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4 Key Tips for De-Stressing the Mind

By Aila Accad

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 26Feb2008 Word count: 1358 Viewed: 415 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

The Mind is a wonderful tool. When the tool becomes the Master, stress is inevitable.

Like a computer, your Mind holds lots of data. It also has a program to organize that data. Each mind programs the input it receives through unique perceptions and interpretations developed in early childhood. This childhood template is your mind's operating system until you choose to change it.

De-stressing involves becoming aware of and updating these childhood beliefs.

Two core sets of beliefs - Who you think you are (self-concept) and Who you think you 'should' be (self-ideal) evolve from what we hear, see and experience as children. You do not knowingly choose these self-images, which become the foundation for Self-Esteem, your value for yourself and Self-Determination, your percieved power to make free choices. Failing to achieve this unrealistic self-ideal is inevitable and believing you have limited power to choose freely, creates DISTRESS.

The basic categories of response to distress are fight or flight.

Is your tendency to run, hide, and internalize stress in isolation, passivity or depression; or, to lash out, attack and externalize stress in aggression, domination, or anxiety? Either way, the core issues and solutions are the same.

Though the tips that follow are simple, implementation may be challenging.

Tip # 1 ~ Sort. The key to mental de-stressing is to recognize the areas of life in which you do or do not have control. You have NO control of anything outside yourself, and TOTAL control of everything inside yourself. This does not seem earth shattering until you look at common reactions.

Do you blame other people and situations for your stress? Do you direct most of your precious time and energy into fruitless efforts to control them? A short list of the uncontrollable includes: * Time - Not enough, what happened in the past, worry about the future. * Nature - illness, aging, death, weather. * Other People - what they think, feel, say, do.

Reduce your stress by focusing time and energy into the one area where it will pay off, where you have total control and power to direct your life - in YOU. Clarify how you think and feel and make choices about what is important to you.

Why it works ~ Sorting what you can and cannot control helps you see clearly where to place your attention. Although the conditioned mind (ego) does not accept change easily, it does like structure. When you provide a new way to sort thinking that makes logical sense, the mind is more willing to consider it.

Tip # 2 ~ Focus. Focus attention on your power to make choices in the present moment. The past is a memory and the future has not arrived.

You can make informed choices by learning from the past. Today's choices influence the future. Choosing consciously what you do in this moment is the most powerful thing you can do.

There is a finite amount of time in a day. You control what you choose to do with it. Prioritizing what is most important to you makes it easier to see what must either be delegated or dropped from the 'to do' list.

Life becomes simpler, less stressful and more productive when you are realistic about what you can do and take responsibility for acting on that priority in the present moment. Focus on being aware of your choices today and notice how outcomes change.

Why it works ~ You are the only person who has control of your choices. Choosing not to take action is also a choice. In consciously choosing, you have the power to influence the direction and satisfaction of your life. You also influence others by the choices you make. Making a difference in the world begins with taking charge of your part.

Tip # 3 ~ Observe. What reactions is your mind having to this information? Fight - resistance, looking for flaws in the logic. Or, flight - distraction, not wanting to continue reading. The mind resists changing core beliefs. Observe its resistance. This function of the conditioned mind, often referred to as the inner critic or bully, is a powerful force against making changes in your life.

In childhood, your mind formed ideas about how to be safe in the world. The conditioned mind (ego) is all about safety and survival. It gets scared when you decide not to play your life by the old "safe" rules. Like a parent, it is still telling you what you 'should' or 'should not' do, and judging your performance, often harshly.

Although the survival functions of the brain are important, you are no longer a vulnerable infant or child. Fight and flight are limited strategies for managing adult life and relationships. Observe these mental directives. What words does your mind use to keep you tied to old rules? What is the tone of voice? Whose voice does it sound like? Mom? Dad? Someone else? Keep a journal of your observations. Looking over your journal can give you clues to the pattern, or specific 'rule' or 'belief' that still informs your choices today. One of mine was, "If you say what you really think; people won't like you". Then, my mind would ruminate over things I had said, constantly judging the potential impact. This rule was time wasting, relationship stifling, and professionally defeating - all with the good intention to keep me "safe" from criticism.

Why it works ~ You are not your thoughts. Your mind is designed to support your decision-making, not control it. While the original unconscious program was useful in keeping you safe as a child, you must consciously update that program so it can serve you in being a powerful, response-able adult. Observing how the mind works, puts you back in the driver's seat of your life.

Tip # 4 ~ Stop, Drop & Replace. Take decisive action to Stop the Inner Critic.

Whenever you hear that inner voice spouting its shoulds, shouldn'ts, or judgments (negative or positive) - take action to stop the thought. Each inner voice is unique. If yours is aggressive, or hostile, you will want to stop it with some force. You can think or say aloud "Stop!" or use more colorful language. My inner critic is manipulative, with a tone of helpfulness. My approach is, "Thank you for sharing." then promptly let it go.

Drop the Image of who you think you 'should' be. This is a composite made up by various people, none of whom lives your unique life. A helpful strategy when you hear the words 'should' or 'should not' is to ask the question: "Who made that up?" Realize that the laws of nature are few. A human being made everything else up. Some beliefs are useful for living comfortably in society others do not. Choose the ones you want to keep and let the rest go.

Replace the old rules with supportive ones. From my earlier example, "If you say what you really think; people won't like you," I counter with, "By speaking my truth, others can connect with me and connect with their truth."

Why it works ~ Conditioning and images are not the truth about who you are or 'should' be. They are unconscious programs running your precious life as if you were still a child. The mind, like a computer, uses an operating system. Your life is continuously changing. How will your computer serve you if you never update the operating system to keep up with changing technology, or, delete outdated files to clear space for new information? The mind requires continuous monitoring and updating in order to serve you in consciously choosing the life you want in this moment.

These four strategies for mental de-stressing will change your perspective, and give you control over your choices. Sort what you can control (inside you) from what you cannot control (outside of you), focus on what you can control, observe your mind's discomfort with staying present in the moment, stop - drop - and replace the negative self criticism and judgement based in past conditioning.

Final note: Getting outside supportive coaching or counseling to carry out these steps may be helpful and well worth the time and cost for a stress free life!

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