21
POWER POINTS TO REDUCE STRESS by
Jewel Diamond Taylor
How are you coping with your stress
issues? Do your best to keep your
head up, your mind clear, your faith
strong and your sense of humor,
especially when things don't seem to
make sense. Yes, gas prices are
soaring, the economy is crazy and
the atmosphere is heavy with
political and weather changes ---
yet you must hold on. Only the
strong survive. Make up your mind
to stay in the game. Give notice to
the enemy that in the midst of your
battle, you are covered by God's
love and power. Make up your mind
to stay prayerful, optimistic and
connected to your circle of family
and friends. One of the many tools
of the enemy is the lure of
depression. Feelings of defeat,
shame and exhaustion can kill your
faith, purpose, health, self-esteem
and opportunities.
When you feel exhausted or confused,
please be careful not to escape into
a cave of isolation or
excessive/compulsive eating or
spending.
You are more than a conqueror. Plug
into your spiritual electricity to
empower your faith and victory in
prayer. You were not born with the
spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7 "For
God gave us a spirit not of fear but
of power and love and
self-control.")
1. Don't try to control the
uncontrollable. Many
things in life are beyond our
control- particularly the behavior
of other people. Rather than
stressing out over them, focus on
the things you can control such as
the way you choose to react to
problems.
2. Change your perspective.
When facing major challenges, try
to look at them as opportunities for
personal growth. Don't always feel
you are being punished, maybe it is
a "divine push" toward new
experiences, new faith, new strength
and new opportunities. Remember,
this, too, shall pass.
3. Ask for help.
Delegate tasks and dump what is
unnecessary or a low priority.
Caregivers and those in high demand
positions get burned out and very
ill unless they learn how to ask for
help and stop trying to do it ALL.
4. Look at the big picture.
Take perspective of the stressful
situation. Ask yourself how
important it will be in the long
run. Will it matter in a month? A
year? Is it really worth getting
upset over? If the answer is no,
focus your time and energy
elsewhere.
5. Life and people are not
perfect. Stop setting
yourself up for failure by demanding
perfection. Life is up and down,
bitter and sweet, precious and
mysterious. Nothing in life is
guaranteed. Nothing and no one is
perfect. Shift happens. Be
flexible, adapt and allow for the
"oops" and "mistakes" that will
happen in life.
6. Accept and adapt to what
you cannot change. We will
not always be delivered from our
dilemmas and drama. Talk to a
trusted friend or make an
appointment with a counselor.
Expressing what you're going
through can be very cathartic, even
if there's nothing you can do to
alter the stressful situation.
7. Focus on the positive.
When stress is getting you down,
take a moment to reflect on all the
things you appreciate in your life,
including your own positive
qualities and gifts. Tap into your
feelings of gratitude and faith.
8. Exercise regularly.
If you don't manage your stress
well, it doesn't go away. Instead
it stores up in your knees, back,
neck, stomach, skin, etc. Physical
activity and deep breathing play a
key role in reducing and preventing
the effects of stress. If you are
not sexually active - move,
exercise and stretch your body to
release all the pent up stress and
toxins that block your energy.
9. Eat healthy foods.
Well-nourished bodies are better
prepared to cope with stress, so be
mindful of what you eat. Start your
day right with breakfast, and keep
your energy up and your mind clear
with balanced, nutritious meals
throughout the day. Your mind can't
think clearly when it is
dehydrated. Hydrate your brain by
drinking lots of water.
10. Reduce caffeine and
sugar. The temporary
"highs" caffeine and sugar provide
often end in with a crash in mood
and energy. By reducing the amount
of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate,
and sugar snacks in your diet,
you'll feel more relaxed and you'll
sleep better.
11. Avoid alcohol,
cigarettes, and drugs.
Self-medicating with alcohol or
drugs may provide an easy escape
from stress, but the relief is only
temporary. Don't avoid or mask the
issue at hand. Feel, heal and deal
with your problems head on and with
a clear mind.
12. Speak life into your
life. Life and death are
in the power of your words. To
receive your free
affirmation cards, send a
self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Jewel Diamond Taylor, 4195 Chino
Hills Pkwy, Chino Hills, CA 91709
13. People are like
escalators that take you up
or take you down. Share and seek
solutions from people who care and
who can encourage and edify you.
14. Do something different.
Break your routine. Enjoy nature.
Get outside. Enjoy your pet. Get
your hands busy with some
creativity. Get out of town. Go on
a retreat.
15. Get enough sleep.
Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as
well as your body. Feeling tired
will increase your stress because it
may cause you to think irrationally.
Worry doesn't change anything. Go
to bed, turn off the TV and
computer. Invest in a quality
mattress.
16. Read the word of God
daily to keep your
spiritual electricity plugged in for
His strength, protection and
guidance for your life.
18. Watch a good comedy DVD
or go to a comedy show and get your
laugh on. Lighten up and enjoy
life. Watching too much news is too
draining and overwhelming.
19. Do something helpful for
others. Take your
attention off yourself and practice
random acts of kindness.
21. Hear Jewel
Diamond Taylor's thought for
the day, call 310-943-9237
~ by Jewel Diamond Taylor |
