How Tough People Handle Stress

Stress confronts us around every corner. Sometimes it’s all we can do to just to get through each day. How we deal with stress says a lot about us, and there are many proactive, healthy ways to do this.

The Serenity Prayer states, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” That is a wise prayer! Stress is unavoidable, so don’t pretend it doesn’t exist. Acknowledging that it is there and having tools to fight stress is half the battle. Using multiple tools such as meditations, problem solving strategies, and time management can be much more helpful than only having one ‘go-to’ strategy.

Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it’s all small stuff ~ Robert Eliot

Taking the upper hand with stress is an excellent strategy. Know what your triggers are, and develop ways to minimize or prevent stressful situations.

Are you one of those people who never seems to have enough time in the day? A calendar or planner is your best friend. Schedule mini-breaks in between stress triggers, such as meetings, and be sure to include time for meditation or a short walk outside. Just 15 minutes can make the difference between overwhelming stress and a balanced day.

Don’t forget to lean on others for support. Healthy people know that they can’t fix or solve every problem on their own, which is why it’s so beneficial to have a circle of friends. Besides, they’ll also need you at some point!

You may be tempted to try and avoid all stressors. Don’t. Avoidance may be a temporary fix, but it won’t solve the issue of underlying stress. Have you heard the saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? It’s the same for stress. It also helps to remember that no source of stress lasts forever. Think about the last time you were rendered sleepless over something… can you remember what it was now? All sources of stress are cyclic. Just like storms, the thunder and rain will give way to sunshine.

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another ~ William James

Of course, there are ongoing problems in everyone’s life, such as careers or relationships, that may not disappear with time and patience. It helps to step back and take a look at the larger picture of your life. Do you have a roof over your head, food in your pantry, friends and family who love you? In all likelihood you do and the sources of stress in your life may seem minimal by comparison. An ‘attitude of gratitude’ will help to wash away any residual stress.

And, of course, we all need to find sources of joy to counterbalance the stress. Laughter is not just enjoyable – it’s literally nature’s way of releasing stress and anxiety. The more time we make to laugh and smile, to really enjoy life, the less time we’ll have to fret over things we can’t control.

This is not to say that stress won’t still be there. It will always be part of life. If you become tough mentally, you’ll be able to emphasize the positive in all aspects of your life and keep the negativity at bay. Tough times may not last, but tough people always do.