We all have challenges in life. No one needs to tell you that life is challenging and stressful. Or that the challenges of life take a toll on your body and your spirit. You might never have learned how to deal with stress during your years of schooling, but you certainly know how it feels. It might be a nagging muscle ache or just a tight muscle. It could show up as a worry, a distraction, or butterflies in your stomach. It may manifest in addictive or avoidance behaviors and a loss of motivation. You know when the stresses of life are keeping you up at night, or distracting you from being in the present.
You know when you are experiencing more stress than you would like, or feel like the stress you’re experiencing is more than you can handle. It can be overwhelming and draining. But either you haven’t made the effort to gain control over these stresses, or your efforts have been less than fruitful.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, it’s easy to throw up your hands in frustration, saying “Life is simply stressful.” More often than not, that sense of overwhelm prevents you from taking action. Even if you disregard the physical and emotional consequences, stress takes a toll on your performance.
You CAN begin the process of learning awareness, seeing the possibilities, and attaining resilience. Gratitude is a step to riding the waves of life’s challenges instead of wiping out in those waves.
Dr. Stephen Sideroff is an internationally recognized expert in resilience, optimal performance, addiction, neurofeedback and alternative approaches to stress and mental health. He is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA’s School of Medicine, as well as the Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Ethics. www.drstephensideroff.com