The Solution To Our Stress

What exactly is stress?
”a state resulting from a stress
especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium”
”a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension”

Here is a definition that I like, “the degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable.”

The stress one experiences differs person to person and is subjective. But we all have experienced stress and it’s not uncommon to let the words “I’m so stressed out” slip through our lips. There’s also different degrees of stress, sometimes it’s severe sometimes it’s not as much. Either way it can be exhaustive and wear us down.

So what is the cause of the stress? It’s when we want something to be different than what is at that moment.

What is the solution to our stress? There are a few steps to the solution. First recognize where the stress is coming from. Ask yourself how is it able to exist and possibly amplify.
Are you able to identify where it’s happening?
It’s in your mind. It’s in your thoughts. You are thinking about it. Thinking about how stressful it is and all the details that creates negative emotions and feelings of overwhelm.

Accept the existence and truth of whatever event, person, or thought that is causing it. This doesn’t mean you allow it or you approve of it, it means you are just acknowledging it. You see it for what it is.

Then stop resisting what is. Stop fighting against the truth. Let it go and surrender to what is.

For example, when we get stressed over rush hour traffic. The stress, the overwhelming feeling, is caused by the wanting there to be no traffic, the wanting it to be different than what is at the moment. But at that moment the traffic is what is happening, it is the truth, what we feel will not change the situation. Stop fighting against the truth, stop resisting that there is traffic. Let go of the desire of wanting things to be different and accept it for what it is, that there is traffic.

When it comes to stress caused by situations with other people, relationships, work, or etc a common response to letting go and surrendering practice is that some feel it’s a form of giving up.

“I don’t want people to think I’m weak” 

“I don’t want to give in”

“I don’t want people to walk over me”

On the contrary there are only positive results from this practice. When we let go and surrender to what is, we no longer resist or fight against it. We release the stress, can operate from a place of peace, and produce better positive results.

Resisting and fighting against the truth is no different than getting upset over wanting the color black to be blue.

Let go of the need for the moment/situation/person to be different than what is/who they are. 

Stop resisting and surrender.

The stressful feeling will dissipate and you will be at peace.

♡