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EMPATHY
Realize that you are not the only one that is under
stress and do not be surprised or upset when other
people express their stress in a way that may be
offensive to you. Show patience in every situation
and donąt judge others harshly for their displays of
anger or impatience. Try to be someone who helps
calm their stress rather than adding to it.
ACCEPTANCE
We learned a valuable lesson that there are many
things in life that our completely out of our
control. We certainly felt no control over Charley's
course, and we likewise cannot control when the
insurance adjuster will come or how soon the roofer
will show up. Handle the things that are under your
control, and do all the follow-up possible, but do
not maintain a state of anxiety about whether or not
they have come. Accept the fact that the complete
recovery will be a long haul, and donąt stress
yourself by
expecting it to happen overnight.
DETACHMENT
Many members of our community have lost some or all
of their material possessions. Yet there have been
many people who have used the phrase, "its only
stuff. We are glad to be alive." When you focus on
what is essential in your life and realize that your
self-worth is not defined by your possessions but
rather by your internal character, you will face
much less stress over the loss of personal goods and
instead be thankful for the blessings of what you
still have in your life.
YOGA
One of the great ways to relieve stress in your life
is to get involved in yoga. Yoga is not just a
stretching routine or a way to improve your
flexibility and strength. It is also wonderful way
to improve your mental
state. Just taking time away from the busy endeavors
of life and devoting an hour to the focus on your
mind and body. Can do wonders for your mental state.
BREATHING
One of the essential aspects of yoga is the deep,
diaphragm breathing techniques. Deep breathing is
one of the best ways of relieving stress. Try it by
putting a hand on your stomach. When you inhale your
belly should expand first, and then the chest and
shoulders can rise. When you are experiencing
stress, check your breathing and you will almost
always find that you are breathing rapidly and
shallowly. If you simply slow down and take deep
breaths from the belly, you will find your level of
anxiety automatically diminishing.
PRAYER & MEDITATION
Spending quiet time alone when you can get in touch
with your perception of the higher part of your self
is one of the most essential ways to overcome
stress. Meditation relies on the impact of deep
breathing to slow you down and clear your mind from
the everyday problems of life and simply clear your
mind to get in touch with your soul. Prayer can have
the same effect as having the willingness to accept
the guidance of a higher power can help you put your
difficulties into perspective and realize that your
problems are
extremely minimal compared to those in many parts of
the world. When your perspective moves beyond your
own immediate circumstances you will almost always
find that your stress is replaced with appreciation.
Being thankful for the many blessings in your life
is one of the most valuable ways to
overcome your stresses in life.
EXERCISE
For many people the best way to relieve stress is
through exercise. It may be taking a walk, jogging,
riding a bike, playing tennis, swimming, taking an
aerobics class or working out in a gym or whatever
form of exercise works for you. Just being active
will automatically impact your brain function and
help you overcome the stress that just builds up
when you sit around and focus upon it.
FOCUS ON OTHERS
The more you focus on your own losses the more
stress you will feel. Perhaps the best way to
overcome your stress is to focus on doing what you
can to help others. Volunteer to contribute in any
way you can to help those who are less fortunate
than you. The more time you spend working with those
who are truly suffering the more perspective you
will gain on your own life and the less stressful
your own situation will seem. Just getting your mind
off your difficulties for a while and at the same
time experiencing the joy that
comes from doing good things for others will
automatically provide the best stress relief there
is. 
Please click here for additional information
or if you would like to contact the
author of this article, Ted Murray. Thank you!
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