Healthy Living DIY

In my experience of talking with the general public about stress, I've noticed several common ways that people engage with the conversation. See which rings true for you. I'll comment briefly at the end.

1. Some think they already understand everything there is to know about stress and therefore aren't interested in any further ideas or information.
2. Some relate keenly to the stress in their lives and are literally almost sponges for new information. They see that their lives are compromised by stress, but they're too stressed-out to figure out how to get a handle on things.
3. Some relate to stress purely at the mental or emotional level and discount any notion of the other types of stress (mechanical, chemical, electromagnetic, etc) that may be affecting them.
4. Some realize that stress has an impact on their lives, yet perceive that the source of their stress is beyond their control and therefore have little motivation to do anything about it.
5. Some, while having a basic understanding of the stress-makers in their lives, do nothing about them even though they know they could.
6. Finally, some people, while having their immediate stress-makers under reasonably good control, continue to be watchful and aware for Stress In The Background -- so they can nip it in the bud before it nips them.

Feedback on the 6 answers.

#1. Nothing more to learn. It's been said that the most dangerous phrase in the English language is "I already know that." This way of thinking shuts the door on new learning and new ways of experiencing life that the person may have never considered. It's also been said that your real challenges in life come not from what you "know you don't know," but rather from what you "don't know you don't know."

Having urged you to consider that there may be something more to learn about any subject, let's turn to the positive side of this answer. It is healthy and adaptive to screen your attention. If something else in your life has a higher priority at this moment, then screen away.

#2. Super-stressed person! Help! While your life may feel out of control at the moment, there's some great news in this response. You are receptive to doing something about it. Receptivity is part of the quality of attention, and it's a prerequisite to any healing process.

#3. Cool as a cucumber. No stress here. While your mental attitude is admirable, please don't stop your thought process there. If you are, for example, happy and overweight, a happy smoker, a happy person living under an electrical power line, a happy person who works with toxic chemicals all day, or a happy person who hasn't considered retirement planning, then there's still room for growth in your life. Believe it or not, those unresolved concerns are stressing your body even as we speak.

But, hey - points for being happy!

#4. Stress? It's his fault. I hate to burst your bubble, but most people do in fact have some measure of control over the bulk of the stress in their lives. Notice I didn't say that everyone has complete control over all their stress all the time. We know that's not reality. But you probably have more control than you think. If you're ready to take it on, one supportive tool is the Ultimate Stress-Buster Kit.

#5. Denial. It's a beautiful thing. We might call this group "in serious denial about the likely consequences of their actions." Enough said.

#6. Healthy living at its best. Here's where you want to live. [Well, at least it's where I want to live -- maybe you've got different goals than I do.] Looking for support? Consider the e/audio book Stress In The Background: How to Thrive in a High Stress World.

Yet to come: Stress and Energy Medicine