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With everything going on in today’s world, many people are feeling stressed. Stress affects our lives and our health. The hormone cortisol increases and affects our joints, digestive system, and organs’ function.

Can we manage stress? The answer is no! We cannot control or manage stress. What may happen to us in a day that can trigger stress? We cannot control what may happen to us in a day, a month, or a year. Have you ever heard the old saying, what can happen, will happen? Unfortunately, unforeseen things come up that cause stress beyond our control.

For instance, you come out to go to work and find a flat tire, or someone at work leaves because they are sick, or one of your children gets sick. None of these things that may cause stress is predictable.

Stress is not manageable, but how you respond to it is. You can deal with a stressful situation with a calm, sound mind or with anger, frustration, and worry. The difference is your point of view.

I woke up this morning, but many people didn’t. Did you wake up in your home? Some people don’t have a home. When you came out and jumped in your car to go to work, do you know how many people don’t have either?

There is more going right for most of us than goes wrong, but we always focus on the wrong. All we have been taught is to focus on the wrong. Did you realize before you got out of bed this morning that a lot of good was happening in your life?

Every morning when I wake up, I give thanks and gratitude for another day. Try spending a few minutes in bed after you wake up to express thanks for what you are grateful for. Whether that be your home, your car, your children, your job, or your spouse.

Another stress reducer is strengthening your sympathetic nervous system, which controls your body’s stress or fight response. The other nervous system, the parasympathetic, controls the healing response of your body during flight.

Try paced breathing, take a 5-second deep breath in and a 5-second deep breath out. Continue for 2 minutes to increase healthy oxygen in your system.

Also try boxed breathing, take a 4-second-deep breath in, hold for 4 seconds, and breath out for 4 seconds. Repeat for 2 minutes.

Combine steps one and two and repeat several times during the day. Focus on what you are grateful for and breathe.

Like everyone else, I experience stress, but grace and gratitude have given me a different perspective. My motto is I live my life and do not let life live me.

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Blessings to you ❤️