Stress is mental
Here we are only three months into a new year and it seems that already the stress of the year has tried to take over my life. Am I the only one?
New Year, New Me is actually more realistically defined as New Year, New Expectations. I’m sure most of you know that unmet expectations can be damaging to your life. Some expectations are good, but others are unrealistic. good expectations can look like taking care of your body better, setting new goals, or increasing your value at your job. Unrealistic expectations can look something like becoming obsessed with perfection, taking on tasks that you are unqualified for, or saying yes to everything that comes your way.
Girlfriends, you are setting yourself up for a stress filled life if you are operating at an unrealistic capacity. If you're out there in a season of unmanaged stress, this is for you.
Let’s think about stress in a tangible sense. Stress can be felt. We can feel it in our bodies and it can be a buzz that we can’t get out of our head. It can be a carrier for health problems or relational problems. Depending on where you live, the atmosphere and buzz of the city can create a lifestyle where you either speed up or slow down. Now I know most of us can’t decide to up and move to different cities just because we are stressed out, but what we can do is control our atmosphere. Think about it, the atmosphere that is in our homes, in our cars, or in our minds is totally up to us to control.
How do we control the atmosphere? By renewing our minds daily, by changing our disciplines, and by becoming more aware of what we allow into our space. Awareness is key here because we have to be tapped into what’s actually happening in our atmosphere. You cannot be on autopilot and expect a change. So if you are stressed out and exhausted by what you have allowed in, here’s what you do…. Back slowly away from the norm.
What’s normal and familiar to you can actually hurt you in the long run. All of the fluff clutters your mental space and doesn't allow for you to operate in the capacity that you are able to. Think about the choices that you make that aren’t really good for you. They aren’t reeeaaally bad, but they definitely don’t do much to help you. How about how you start the day? Do you start with gratefulness and mindfulness or do you start the day listening to the same four songs they play every morning on the radio? What do you listen to? Gossip, Celebrity news? Or do you listen to podcasts and become educated on how to better your life or help someone else’s life?
There are simple adjustments that you can make that bring intentionality into your life. Throw out the fluff and be intentional. Don’t invite stress to come in and make a pallet on your floor. Stress is the house guest that will never leave unless you change the atmosphere where it is too uncomfortable to stay.
It always starts with us. The power is always in our hands. We are in control of our bodies, our minds and our atmosphere. Love yourself enough to be intentional and say no to the fluff. Life is too important and you’ve got places to be gf. Let’s move forward with our minds focused on what matters and let’s learn to say NO to unrealistic expectations. Let’s walk in grace always, for ourselves and for others.
xoxox
Lola
