Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Oct/Nov 2016 Aspire Mag Full Issue | Page 57

Even body pain can be a stress symptom so pay attention to what you’re feeling. Think about what’s going on in your life and whether it’s stressful to you. If it’s making you uneasy in some way, now’s the time to face it head-on. What’s stressful to you may not affect your friend or business partner, but so what? You need to know what your stress signals are and pay attention when they rear up. Laugh It Up: Okay, so maybe you think that’s too easy, but believe me laughter can be healing and good for your nervous system as well as your health. Recently there have been seminars devoted to, you guessed it-laughter. Participants sit around and chuckle a lot. When it’s over they feel better than they did before. You don’t have to pay to have fun or to laugh. Just make sure that you include a healthy dose of laughter in your day. And it doesn’t matter how it’s packaged. Jokes, sharing funny stories with your friends, finding the lighter side in the serious and keeping perspective can all work. Seeing the lighter side of a problem or challenge can help ease the ‘pain’ and help you find a solution. When I recently had several leaks in my house, toilets and sinks and a ceiling literally opening up with water dripping down, at first I was agitated to say the least. After calling a plumber, I decided to view what was happening in a unique upbeat way and saw the ceiling calamity as a breakthrough! Mind Over Matter: What you think about all day long affects how you feel. You can create more stress for you if your thoughts are full of doubts and fear. Do you even know where your mind goes when you’re not really paying attention? Surprise yourself one day and watch where your mind wanders. You’ll be shocked and maybe disappointed to learn how much time your mind spends on the mundane or in worry mode. The good news is that it doesn’t have to get stuck there. You can reel in your thoughts. First, be aware of where and when they roam. And then make a decision to tackle them. When you find your mind wandering to the unpleasant, steer it to something else that is pleasant to you. Don’t let your mind dictate. Remember you are the one in charge, not your mind or your emotions even if it doesn’t seem so. Talk It Out: Sometimes all you need is to share your feelings with someone who cares and who listens without judging you. And like magic, you feel better. By talking things over, you can get a perspective on what’s bothering you. Just expressing your thoughts and 57 HEALTH & WELLNESS You need to know what your stress signals are and pay attention when they rear up.