See how your thoughts cause you more stress See how your thoughts cause you more stress

We create a lot of stress by the thoughts we think.

Make a list of the things that cause you stress (stressors).

Now try to identify why they are causing tension in your life. You may discover that some are causing more stress than needed.

To start, ask questions such as: “What frustrations and conflicts are part of my life right now?” “What pressure I am subjected to day by day?” “What makes me ashamed, guilty, angry, depressed, afraid, anxious?”  “What are the things in my life that I try to hide from others?“

This helps you to understand yourself and become an objective observer as opposed to merely an experiencer of your stress. It helps you feel in control and this in itself is a stress reducer. It also gives you some guidance as to how to eliminate some stress because you will know what thinking needs to change.

For example. You identify that you have a number of deadlines at work. You feel stressed, tired, unable to relax. Why is this causing stress? Deadlines, as rule, do cause stress, but you may discover that in asking “Why?”, you realize that perhaps you feel insecure at the office and meeting the deadlines on time will give you more job security. Or you realize that you want to please your supervisor because you feel s/he has not been satisfied with your work.
In understanding why you feel more stressed than normal you automatically eliminate the unknown. You may be able to change some of the thoughts which are increasing your stress. 
Or you could do something to eliminate them altogether.

Following on from the above example. You now go to your supervisor and explain that you are feeling unnecessary pressure to meet the deadlines because you think s/he has not been satisfied with your performance and this is further affecting your performance. Your supervisor re-assures you that s/he not thinking these negative thoughts. As a result you are able to change your thinking and reduce the pressure of needing to perform.

So re-examine your life and ask yourself what is causing you to feel stressed. Then ask “Why?”

Our thoughts can really cause us more stress than necessary.

Be all you can be.

Arnfried Klein-Werner
Motivator & CEO - Be Motivated Today

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Created on Aug 10th 2012 07:51. Viewed 125 times.

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