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Taking Control of Stress
By admin | April 8, 2010
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Stress is a phenomenon that results from fear, anxiety, and worry based upon external circumstances or internal dialogue. Whenever I do speaking engagements I get stressed out and filled with anxiety until the minute I step up to the podium. Then I am at ease, comfortable and loving it. What do people always say when I am about to go up to the podium in order to take control of my stress? Take a few deep breaths.
What does breathing have to do with taking control of stress? Well breathing has the ability to release 80-90% of the toxins in our body, which in turn clears your mind, increases your health, and helps you take the needed actions in the moment.
When I am about to go up to start a speaking engagement I take a few deep breaths and in that moment I can begin to remind myself why I really want to speak in front of groups – I want to help them solve a particular problem or help them lead healthier lives. Just by breathing properly – meaning full deep breaths with your stomach going out when you are inhaling and your stomach coming in when you are exhaling – you can bring yourself back to the present moment, know what action you need to take and remember why you are taking that action.
Another reason that breathing can help you take control of stress is that stress can cause a fight-or-flight response in the system where you either want to lash out in anger or flee. By breathing you can delay that response and bring yourself back to the present moment. By being in the present moment you are no longer regretting the past or worried about the future which leaves you a place to make a different decision than just the fight or flight behavior.
Finally, breathing has patterns associated with it. When you are scared you may hold your breath. When you are frustrated you may take a long exhalation (like a sigh). When you are happy you may take a long inhalation. By noticing the breath patterns associated with your emotions you can take a deep breath and bring the breath back to a normal state of being. With a little awareness you can catch yourself whenever your breath pattern is out of alignment and bring yourself back to a more relaxed state of mind.
Taking control of your stress can be easy by just practicing some daily breathing exercises. Notice how you are breathing, get in the habit of breathing more deeply and you will begin to see some real changes.
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Topics: Uncategorized |
Technorati Tags: Anxiety, Breathing, Exhalation, Health, Inhalation, Mental health, Stress, taking control
