Stress, in the personal context, is related to our personal style (mental outlook, health habits, personality, and self-knowledge) and what coping behaviors seem to work.

      What is stressful to one person may not be stressful to another person.  Each of us, according to our experience, temperament, personality, and makeup, responds in a way that is unique.  Each of us also has a threshold of tolerance and ability to cope with what goes on around us.  What bothers us in one situation may not bother us in another.  How we respond depends on our perception, knowledge, and willingness to use the resources available for managing our response.  What stress management techniques work for one person, may not work for another.  At the same time, there are some universally supportive methods that seem to apply across the board.  What each of us perceive as stressful often depends on our experience and how we view our ability to be in control.

      If you are intent on getting a grip on things and taking better care of yourself-congratulations!  It's about time!  Here are some simple strategies to help you begin managing stress.

1)        Begin by scheduling some time for you.  Start with 10 minutes in the morning.  Get up 15 minutes earlier to allow time for just you.

2)        Sit and be still.  Or, sit and write.  Never mind what you write about, simply write-goals, reasons for anger, frustrations¾and then read what you wrote. 

3)        Next, ask questions about what you wrote.  Do not ask why questions-only ask what or how questions. 

4)        Then pose the reasons for the what or how questions.  What is the lesson here?  What can I do with this now? 

5)        At the end of your workday before you venture home, or pick up the kids, or go shopping, take ten minutes to reflect.  Review and evaluate your day.  Project what you aspire to do in a thoughtful way.

6)        Know that you have not been put here to suffer, agonize, and begrudge your life.  Life is full of changes, challenges, and opportunities.  Look for the lessons that you have been afforded from your experiences and take note of them.

      Stress is manageable, but it requires awareness and changes in thinking, behavior, potentially the environment(s) we are in, and/or our associations. 

(Excerpt taken from Stress, Strain, & Survival: Common Sense for Turbulent Times by John Alston.)