Carrie Bohn: Staff Writer ~ Community Communication
With the stress of every day work, relationships, money, and just life in general, pressures of being motivated and successful make you want to break sometimes. Do you ever feel like you’ll suffocate under the weight of your world? Take time to reassess your focuses, and see where you can learn to bend instead of break. Like a palm tree in a hurricane, the weight of your world doesn’t have to be the end. Know that you’re not alone, and here’s 5 unconventional tips to help you bend instead of break.
- Re-evaluate Your Goals
Especially in the beginning of the year, we create lofty goals for ourselves…sometimes too lofty. Take a look at your goal sheet and do not lower your goals – break them down into smaller steps! We never want to lower our target, keeps your goals 10X! Breaking them down into smaller increments will take some pressure off, and give you a sense of success when you accomplish the smaller steps. This will motivate you to keep going!
- Release the Need to be Right
This one is was a tough one for me, especially in the medical profession. To fight for my patients’ best interests, I always felt the need to be right, even when I left the hospital and went home for the night. Sometimes we do need to stand-up for justice and others who cannot stand-up for themselves, but when you are in an pointless argument with friends or family, take a step back. Look at the big picture, and try seeing things from their point of view. Allow yourself to realize there are various angles to look at situations. Not only will you become more open-minded, you’ll decrease your stress level exponentially.
- Realize Change is a Part of Life
Being one of the most stubborn people on earth, I used to despise change. Now, I seek it! One of the ways we grow and become successful is to learn, ask, and go with the flow! Stagnant water stinks and breeds disease while flowing water is fragrant and brings life! Begin to accept small changes at work, in relationships, and life in general. When you fight natural flow, you create your own stress and unnecessary weight on your shoulders. You don’t have to be a doormat, I certainly do not advocate that! Don’t fight every little alteration that life brings your way because they are typically part of a bigger plan that will reveal the big picture on the Universe’s timeline, not on yours.
- Concentrate on Gratitude
One of the quickest fixes for my stress and frustration is to write 10 things that I am grateful for at that moment. Write down what good things happened that week or even that day! When you change your thoughts, you change your attitude, and life becomes an easier tackle. Where focus goes, energy flows! Focusing on what is good, what is right, and what is positive will only bring more good, right, and positive vibes your way!
- Stop Judging
Judging others can become a poisonous habit, and that is one sure way to give yourself unnecessary stress. Understand that everyone is different, and you cannot make others change. You can only change yourself, and you can change your approach. Stop judging yourself also! Putting undo pressure on yourself truly makes life unbearable. Show yourself mercy, and realize that you can do only so much in one day, you can only give so much of yourself, and you are perfect just the way you are!
“I can bend in the strongest wind, and remain unbroken. My storms create my strength, and force me to realize just how powerful I am.”
These 5 simple, yet somewhat challenging tips can alleviate those hurricane-force winds you feel pushing you over sometimes. When you take deep breath, remove unwanted negativity, increase your positivity, and move with life instead of against it, you can bend under the weight of tremendous pressure! When the storm is over, stand tall, brush yourself off, and return to your strong, poised, and gorgeous self!