Rest from work or chores or studies can mean taking leisure time for hobbies, holidays, and/or sport. We all know what sleep is good for. Chronic sleep-deprivation can affect your performance at work, which can be a key factor in raising stress levels.
Sometimes it's one thing to know what's good for us and other to be able to do it. Troubles with getting enough sleep are sometimes a matter of time management and setting priorities, while at other time it takes skills to lull ourselves to sleep. If the last one is your worry then make sure to find a cure for that. There are plenty of insomnia home remedies to be found around, but we wouldn't be artists if we wouldn't suggest an art remedy instead, such as reading an easy book, or listening to musical lullaby of your choice or of ours. Also, reduce noise levels to get rest.
Make steps toward being more and more independent of forces you cannot control. To save you from stressing about transport - cycle and walk wherever you can. Weather - be prepared, and see the good side of every weather condition. Bad workplace climate - talk with your boss if you can do some of your tasks from home or some place else.
Positive thinking
Changing your thoughts is not as tricky as you might think. Do your best to adopt an outlook on life that stops you seeing external events as determining your happiness. Instead, see your thoughts as the determining factor of your happiness. It takes practice, but if you can do this you'll reduce the negative tension that leads to much of the stress in your life.
See this comprehensive illustrated booklet
'Quantum Healing' for an elaborate insight into these matters. Must read for anyone needing to be convinced in the power of thoughts, from a scientific point of view.
Also, use arts to make you raise any positive thinking. Find an art-form that elevates your thoughts and engage in it as often as possible. By all means avoid the art-forms that do the opposite, such as horror films, gloomy pictures, down-beat or hard-beat music. Not all art is wholesome.
Relaxation
A good relaxation technique is a pre-stress and anti-stress weapon that you always carry with you, to help you deal with any stressful situations as they arise. Make relaxation a regular part of your daily routine. There are so many relaxation techniques, from deep-breathing and visualization to meditation and self-hypnosis. Find one that works for you – we recommend music or sound therapy, as in listening to relaxation music or nature sounds.
A balanced diet that delivers all the nutrients your body needs to function at its optimum level is essential for dealing with stressful situations. Cutting back on stimulants like alcohol, caffeine, sugar and nicotine will keep your blood sugar levels constant and help you to avoid mood swings. Still to come -more on exact dietary tips and delicious supplements.
Hugging
Make sure you get and give your fair share of hugs. Not only does hugging feel good, it has been proven to help reduce the stress level. Take any chance you can to wrap yourself around those you love.
Reach out to others
In order to prevent the pressures in your life, you can't always do it on your own. Trust yourself into the helping hands of your support network of friends, family, co-workers and other people. Call on them to help you take the strain - whether it's practical help or a sympathetic ear when you feel down. Let them know what is stressing you, so that they might take a piece of load off you.
If you don't happen to have a support among those nearest to you, don't let that stop you. Sometimes a total stranger can be the best aid, someone who doesn't judge you or have prejudices about you. There are plenty of stress forums (like this one) to help you connect with the right people.
Seek professional help if you need it
If you feel that despite all your efforts stress is getting the better of you, there are lots of experts who can help. The International Stress Management Association provides referrals to stress management professionals, as well as guidance on dealing with stress.
Dress For Stress If you are meeting a stressful situation, dress for the occasion. By dressing we mean putting on the protective wear and gear both physically and psychologically.
There is clothing that repels stressful people, the kind that brings on a different vibe. It's easy to tell, but hard to explain. Prior to dressing, just take each peace of your garments and ask yourself if this peace looks stress-free or not. You'll get the answer somehow. Say you wear a flower dress, or a T-shirt with a smiley on, it's likely to affect others around you, either calm them or soften them, so that they will not stress you out. Also, with a T-shirt with a clear message you can't go wrong, such as 'Don't stress me or else...', 'My boss/colleagues never stress me'. Let others know you are not their stress mistress.
Also, make sure you wear comfortable clothes- loose, not tight.
Emotional and mental gear & wear is not much different. Just slip into an attitude that protects you from stress or makes you attractive to stress-free comments. Put on an armour that protects you from the stinging arrows of daily stress-generators. Arm yourself with thoughts and emotions that respell stress. Stay tuned to find out what they are.
Soul Food:
is anything that touches a soul, anything that stops the clock from ticking
an inspiring piece of art
creative activity
going to a soul-evoking temple or church...
taking a carefree stroll through a park, going to nature, to theatre or any other place of pleasure
listening to soul transcending music, to didgeridoo, or the birds or soulful chanting of monks
humming along to high-energy music, singing, dancing...
watching an extraordinary painting or a breathtaking landscape, feature films you can relate to
talking to your soul-mate
swimming with dolphins
laughter
looking into baby’s eyes
reading poetry
practicing meditation
physical exercise
look out for soul-defining moments and cherish them
Transition Formula in Action > 1. three aspects of stress : the cause (past), the symptoms (present) and prevention (future) >
You are not just your body, of course. You have other potent sides of your being that you can use as tools in making your way out of stress - your mind and heart. If there is one side of your being, which is being undertrained, then that is what causes imbalance and therefore troubles, such as stress. Make sure that all sides of your being are aligned.
These three sides of human being are actually three aspects of human soul.
Soul Power
Have you ever wondered if stress didn't really happen to you, but that you happened to it? The most important is to understand that you are not stressed, you only feel stressed. Once you grasp the big difference, all things become possible. Once you acknowledge your soul as the master of your body, heart and mind, then you can easily detach from whatever is harming you on any of those three sides and then easily deal with it.
Through your soul reach the goal.
Soul is that aspect of a human being that exists in correspondence to the entire universe, namely to God. Your soul can't be stressed, only repressed.
Your body, intellect and emotions should serve you, not rule you! Make your body, mind and heart
the best employees of your soul, then all your worries and reasons to be stressed will melt away. You do it by recognition of the soul as your identity and feeding it with the 'soul-food' - see right column. With soul as the captain of your ship, you will gain all the necessary insights
and acknowledge enormous potential and power within yourself, instead of looking for that power from external sources.
When the soul suffers, the body cries out in pain, mind is restless, and emotions go bananas.
Therefore, it should be our priority in life to nurture our soul as well as body, mind and heart, so that we can stay balanced, in tune with surroundings, and thus healthy and happy.
Everybody feels scared and insecure sometimes, but the whole wisdom is not to act on it.
We are constantly pushed and pulled by our desires and fears that distort our wellbeing. So the pain and pleasure become our puppeteers. To avoid one and gain the other is usually what our lives are all about, sadly enough, since all too often we are suspended like scales between our joys and sorrows, and measure happiness by the proportion of the two. We are free to orient our life around gaining pleasure and avoiding pain, but if we instead choose to embrace our core values and build our lives around them, we will experience revival and joy at an intensity we never thought was possible, where physical and spiritual strength are not at the whim of external forces anymore.
physical
some food and drinks stimulate stress more than others; that is why if you are serious about de-stressing yourself start by detoxifying yourself.
- For example, too much alcohol interferes with the flow of neurons, as well as it makes your hormones go wild in some cases, causing you to act against your true nature. If you are serious on this journey, we suggest you find other feel-good drinks by experimenting and trying new things. Don't be afraid to say no to the old things and try new ones.
- Meat of the dead animals you eat contains not only the flesh but the energies too. Their stress and anxiety are transferred through eating. Natural ways to treat stress :
Deep breathing - when we are stressed heart beats faster, and muscles are tensed. By taking deep breaths we normalize them.
30 minutes of daily vigorous exercise (exercise and sex produce endorphins - the body's natural pain killers) - it releases a chemical called serotonin, which makes you feel happier, and less stressed, it also improves circulation and prevents conditions, such as stroke and heart attack. Exercise also allows you to take out your frustration and anger in a constructive way. In particular, running has been found to be very beneficial for relieving stress, Many people find rhythmic exercise – swimming, running or cycling – is particularly good for overcoming stress
relaxation - When you feel yourself getting stressed, shrug your shoulders a few times and shake out your arms and legs. This will help to loosen your muscles. Imagine a peaceful place, such as a desert island, or a tranquil lake. Imagine yourself being there and the scenery around you. Diverting your mind to a calming environment will help to distract you from the stress and relax your body.
getting a good night's sleep - going to bed and getting up at about the same time every day helps to reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle. Avoid light and electromagnetic fields from electronics, cell phones and electric blankets, since they can deprive you of sleep. Make use of relaxation methods that could help you get a good rest, like meditation. If you need help with sleeping, you can see our 'Insomnia Buster'.
hatha yoga - video showing also the things you can do in your office too
laughter - laugh your way out of stress, laugh more than usual, have a good chuckle four times a day, watch comedies, listen this viral tune. Poof from UK's Channel4.
Eating at regular times and not skipping meals can make a big difference. This will allow your body to release a steady stream of energy throughout the day which will help improve your concentration and mood.
try to reduce the amount of sugar, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol that you consume because in the long run they have similar effects on your body as stress.
proper nutrition/dietary changes - increased consumption of foods rich in:
magnesium - anti-stress mineral ( ), helps muscles relax
Folate - dark green leafy vegetables (turnip greens, mustard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, collard greens, beans, legumes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, beets and okra etc.)
Banana Strawberry Power Smoothie
Blend in a food processor or blender:
1 frozen ripe banana
1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup soy milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
1 tablespoon honey
Most of us recognize that certain foods have horrid effects on the brain - for productivity, mood and mental energy. Too much chocolate can leave you dragging. An overdose of salty chips dehydrates the body and the brain, bringing on fatigue. High fat meals raise stress hormone levels and keep them high.
With evidences suggesting that dietary and nutritional interventions can provide symptom relief and benefits to health, nutritional therapists advocate dietary changes to boost mood before turning to medication.
Stress hormones like cortisol rob the body of vitamins, hijacking them to support such classic stress responses as the tensing of muscles and the rise of blood pressure, reactions fundamental to the fight-or-flight response.
At times when we're experiencing stress, we are in special need of B vitamins, which help maintain our nerves and brain cells. B vitamins are also used up in converting food into energy for the body. Thus the best bet at stressful times: bananas, baked potatoes, avocados, dark green leafy veggies. All are loaded with B vitamins.
When the pressure is on, it's difficult not to turn to junk food for solace. But sticking to highly nutritious, low fat, low sugar, and low caffeine diet will be its own reward.
holistic approaches: acupuncture, meditation, rhythmic breathing technique such as Sudarshan Kriya Yoga taught by the Art of Living Foundation; holistic massage may increase the body's production of painkilling endorphins and the mood-altering hormone serotonin
emotional and/or spiritual
If you can't control your emotions, most likely they control you. In order to be in charge of your own self, it takes a mental decision first and then guarding your emotions on a conscious level. When your temper becomes an issue, there is no point in just accepting that this is the way you are, and that there is nothing you can do about. Because this simply is not true. You can do much about it if you decide to, and if you are convinced. If you believe that you are the captain of your ship, in other words that you are the one calling the shots, then do something about these emotional gremlins that attack you. Sometimes a simple act of deciding it does the trick, while at other times other methods help more, like visualization, meditation, EFT technique, Sedona method... They are further explored in the 'E-pills' section of this page.
The ultimate question is not how to keep away from anger, fear and other stress triggers, but how each of us are handling that. The impact of those stress-inducing emotions is reduced to minimum if you think of yourself as an ocean that can contain anything, as opposed to a cap. In truth, we can take in all the dirt from outside world, feel all the emotions, and still not be ruffled, as long as we keep reminding ourselves that our hearts are bigger than an ocean, and our consciousness infinite. There is no truth truer than that. We can feel and perceive anything and still be undisturbed and composed. We just have to learn how. By the end of this page, you'll know how.
Here are some of the ways to play on your heart strings to release stress:
Indulge in watercolor painting or sketching. Write about your feelings, put them in a sonnet or a short-story. Take your favorite tune, change the lyrics to fit you, and then sing it out loud. Creative activity will change your emotional response to stress and stressful situations
Listen to music that makes you wonder at the beauty of it. Debussy concerts, or Rachmaninov maybe, take your pick. Make up a mini-disc of favorite tracks and listen to it at times of high pressure.
Let off steam regularly with outbursts of observation, hopefully with a humorous under or over tone
Don't let the behavior of unreasonable people get under your skin.
Take at least one good holiday a year.
Get a pet - watching a tank full of tropical fish may lower blood pressure
Laugh - a good laugh relaxes tense muscles, speeds more oxygen into
your system and lowers your blood pressure. Ten minutes of genuine belly laughter has an anesthetic effect. Studies at Loma Linda University School of Medicine showed that the experience of laughter lowers cortisol levels and thereby stimulates the immune system, off-setting the immuno-suppressive effects of stress.
"If you can
laugh at it, you
can survive it"
- Bill Cosby
Researches on the biochemistry of human emotions show emotions to be the key to human beings' success in fighting illness, including stress. By training yourself to laugh you can fight off stress in no time. So tune into your favorite sitcom on television. Read a funny book. Call a local humor-line to hear the latest jokes.
Humor gives us a different perspective on our problems. If we can make light out of the situation, see the funny side of it, it is no longer threatening to us. More >
"A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast."
- Groucho Marx
click on 'More'
for another one
and another one...
mental or psychological
We often think we are stressed, but we are actually worried or concerned or nervous or upset or afraid... Any of those psychological conditions can contribute to feeling stressed if you don't know what to do with it, how to release it. To counter any disorder it's crucial to win it in the mind. If you can win there, you can win everywhere. A bit of mind-control is all it takes to win in life, as with anything so with curing stress too. We have a solution for mind-control: take the e-pills listed down bellow. Also we are working on our new product: mind acupuncture, which is coming up in a month or two.
The latest discoveries in quantum physics combined with the old Einstein's formula prove that we are what we think - the matter is energy, so by our conscious energetic intent we bring into material manifestation what we want. Learn more about how we can and do shape our reality by visiting Quantum healing page. Learn there the principles that govern the growth of plants, of ecosystems, of galaxies — and of our own consciousness. Natural solutions:
Think ahead and try to anticipate problems as well as preparing well for particularly high pressure events.
Try to see the funny side of every stressful event
Remember it's only work (or whatever else)... never a matter of life or death. If you miss a deadline, it is not the end of the world. If a train is late, you need to accept there is nothing you can do about it.
Fantasize a lot... but try to avoid serious entanglement
Problems are often blown out of proportion. Sometimes our perceptions of a situation may be inaccurate - interpretations of an event or situation may be more negative when we're down or dissatisfied. Keeping a record (as recommended above) can be one way to get a fresh view of a situation. Don't be pessimistic, be realistic. Once this is over, you'll probably think how silly was to give it such weight.
Wrap your mind in thoughts that help you keep your life stress-free. When you are absorbed with all of your mind and heart in a pleasant activity, your mind gets stronger and resilient. For example, reading uplifting literature, or crating some piece of art could be a perfect method for keeping your mind immersed in a pursuit of joy, giving less time and opportunity for stress to find its way to you. Creative venture will, no doubt, change your psychological response to stress and stressful situations
Try and get things down on paper. Sometimes writing about your problems or worries can help you make sense of them. List all the things you can think of that would make life easier or less stressful - write them down on a piece of paper (or PC). This can help you sort things out in your head. Make the list as long as possible.
Jot down how you respond to a stressful situation and suggest a more positive response for the next time around.
Next, each day make a step toward making the list come true, turning it into reality.
To do list
design the 'to do list' so that it contains fun parts and rewards, then the unpleasant tasks kind of lose their stress quality
As souls, we are not limited to our minds, but it's our minds that mostly dictate our destinies. If we can only control our minds, instead of minds controlling us everything would be just fine. The mind is just a tool of our souls, but it can be a tool that destroys us as much as a tool to help us. We take a pick.
Adopt the attitude towards life and world that allows you more pacific outlook, which involves considering the negativity to be a vital resistance needed for the growth of your soul-muscles. That attitude creates the sense of gratification, because you owe mainly to the negativities for your strength and growth. You need them to develop and cultivate your qualities, and that is why you could even look forward encountering them, rather than being intimidated by them.
It's like building up our physical strength in gym. We need those weights as resistance to keep fit. Well, those weights are just like problems. Instead of pursuing to exterminate your problems, swap the mode and learn to make use of them. There is always a threat that they might harm you; that is why you need to charm them somehow, like a snake charmer. For that, you need to familiarize with them instead of maintaining the usual animosity.
Get additionally inspired by a billboard advertising a yoga class. It reads: ‘You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf'. Learn how to surf the waves, dance with demons, charm the dragons, tame the gremlins, swim with sharks - embrace the problems and down-times as children that needs care.
Cutting a diamond
A kilo of diamonds is worth thousand times more than a kilo of gold. What tips the scales and defines its worth is its brilliance and durability, which in turn are determined by how is diamond cut. The proportions of width and depth have a large impact on diamond brilliance, in the same metaphorical way they have an impact on human brilliance. Polish and symmetry (smoothness and alignment of the facets) are two important aspects of the cut. Diamond's character is a result of a cutting & polishing process, just like with humans. What is symmetry to diamonds, to us is balance. Balance of all our facets - body, mind and heart. Soul is meant to balance our physical, mental and emotional qualities. For soul to be able to do that it has to be allowed to be a master. Giving too much power to intellect, or getting carried away with emotions, or putting too much weight on physical abilities, it prevents your soul to manifest itself.
If you don't shine just yet it's because you're a diamond in the rough. Your brilliant sparkle doesn't come through if any of those three aspects of your being are in disproportion to the other two. There is a process to make a raw material into a real gem. That's where refining falls into play.
It's done through reprogramming your mind, mind acupuncture, subconscious cleansing, releasing resistance, owning your emotions, heart's artistic