STREES MANAGEMENT

Everyday we face different situations in life, both at work and at home, that may not match our expectations. There are times we feel overwhelmed by some of these situations. What we experience as a result may be termed as stress. There could be numerous reasons why stress occurs. However, there are definitely ways to beat the stress as well. This is what we mean by managing stress. There is a story about a carpenter who used to work very well. He was efficient in his work, and customers liked him for his positive and happy nature. It happened once that a customer decided to pick the carpenter from his home and drop him back again at the end of the day. When he went to pick up the carpenter, he saw the carpenter stopping infront of a tree near his house. He said something and then walked up to the waiting car of the customer. When he was dropped back home that evening, he again stopped infront of the tree and then walked towards his house. The customer was not sure what the carpenter did infront of the tree, so the next morning he asked the customer, “If you don’t mind my inquisitiveness, I wonder what you do infront of that tree every morning and evening.” The carpenter smiled and replied, “Oh, that’s my trouble tree.” He explained that everyday when he went back home he “hung” his troubles of work on that tree, and every morning when he left home for work, he picked those troubles again from the tree. “Interestingly”, he said, “the troubles seem to disappear every morning when I go to pick them up!” This story is about the “mind” of a human being. The first and best method to manage stress is to be able to manage our thoughts. A positive mind would be able to manage stress very well. Most of the times we tend to worry about numerous things, mostly about the consequences of actions, and what may happen in the future. The results in the future may be good or bad, but we mostly think about the worst, and what we worry about does not happen most of the times. Another thought process that hampers our mind is dwelling on the problems. A good way out is to first change our thinking from “problems” to “challenges.” A problem seems to be negative, a challenge on the other hand is positive and needs action. So if we concentrate on the solutions, we tend to be more optimistic, and therefore, less stressed. Another exercise related to the mind that helps us cope with stress is “Visualisation.” Its about closing your eyes, and while you take slow, deep breathes, you visualize positive events that have happened in your life. It gives you more confidence, and makes you happy. You feel relaxed. There are also many other activities that helps us manage stress. For example, physical exercise and going to the gym to workout, or even yoga is a good way. Keeping yourself involved with a pet is another method. Eating chocolates (don’t eat too much though) helps, as well as relaxation exercises, or even going for a holiday, or taking some time out to spend it on your own, away from the busy humdrum of life. Whichever way you look at it, stress begins and ends with the mind. So the best possible exercise that helps you to manage stress is the exercise of the mind. Be positive, stay cheerful and happy, and keep stress away!