My approach to stress from a holistic perspective
Stress has become an all too familiar companion in our fast-paced lives, but what if we could take a proactive approach to manage it? In this blog post, we'll explore my holistic perspective on stress and discover practical ways to regain control and restore balance in our lives. By addressing the needs of our body, mind, emotions, and soul, we can empower ourselves to navigate stress with grace and resilience while reducing its negative effects on our bodies.
BODY: Prioritizing Rest, Nourishment, and Movement Taking care of our physical well-being is essential in combating stress.
Ask yourself: Am I prioritizing rest and play? Am I nourishing myself with real food? Am I eating regular blood sugar balancing meals? Am I moving my body daily?
These simple yet powerful questions serve as a reminder to listen to our bodies and give them what they need.
One key aspect is being mindful of the foods we consume. While caffeine, processed foods, alcohol, inflammatory oils, and excess sugars can spike cortisol levels and induce stress, focusing on healthy fats, protein, and complex carbs at each meal can provide nourishment and stability.
Supplements can also play a supportive role in restoring balance to our endocrine system. Personally, I adore adaptogens for their ability to help the body adapt to stress, increase resilience, and promote overall healing.
MIND: Shifting Thoughts and Setting Boundaries Our thoughts greatly influence our stress levels, because the thoughts that we think trigger emotions in our bodies. Take a moment to reflect:
What choices am I making that contribute to my stress? Am I generalizing or creating worst-case scenarios in my mind? Am I overwhelming myself by neglecting to set boundaries? What are my thoughts focused on? (Spoiler, if you’re feeling stressed your thoughts are probably fear based…)
By becoming aware of these patterns, we can make conscious choices to alleviate stress. It's important to note that when we're feeling stressed, our thoughts are often fear-based. By actively shifting our focus to more positive and empowering thoughts, we can reframe our perceptions and reduce stress levels.
EMOTIONAL / NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION: Checking in and Meeting Needs Connecting with our emotions and regulating our nervous system is crucial in managing stress.
Regularly check in with your body and ask: What feels like too much right now? What feels like not enough?
How can you show your body that it’s heard and meet its needs?
By acknowledging our needs and finding ways to meet them, we can create a sense of balance and harmony within ourselves.
SOUL / SPIRIT: Cultivating Joy and Connection Neglecting our soul and disconnection from what brings us joy can amplify stress.
When was the last time you did something simply because you desired to? How can you invite more stillness into your daily life? What would light you up like a Christmas tree? Go do that!
Embrace these questions and take action to nourish your soul and connect with your authentic self. You don't help anyone when your cup is empty, your light is dimmed, and you're resentful.
The point of this as always: take your power back.
Stress may seem inevitable, but we have more power than we realize. While we can't control all stressors, we can make conscious choices that significantly impact our stress levels. By nurturing our body, shifting our thoughts, regulating our emotions and nervous system, and reconnecting with the grounded and stable part of ourselves, we can reclaim our power and navigate stress with resilience. Remember, you have the ability to take control of your stress and create a life filled with balance, well-being, and joy.
Want a resource in your toolbox to calm your nervous system when you feel stressed? Watch my EFT/Tapping video for stress, overwhelm, and the resistance to slowing down and you’ll feel the shift within minutes!