Wandering Thoughts of a Writer: stress

Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts

I want to start 2014 in a positive light.

Are you with me?

A lot of people pledge during the first of every new year to start working out, lose weight and tone their muscles. But what about working on being happy? Why not exercise your mind and reprogram it to where you won’t have to think about the following steps to reach a joyful state of mind? It’ll just come natural to you. How about that?

STRESS:

What’s the point about stressing out about something? What benefits does it have? Um, none. I think stress goes hand and hand with worry. You’re worried because you have no control over a situation. You can’t control everything. However, you can control how you react to things and your attitude. Focus your energy on that and relax.

Quit Comparing Yourself To Others:

I don’t care who you are, we all do this. I think it’s human nature that we compare ourselves to others. You need to stop it. The only person you should compare yourself to is yourself. Look at where you were a year ago or maybe two. What have you done with your life or self since then? What have you learned? Have you accomplished anything? Don’t look at Mary Lou who seems to have the life or looks you want. We’re all unique and have our own paths to take. Mary Lou may be gorgeous and seem like she has it made, but she might not. So stop comparing yourself to others and start looking at your own self and life.

Stop Blame Shifting:

Stop shifting the blame on someone for what you don’t have. Take responsibility. You’re in charge of your life, and it’s up to you to change it.

Gratitude:

Be grateful for what you have. Look at all the blessings in your life and appreciate them. Yeah, you might not have all the things you desire at the moment, but think back ten years ago at things you didn’t have and now do.

Don’t Belittle Yourself:

You’re awesome and a good person and shouldn’t talk down to yourself. We all make mistakes and have done bad things in our lives, but if you’ve learned from them and moved on, it’s all good. You’re not a horrible person and can do whatever you put your mind to—if you really want to. Your mind is a powerful thing. If you continue to think negative thoughts about yourself, it’s going to emotionally and physically hinder you in your life. So be aware of those thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

Surround Yourself With Positive People:

Negativity breeds negativity. What’s the old saying? Oh, that’s right. Misery loves company. If you’re around miserable people, they’re going to bring you down. They’re toxic. Plain and simple. However, if you’re in the company of uplifting people who you can learn from and brings you joy, your world will be a lot brighter.

Think About Your Goals And Not Your Problems:

If you dwell on your problems, you’re not going to get anywhere. You’ll just find excuses on why you can’t accomplish something. But if you think about your goals and how to attain them, you’ll be a lot happier and have something to look forward to.

Quit Living In The Past And In The Future:

The past and future doesn’t exist. Quit thinking about what you could have done or if you would have had awesome parents where would you be in life right now . . . or whatever. Stop thinking about the future and Be Here Right Now. That’s what exist. What you’re doing today will help create what your tomorrows will be. Every single moment you’re creating yourself by your thoughts, your actions, and how you choose to live. Be in the moment.

Be Yourself:

Don’t ever sacrifice who you are to please another person or to fit in with the crowd. If people can’t except you for who you are, then they’re not worth your time. That includes family as well. Be yourself. You might not have the perfect looks, car, house, bank account. You might be into vampires, werewolves, heavy metal, and wear vintage concert T-shirts. So what. That’s who you are. Don’t change it. Because seriously, you WILL meet people who will genuinely like and love you for YOU.

Period.

gratitude, happiness, how to be happy, Nine things you can do to be happy, stress, 0 Comments

The other day Kevin was talking about self-induced stress, how people, including himself put unnecessary stress upon themselves. Afterwards, when I told him all the things I wanted to accomplish by the middle of March so I could self publish my book, and how much work I still needed to do, he responded with, "It’s not like you’re on a deadline."

Yeah, well, that’s true but. . . .

But nothing.

The stress I’ve been under lately is self-induced. There’s no reason for me to be stressed out. I know that and agree with Kevin. However, I’m still aiming for the month of March because it would be fitting (I think) to publish, 'Beyond the Eyes' then, since the story starts in that month.

I’m going to try really hard though, not to stress myself out. But the thing is, I’m the type of person that when I’m doing a project, I will not rest until it’s completed.

Yeah, I know. That’s just an excuse to support the reason why I'm self-inducing this stress. Basically saying, "I can’t help it that I stress myself out because I’m the type of person who will not rest until I finish a project I’m working on. That’s just how I am." Shrug. Shrug.

I have to change my thinking on that, and get these four words through my thick skull:

THERE. ARE. NO. DEADLINES.

So why stress out about it?

It’s silly, really.

But, oh, what a challenge this is going to be for me.

I can do it. Yes, I can.

Besides, I’ve been having a hard time sleeping because of it. I even drank some brandy the other night, hoping it would help me sleep because usually it does.

But did it help me?

Hell no.

And when I do sleep, I have some weird ass dreams about myself.

Last week I had a dream I was standing in an open parking lot with a crowd of people. The sky was gray and overcast, and I was standing there, watching men in some dark government type uniform herd them away from me to God knows where. I was completely dumbfounded. I finally asked one of the men, why they weren’t taking me as well, and he told me because I was a good person . . . .

Huh?

I know I’m a good person, but I don’t think I’m THAT good. In fact, I think Kevin is a better person than I (he gets so annoyed when I tell him that. LOL).

And then last weekend I had a dream I was in a square empty room. There was a tall guy in a dark gray trench coat leaning against the wall, and he said, "The angels are watching you."

I snorted, "Yeah, the dark angels."

He smiled, amused by my statement and shook his head. Then he said something, but I can’t remember what it was, dang it.

Totally weird though, huh?

I don’t know what that was all about, or why I’m having these dreams. I’m thinking, it has to be the stress I’m causing myself.

Those dreams and not being able to sleep some nights should be an incentive for me to chill out and go with the flow, don’t you think? Otherwise, that pattern is going to continue, and I don’t want that.

So, starting right now, I’m going to make a strong effort to go with the flow and not stress out.

Wish me luck. :)

change, sleep, stress, 0 Comments