CHANGING STRESSING TO BLESSING!

Stress--it's all around us! Inside with our worries about money, family, health and outside with the daily trauma of the news about floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, war and rape in the military, Africa, the streets and homes of America and even in the Peace Corps! Acts of violence and the faces of those violated. Is it any wonder we are traumatized by stress? Do we add to it by the daily ingestion of reality television outside the news? What about shows with the "housewives of..."--you name the city; bridezillas; women and men attacking one another; shows that grow more violent every year as our appetite for them increases? Are the choices we're making causing our stress load, and thus our diseases and behaviors? The latest statistical data says it's so. So what can we do about it? First of all, it's important to know that our brain CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL AND IMAGINED PAIN AND ANGER! If we are watching something violent and our body reacts to it, the body is releasing a chemical stew of toxins like adrenaline and cortisol into the body that tells it we're being attacked. All of our nerves and messengers believe we are in danger and respond accordingly, sending us into fight or flight. This happens to us multiple times a day. These chemicals break down the health of the body. On the other side, when we are receiving, or having a memory of receiving, love, care, appreciation and kind touch, endorphins (good chemicals) are released that make our bodies feel good. These chemical baths lead to healthy bodies. What we can do is experience the good stuff throughout the day instead of the bad stuff.

How often do you talk to those you love--face to face or voice to voice, not through FB or email? How often do you say "I miss you; I love you; let's get together"? How often do you touch another human or animal with affection? All of these are healthy, healing parts of life.

Here's a tip: Every day, several times a day, breathe into your heart and remember a time when you were loved, appreciated or just plain contented. Breathe this memory into your body, and your body will respond as if it's happening in the present moment. Do this consistently, and you'll feel your shoulders drop and your chest relax as you are going into a meeting or just facing a stack of papers on your desk. It's so easy and so amazingly affective. The AMA reports, and ABC news followed up on the fact, that meditation is the one and only effective relief for stress. What I just gave you is a form of meditation. It doesn't have to be hard. It doesn't have to involve a class or a pillow--just you and your heart. May both of you thrive in love. I'd appreciate hearing from you! Therese www.IsisInstitute.org