How Do You Handle Excessive Stress?

Interrupting GoGo's catnap to tell her about the health benefits of smiling... Image by elycefeliz via Flickr

From Denny:

Today I'm running this quote over at the quotes blog, Beautiful Illustrated Quotations, and thought it was also a good fit over here:

Every now and then you get to quote yourself which I find quite amusing! How does that happen? Well, the spiritual development people know exactly what I'm talking about as it often goes like this: You are replying to an email as I was in this instance, or, say, you were having a conversation with someone, and, suddenly, out pops this fantastic one liner. You know it's profound or memorable or just plain good advice.

There is a lot of chaos, job loss, sudden onset of health issues and violence going on right now in our economy. People are struggling with their particular life tests, looking for ways to battle or handle excessive stress.

I grew up in a harsh environment of constant stress and created a lot of coping skills to help me manage the stress instead of the stress controlling me. Here is the most recent advice my spirit jumped up and offered to a recent email friend whose husband is now out of work and lost their house of many years.

There is a lot of hurt going on throughout this country. Like anyone I have my own garbage to deal with from time to time, yet I follow my own advice as in this quote. It has never failed me.

Inevitably, the bad times begin to fade and finally end and then a new cycle of properity begins. Keep your mind and eyes on the positive - even when you know it's down the road. Eventually, you will arrive at that better point in your life.

Quote

“Keep smiling. Humor keeps your attitude pushed up and your heart wide open to sight the new opportunities coming your way.” Denny Lyon, 16 July 2009


Health, Stress, Mental health, Coping skill, Emotional Health and Wellbeing, Kids and Teens, Lyon, Support group, Denny Lyon, humor, smiling

Video: Overview of Reiki (or Yoga) Chakras

From Denny: This is a simple introduction overview of the chakras (energy centers of the body), where they are located and how they operate, even what color is associated with this spiritual energy. Warning: the melodic soothing music is so relaxing you won't feel any stress as you learn something new! :) Enjoy!

Foods That Fight Stress

Image by xeeliz via Flickr

Foods That Fight Stress: "“You are what you eat”, a saying usually applied to the physical effects of the foods we eat, is also applicable to how food affects our emotional well being. Recent studies have shed light on the connection between what we eat and how we feel, particularly how we deal with stress. While stress management often involves psychological counseling, and pharmaceutical therapy, lifestyle changes involving nutrition and exercise can be very beneficial in developing a long-term strategy to handle stress."

By Ron Montgomery @ HubPages

From Denny: Always an excellent reminder to go for the long haul carbos instead of the cookies. Talks about stress and intake of lots of B vitamins, includes a chart too. Worth the read!

Relaxation - It's an Art

From one of my personal friends over at flickr! - Image by Denis Collette...!!! via Flickr

Relaxation - It's an Art: "We hold many layers of stress in our bodies. Be observant next time you go for coffee. Watch people walk around. Can you find the relaxed ones? The rigid walker will do the same while vertical as horizontal. Lay him on a sun lounge and he will have no idea how to relax. Cardboard man is a good name for he who is stiff, stressed and in need of a good 200 hour massage! Massages are good, they will help the process of relaxation markedly."

By Jewels @ HubPages

From Denny: This is a very interesting discussion about what we perceive is real relaxation and how to achieve it. Take a look at what this wonderful writer has to say!

Video: Science of Stress

From Denny: Chronic stress can lower bone density and cause any number of health problems like diabetes, heart disease or neurological disease. Stress can by physical or mental. What is important is to know your ability to process both good and bad stress. The reporter went through some stress tests, both physical and mental, to test herself.

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Poverty Goes Straight to the Brain

From Denny: The blog Wired Science is carrying this interesting story right now. Science and the public have known for some time that children in poverty go to ill-equipped schools and score lower than middle class and wealthy children. What is new is from a long-term study that has found hormones produced from long-term stress literally wears down the brain. Chronic psychological stress is a key indicator of future low achievement into adulthood.

"A plausible contributor to the income-achievement gap is working-memory impairment in lower-income adults caused by stress-related damage to the brain during childhood," they wrote.

Why is working memory so important? Because it encapsulates the abilities for reading, language and problem-solving, all are critical for later success in life.

For the full article worth reading, go here.

Relaxation - Reiki - Mind Body and Soul 2

Here's another stress down video - wow! Work week? What work week?

Tips for Saving on Groceries and Food Leftovers Ideas

Photo by muha... @ flickr in the Maldives islands


Tips for Saving on Groceries and Food Leftovers Ideas - Wouldn't you rather be on holiday on some remote gorgeous island like this during a downturn economy? We all would.

Second choice? How to make the most of what we do have. There is a fabulous video in this article of a woman from Washington state. She saves 80% of her food budget. Now that will take some stress out of your life for sure!

The Pet Chronicles: Curty & His Couch

The Pet Chronicles: Curty and His Couch - This little story is simple in form and the telling but long on the message: Pets know when we are stressed and take measures to balance us. That, and you know you are really in trouble when your pet cat lays dibs on owning the couch. So, what's his password? Read on.

Photo of Curty's glamorous Hollywood closeup
by Denny Lyon

Pet Storytelling Relieves Stress

Pet Storytelling Relieves Stress - Storytelling is a great stress reliever. People love to tell pet stories. We all have one. What’s yours?

Poem by Denny Lyon
Photo by Denny Lyon - Curty Cartier as a kitten. He is now a burly yellow tiger, bruiser weight.

Healing (part one): Universal Spiritual Principles That Work

Healing: Universal Spiritual Principles That Work - Did you ever wonder how to use universally known spiritual principles in a practical way that can enhance your everyday life?


Photo by lepiaf.geo @ flickr