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Stressing over stress?

 I thought this was a nice title for this thought dump. There are two resources I want to share with my non-existent readers: a podcast on (positively) redefining stress and a video by Joe Dispenza. This was recommended by my friend Lisa who is devouring his spiritual handbook at the moment and has inspired me to dig more into his work. Even if he's another old white guy who is trying to enlighten us Western people. Anyhow, this is another topic (for a more cynical mood). Right now, we'll be having it about stress and survival vs. creation. I was in the lab this week listening to this 30 minutes podcast on the upsides of stress. It was very much on-topic for me, since I'm eager to adjust my mindset in order to feel mentally and physically healthier and be more energetic. My take-homes are:

1. Stress is necessary and inevitable in our lives. Some situations require stress for us to perform in an optimal way. For me, kickboxing fights come to mind. The minutes before, I used to literally shit myself with nerves (I did make it to the toilet) but I was also buzzing with adrenaline once I got on the mat and ready to fight. 

2. The way we think about stress changes how we perform under stress. Research shows that even our physiological reaction changes. This is the information that got me! I don't need to get rid of all my stress (e.g. I cannot reduce my hours at work indefinitely otherwise I lose my income) but I can deal with the stress I have better and also redefine what situations are actually stressful (as opposed to exciting or just minor annoyances).

3. How to deal with stress when it's there. BREATHE. Got it, okay. And be curious about the stress: why am I feeling stressed right now, what resources do I need to be able to deal with this situation better? Instead of feeling stressed about being stressed (again), get to know you stress and also see where it can be an important driver.

The first few minutes of the video by Joe Dispenza already captured my attention (I haven't yet watched the full video, probably tomorrow morning with a fresh mind), since the illustrations show so poignantly what I have been realising for my own life in the past week. It's exactly this: I want to get from a state of survival to a state of creation.


State of survival:

- being consumed by all the negative influences in your environment

- interpreting situations negatively

- feeling scarcity in everything: money, relationships, time

- focus is on maintaining yourself and saving energy

- perpetual low energy state, letting the outside world suck energy from us

- not allowing myself to enjoy things since people are suffering


State of creation:

- letting positive energy flow

- interpreting situations in a neutral or positive way

- feeling optimistic about the future

- being grateful

- allowing myself to be joyful and enthusiastic (despite suffering in the world)


Resources:

Podcast episode "The upside of stress" by A slight change of plans

Video "Living in Survival vs. Living in Creation" by Dr. Joe Dispenza

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