No-Cost StressRelievers for Getting
Through Tough Times
By Winn Claybaugh
www.beniceorelse.com
Somedays, it seems like bad news just keeps coming. Unemployment is up. Thestock market is down. Gas prices are up, down, and up again. You maynot be able to control these things, but you can control your reactionsto them#151;and you can do it without spending a dime. Try these quick,easy and free stress busters.
Humor and Laughter
If it's true that high stress can lead to physical calamities, thenperhaps it's also true that humor and laughter can heal. In his book Love, Medicine, and Miracles Dr.Bernie Siegel wrote that humor not only may have the potential torelieve pain directly, but that it also diverts your attention andhelps you relax.
In truth, it's not stress that causes physical problems; it's the wayyou react to stress. Instead of letting stress make you ill, how aboutusing humor and laughter to help you heal? When you laugh and have fun,your body releases natural opiates called endorphins, the ultimate naturalhigh. Finding humor and laughter when you're all stressed out may seemlike a difficult task, but like anything else, it can become a habit ifyou practice long enough.
Go Through the Motions
To build your levels of happiness, joy, purpose, and fulfillment,sometimes you might have to go through the motions of offering yourselfgifts that you don't believe you deserve. If you knew your sweetheartwas having a bad day, you might draw a nice bath, light candles aroundthe tub, and place special salts or oils in the bathwater. Maybe you'dplay soft music, turn down the lights, and turn the telephone ringeroff. You'd then greet your sweetie at the door to grab her briefcase orpurse, hand her a glass of wine, and send her in for a stress-meltingbath. You'd do that for a lover, but when was the last time you treatedyourself with such respect and love?
My challenge for you and for myself is to just go through the motions.Tonight you might be sitting in that bathwater thinking, "What on earth am I doing here?"That's okay. Eventually, actions become habits, and habits become partof your personality, which builds your character and turns you into thetype of person you were always meant to be: filled with happinessinstead of stress.
Let's Be Clear
I used to believe that if I had a grievance, an opposing opinion, or alegitimate complaint with someone, I had to bite my tongue in order tobe perceived as a nice guy. On those rare occasions when I chose totell the person how I felt or how they'd wronged me, I felt as though Iwas attacking them. And I'm not the attacking type, so I learned tokeep it to myself. If you believe in a mind-body connection, as Ifirmly do, then you know that bottling things up leads to stress,uneasiness, and disease.
You're obviously going to have disagreements on occasion. To keep frommaking yourself unhealthy, practice being clear with people. If youhave a disagreement that needs to be resolved, remember to keep itbetween the two of you, discuss it in private, stick to the facts, andstay focused on your desire to restore harmony and retain therelationship.
Bottom line: All three strategies will help increase your nice factor,and being nice is a surefire way to help get rid of your stress.
Winn Claybaugh is the author ofBe Nice (Or Else!) and "one ofthe best motivational speakers in the country," according to CNN'sLarry King. Winn is the co-owner of hair care giant Paul Mitchell'sschool division. His clients include Southwest Airlines, the IrvineCompany, Vidal Sassoon, Entertainment Tonight, Mattel, For Rent magazine,Structure/Limited/Express, and others. Visit
www.BeNiceOrElse.com
to sign up for his free monthly Be Nice (Or Else!) newsletter. Permissiongranted for useon DrLaura.com.
