Breathe
Studies show that breathing deeply has a myriad of health benefits. It's good just to stop every now and then, and take deep abdominal breaths. The act of stopping is important, too, in our extraordinarily fast-paced world.
Tap into your spiritual side
Set aside regular time for activies that honor your spiritual well-being - whether it be walking in nature, meditating, journaling, listening to music, or participating in a spiritual or religious community.
Take charge of your inner committee
We all have our own "committee" - you know, the Board of Directors in our minds. Amazingly, the members all too frequently resemble our mothers, fathers, siblings, feared teachers, childhood neighbors, etc., except usually we don't distinguish their voices. We believe they are our own. They tend to make all sorts of "rules" for us to live by. "Never go for a visit empty-handed" is one of mine. Try as hard as I can it's a physical impossibility for me just to show up. They also tell us what we should put up with - even if we don't feel we should. Try to take charge of the committee (you may need to have a coup!) and not let it run you. Learn to say no to people and situations that drain your energy. The committee might object at first but it will come around when it sees you mean business.
Tune out bad news
I'm not saying be oblivious, but there's no need to wallow in the news either. If it's important enough, believe me you'll find out soon enough.
Smile
Humorist Loretta Laroche, who works with John Kabat-Zinn on major research projects on the effects of laughter, says amongst the benefits are an increase in "T" cells, an increase in dopamine and a decrease in cortisol - all of which contribute to a stronger immune system, enhanced memory and learning, and a natural relaxation response.
"Fake it until you make it"
Change your thoughts and behavior, and the feelings will follow. Simple but, again, proven.
Stay connected
Have a healthy respect for your relationships. Avoid getting worked up about petty issues. It simply isn't worth it. Ask yourself how you would feel if something happened to that person and you never saw them again? Is it worth holding a grudge?
Keep it simple: rediscover the meaning in your life
Some possibilities: hugs from your children or nieces and nephews or knowing that you make a difference in what you do. Having a purpose outside of ourselves is a really good thing in life.
Turn negative situations into opportunities for learning
My favorite question is, "What's the lesson here?" There is always some positive aspect - even to negative situations. A cruel or tragic loss may be accompanied by an outpouring of love and community that reaffirms believe in the goodness of people. Finding the positive makes people resilient to stress.
Make exercise and good nutrition priorities
The benefits of exercise and nutrition are well documented. Taking good care of ourselves also sends a vital message to our brain - we're worth it!
