Reducing stress requires your attention
Reducing stress requires your attention.
I know, I know, it would be so much easier to just keep doing what you’re doing. Who has time to think about stress let alone take new actions to settle it?
Your brain might say, “I don’t have time for myself BUT if I just finish this next thing, THEN I’ll feel better”. But just as soon as you check off the box on your latest task, your brain fixates on the next one, and the cycle continues.
What if feeling stress is actually an invitation to give yourself some attention?
Your brain will have lots of “really great reasons” saying that you don’t have time or energy to do this.
The stressed out brain tends to think a lot of things are TRUE that actually serve to keep you exactly in the same cycles of stress.
Public Service Announcement: Thoughts ≠ Truth.
Your brain might say:
- I don’t have time…
- This is just the way things are….
- I work better under pressure…
But what if that’s not entirely true?
Instead, what if this was also true:
- Taking that break or going for a walk around the block will actually save time.
- When you’re less stressed, your brain works better and so you’re more intelligent and focused (this is what science says).
- The work will still get done.
Then what?
Still feeling resistance?
There might be some deeper programming behind the way you manage stress.
So what if these thoughts were also true?
- You’re doing a great job
- You’re worthy of taking care of yourself
- You are enough regardless of how much work you do/don’t do
Often, when we really look deep into our stress cycles, we find core negative beliefs that unconsciously influence how we show up in the world. These beliefs are powerful stores of energy that, when unlocked, can release joy and energy into our lives, making us better workers and happier humans.
Putting your attention there will reap so many more rewards than just checking off things on your to do list.