April 4 – Stress Awareness Month - Thursday Negative Thoughts and Stress
Where does your mind go when you are stressed or anxious? Let's talk about the things that stress makes us think, which are often not truthful thoughts, and a small trick that can make a difference.
Stress often gives rise to negative thoughts. You worry about what you did or didn't do. You spend time ruminating over mistakes, or perceived mistakes you've made (often we decide our actions were wrong without proof). All of this increases your stress.
One very helpful thing to do in stressful times is the following short exercise:
- Take a few minutes and think about situations/challenges you've overcome in the past
- Make a list of the abilities that helped you overcome these challenges - it can be your humor, your ability to ask for help when you need it, or perhaps a hobby that ‘charges your inner batteries’ and brings back your focus.
- Take a few minutes every day to remind yourself of these abilities of yours and add a few more to the list
This short exercise will help you build your resilience and decrease your stress.
Tell us how it worked out for you!
