LaShara Lashawn

Stress. We hear it all the time, but what is stress really. Walk up to someone and say “what is stress?” I guarantee they will pause before they answer. They may tell you about something that is stressful or what makes them stress. Stress by definition is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts,  stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline.

Secondary issues such as trauma and stressful situations can trickle on down to the smallest person from the caregiver even. Some children may not fully understand exactly what it means or use it in the correct way but don’t turn a complete blind eye to stress amoung children. In the greater scheme of things people, children and even animals can be affected by stress. Great amounts of stress can have grave health affects, I can personally attest to falling ill due to stress. It was becuase of this incident that I have vowed to monitor stress levels in my life and maintain great self care in doing so I had to stop sweating the small things.

Stress is feeling physical or emotional tension. Stress is all the BS we have avoided, too scared to confront, too lazy to prioritize or organize. I used to say that I didn’t stress I was just concerned aka worried about things. If that wasn’t a bunch of smoke I don’t know what was. Worry and concern is stresses close cousins, a recipe for disaster, sickness, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, weight loss, hair loss and anything else that’s negative. We can conclude that being in relationships that are stressful are not healthy. However we also need to realize that there are things we can do to mitigate the stress we bring on ourselves. I want to dive into this because we sometimes will take instances like this and once they compile we get so stressed, it begins affect our mood and then we’re slipping into depression if we haven’t already been sick as well.

Our family, friends, co workers, work loads it’s all dripping in stressful situations, some more than others. It’s normal, it’s life but it doesn’t have to be our life and we don’t have to take it all on and you shouldn’t feel like you have to. A big stresser in life is finances. Financial troubles causes a great stress and even divorce. When you feel that you can’t afford to pay or provide what you need. Iv learned so much this year about money, I realized that I let it control my mood and emotions, how I viewed myself and what I felt I was capable of achieving. This is no longer the narrative for me. Money is good, it’s essential, I deserve to have it, I like having money because of what it affords me to do not only myself but for others and I will have it and continue to attract it. I believe that my fear of spending and it resulting in me possibly being broke has haunted me and therefore led me to fear having money and it being in my mind “taken”.

Avoidance. This is the biggest trick we play on ourselves and most times we wind up on the loosing end. Bills, tickets & hurt feelings don’t stifle out they grow! It’s best to deal with them head on. You would be surprised what making a phone call would do early on instead of waiting. A problem with someone is always tricky but use good judgment, be open to someone not agreeing with you. Acting as if the bill or issue isn’t there isn’t wise and once confronted can be even more stressful.

Choose happiness. Choose happiness every day and be intentional about it. Choosing happiness gives little room for stress. Make time to relax, pick up or get back to an old hobby, work out, pray/meditate, say No more often, prioritize, organize and plan, push back from the desk/task/situation, but some new pajamas you be surprised by what that can do to your mood and breath. Dont under estimate the power of laughter, a little laughter can go along way when your feeling stressed.