Everyone has it. It’s something we can’t get away from. It affects some more than others. 

Yes, I’m talking about stress.

That elusive thing, that lives inside. You know it’s there but you can’t see it. 

One of the biggest things I hate about it is that it affects so much of your body. Especially when you get older. Back pain, tight muscles, low energy are just a few of the things it causes.

It’s so destructive we have a whole world of medication built around it.

Which doesn’t surprise me. The media and our economy are built around it. They are either trying to get our emotions up to get better ratings or driving us harder to higher profits. If that isn’t enough we have social media we turn to which fills in any other gaps.

Either way, it puts a toll on our body. Usually leading us to find an outlet somewhere else. That could be eating, drinking or negative thoughts. 

When I was younger, I never had an outlet to help with stress. I don’t consider drinking a real outlet. If you’ve read some of my post in the past, you know I did a lot of drugs as well. 

I have made a lot of changes over the years. They have made tremendous impacts on my relationships with my wife and kids. Not only that I’ve discovered more about myself in this process than I ever knew.

To say it has been life changing is an understatement.

So I thought I would share what I do that has made a HUGE improvement in my life. These are things that I have added over time. I didn’t start them all at once. I would recommend the same thing. It has been my experience that when you try to do everything all at once you end up not doing any at all. 

I hope these help:

I go to bed now at 9:00. (instead of 1:00)

I wake up at 4:30.

I meditate for 20-30 minutes (It’s really not for hippies as I thought)

I read for 30 minutes of my bible. 

Then I read 30 minutes of a book.

I don’t look at my phone until after 8:00.

I don’t watch any news. (it’s not news anymore anyway)

I write my FB posts (you could just journal.) One of the best things I ever started.

I make sure I tell my wife I appreciate her every day.

I only communicate with people that are good people. (I don’t allow drama into my life)

I give thanks for all I have every day. 

I try to smile at everyone I make contact with.

I work out 20 minutes 3 times a week.

I try not to take things personally from other people and realize that the stress they have is causing them to act that way. (nobody was born an ass.) Life just twists you that way.

All these things have added up to me really looking at life from a different perspective. I no longer look at things the way society tries to drive me.

Instead, I look at things for what they are. This has helped me tremendously with my partners and how I go about helping them in the Value Driven Approach.

Life is so much easier when you don’t let it tear you up inside. It allows you to think of others. Putting them first. Rather than always serving an agenda that is all about your life.

It’s a different shift in thinking. I know. 

If you’re stressing what do you have to lose? 

Have a great week.