Stress Busting Tip

How often do you worry about something only to realize later that it wasn’t worth your time and energy? Take a few minutes to ponder this. 

When I ask people this question, most people say the worry was rarely worth their time.

With hindsight, we often recognize that worrying about these situations didn’t add any value and in many cases just made our responses to the situation less productive.

One trick I like to use when I feel worry creeping in is to ask myself the following questions:

• At the end of my life (healthy in mind and body), looking back on this situation, would this matter?
   

• Would this situation make a lasting difference on anything?
   

• Is this situation worthy of concern and stress?
   

• What is most important to focus on in this situation?

Seeking guidance from my Elder Wiser Self always gives me a new perspective on the situation. 

Before seeking this inner wisdom, I also spend a few minutes closing my eyes and taking slow deep breaths through my nose to help calm my nervous system and quiet my monkey brain. 

If breath isn’t your thing, ground yourself by using your sense of touch, smell or sight. Movement can also be a good way to get out of your head and into your body. Or use all of them! 

Finally you can also try tapping into your near-future self and ask yourself instead:

“At the end of this project.... or at the end of this job... or at the end of this year, looking back, what is the most important thing to focus on in this situation? Etc.” 

I invite you to bring a stressful situation to mind and give this approach a try. I find that it can significantly reduce my stress. My wiser elder self is always someone I can rely on. Have fun with it and let me know how it goes for you. I’m genuinely curious.  Email me here.

🦋 Learn more stress busting tips in my From Stress to Success Mental Fitness group coaching program. Email me here to inquire about the next session or click the button below.

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