From Stress to Peace (part 3)
There are innumerable tools that can help you move from stress to peace. When you come across a tool - try it + test it. If it works for you, add it to your toolbox. If it’s in your toolbox - USE IT!
I’ve consolidated my favorite Wellness Tools into 10 points for you.
Review:
If you missed the first two posts of this three-part series…
Click here to review #s 1-3. (This is also where you’ll find a tutorial on the Likert Measurement Scale for testing tools).
In this week’s post, we’ll look at the last 4 (of 10) basic Wellness Tools that help release stress + move people toward peace. These tools work for me + my clients, and I hope they work for you too.
7. Allow creativity
When you have a (healthy) creative impulse, follow it! Following a new, exciting or fun idea will help break through + change old stress-patterns, + lead you to your core self. Your core self is naturally healthy. When you realize that stress has led you away from your core, it’s time to get back to you.
What do you want to do right now? Draw? Dance? Write? Swim?
Remember: test your emotional + mental state before + after following through on a creative impulse to know if using creativity to breakthrough stress works for you. Use a simple Likert measurement scale, such as asking yourself one of the following questions before + after being creative:
"Do I feel at-peace?", using a scale of 1-10, 1 being 'not at all' + 10 being 'I'm in a state pf bliss'
"Do I feel stressed?", using a scale of 1-10, 1 being 'not at all' + 10 being 'I will not survive this'
8. Practice flexible thinking
We all get stuck in thinking patterns. Rigid, black-and-white thinking creates stress, though. If you find yourself thinking narrow thoughts, widen your thinking. To start, try these simple language re-framing tips:
replace the word but with and
eliminate should and have to from your thoughts + speech
when something is new or confusing, say: I'd like to know more
when you disagree, think or say: I hadn't thought of it that way
while listening, think: I will hold a space for them to find their own solution
ask: what do (I) / (you) want or need?
Test your stress +/or peace levels before you start re-framing, then test those levels again, after a day, a week, a month…
9. Nourish yourself
Nourish yourself with whatever creates a sense of inner peace. Fill your mind + body with the ideas + things that you most want to be filled with. Eat food that makes you feel balanced + whole. Eat in a manner that makes you feel balanced + whole. Take time to think inspiring + positive thoughts. Listen to inspiring + peace-creating music + podcasts. Read inspiring + peace-creating books. Watch inspiring + peace-creating movies + shows. Listen to peace-creating music. Take time to look at the sky, feel the air on your skin, connect with the earth beneath your feet, breathe with the trees, listen to the sounds of life, drink fresh water. Consider that you share the Energetic Field with others, animals, elements, the past-present+future, things we know about, things we don't know about, + Source.
Make a commitment to only put nourishing things into yourself for a specified period of time. Test before + after to know if this tool works to move you from stress to peace.
10. Embrace Imperfection + adopt Radical Self-Acceptance
Find mantras that help move you toward embracing your imperfectly perfect Self. The following examples may be helpful to get you started:
I don’t understand that which I don’t yet understand - more shall be revealed.
‘Unfolding’ is a natural process.
There’s no rushing the process (of becoming more wholly my self).
It is kind to accept, like, and love my self while unfolding (into my whole self).
Healing & evolving stuck places is worthwhile because doing so helps me feel more expanded, whole and free.
It’s most effective to pay attention to my own stuck-to-movement processes and growth - even while being helpful to others.
Sharing stuck-to-movement processes can be helpful to others - so, I'll share.
Sharing one’s processes may not be helpful to others - so, I have no expectations of effecting change in others.
Your process is perfect - even if I don’t understand it - even if you don’t understand it.
My process is perfect - even if you don’t understand it - even if I don’t understand it.
Create your mantra. Test your emotional + mental state before you start using your mantra. Give yourself a designated period of time when you'll repeat this mantra to yourself - whether it's during a 20-minute meditation, for a day, or longer. Then, repeat the test. Did your state-of-being change?
If using a mantra works well for you, try using whatever mantra comes to mind now.
Start with these 10 basic tools to build your Wellness Toolbox
… for strengthening your peaceful core