Yesterday morning I went to the dentist’s office. My dentist asked me, “How are you doing?” I could have said, “I’m fine, thank you.” But instead, I decided to give her an honest answer: “It’s been a bit stressful lately,” I said. She looked a little surprised by my response.
Obviously she was expecting the usual polite and positive reply. “But it’s all good, right?” She asked. Then she paused for a moment and said, “It’s life. Life is supposed to be stressful.” We both smiled and I relaxed into the dental chair – ready for this stressful event.
Indeed, life is not always smooth sailing. It has its ups and downs, and sometimes throws us off balance. External events involving work, relationships and finances can trigger stress responses within us and build up tensions in our body and mind. Overtime, these tensions can cause congestion and blockage in the healthy flow of our life and energy.
That’s why stress is often attributed as the number one cause for various diseases and ailments, including PMS. Dealing with increasing demands from both external and internal sources, many people feel stressed, tired and stuck. Can’t we move any faster or do more? Even if the answer is no, we still try – and usually suffer for it.
So last night, despite a long list of “unfinished To-Dos,” I decided to take a break. I went to yoga, took a hot bath when I got home, and went to bed early. Delightfully, I had a restful sleep, and woke up feeling rested, refreshed, and happier.
Which areas of your life are causing you stress right now? What can you do to reduce or eliminate these stress factors and bring some balance into your life?