YOUR HEALTH
Managing stress with one cliché a day
By Jay Shehi Mental Health Columnist
Stress comes in all shapes and sizes . We become accustomed to the most common stressors in our lives : bills , broken appliances , flat tires , lines at the bank , snapped shoelaces , etc . Despite the constant barrage of squeaking air conditioners and lace less shoes , we usually forge on unscathed .
These everyday stressful events are overshadowed by more profound events like a new medical diagnosis or the end of a relationship . Even
Shehi when faced with greater challenges and setbacks , we usually move ahead with great grit and fury . But what do we do when the typical stressful events are compounded by a global health pandemic , rising inflation , and international unrest ?
The amount of external pressure upon each of us has increased and for many of us , even the smallest stressor can make a greater impact . Resilience is defined by the American Psychological Association as the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult and challenging life experiences . Here are some age-old cliches that will help sharpen your resilience and manage challenging times .
“ Look on the bright side ”
I am the eternal optimist to a fault but I do believe something can be said for the ways that stressful times can build resilience if viewed from the right perspective .
Many of us would say that the tough times we faced starting adulthood have shaped who we are today . Most of us can think back to the resilient generation that arose from the ashes of the Great Depression . Beyond the anecdote , lessons we learn from traumatic events can serve us well as we tackle future challenges .
However , just facing a difficult situation does not always build resilience . Research suggests that the perspective of how we view the challenging event is a predictor for how that event will affect us . Research has also shown that optimism is associated with better health outcomes .
Changing our thoughts from negative to positive is not an overnight process and takes practice . Start with practicing positive self-talk . Self-talk refers to the stream of unspoken thoughts in your head . When your mind says , ‘ this situation will never change ,’ try and shift your focus to what you can change about the situation . Even if you can change nothing , you ’ ve practiced positive self-talk and you ’ re on the path to a more optimistic outlook .
“ We ’ re all in this together ”
This phrase has probably been printed or spoken more than any other phrase over the past two years . And while I debated writing it again , I think the phrase itself can provide great depth if viewed from the right angle .
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Facing a challenge together does not always indicate a shared suffering . It can also mean a shared calling to help our neighbors and to be there for one another . When faced with difficult situations , sometimes we tend to retreat but it has been shown in research that a robust social network is paramount .
An easy way of developing your social network is simply to be there for others . Call someone you have not spoken to in a while . Go visit your elderly neighbor and see if there is anything you can help them with . Not only will this grow your circle of friends but service to others is a natural antidepressant . In fact , researchers have shown that performing random acts of kindness is associated with lower depression and anxiety and better health overall .
“ Don ’ t worry , be happy ”
While many of us are already humming this tune , focusing on mindfulness and gratitude is the best medicine for the situation we all face . While we can ’ t control the price of gas , we can focus on being present in the moment and grateful for all that is going right .
One way to practice this is free association gratitude . This is the practice of focusing your stream of thoughts upon what you are grateful for . I ’ ll practice right now while I ’ m at my desk writing this article . I ’ m grateful for the air conditioning . I ’ m grateful for the chair . I ’ m grateful that I was able to sleep in this morning ( it ’ s a Saturday ). I ’ m grateful that my son called me last night to fill me in on his sleepover .
It only took 30 seconds and I already feel better . Simply taking five minutes every few hours will make a difference not only in your level of stress but also your outlook on the challenges in front of you .
They call them “ clichés ” for a reason , but they can still help us emotionally process life ’ s many challenges and setbacks . We cannot control our external environment , but we can control how we treat others and how we take care of ourselves .
If you are struggling to cope with stress , there are professionals that will help you develop a plan of action . And no matter what we face ( with one final cliché ) … “ The sun will always come up in the morning .”
• Jay Shehi is the CEO of Alliance Health Center , Meridian . You can contact him at www . alliancehealthcenter . com
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