Life seems to throw us chaos and stress on a regular basis—whether it’s our relationships, our work life, our finances, or our health, there always seems to be "something" that we're dealing with.
In response to the stresses we experience we just keep pushing through, doing our thing, and running on adrenaline to get us through each day. But all this does is deplete us, burn us out, and drain us of the energy we need to function in a healthy and balanced way. It's important during stressful times that we take good care of our emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health. When we are stressed, our immune system is lowered thus potentially allowing illness and dis-ease to enter our bodies more easily. Taking the time to take care of yourself will only provide you with the vital energy you need to be more healthy and productive. I've shared with you some simple ways you can tap into your calmer state of mind so you can be more resilient to the often chaotic world around you. Acknowledge your feelingsWhen we ignore our feelings, the energy of the emotions that were created remain active in the cells of our body and stay stored in our muscles, hence feeling tense. Acknowledging and honouring our emotions put simply, is how we release them. When we release them in a healthy way, we decrease stress, tension, and anxiety. Another way our body releases stress is through tears. Our tears act as a safety valve by releasing excess stress hormones such as cortisol. Chronic elevated levels of these hormones can cause physical ailments and negatively effect our mood and emotions. As stress often precedes a good cry, the sense of calm you experience afterward is the result of the hormonal release. Journalling is a helpful method you can use to reflect on your feelings and release them through the act of writing. This allows you a "safe place" to openly share how you're feeling, knowing you won't be judged or criticized for what you share. You are validating your feelings and emotions and that's important for your own wellbeing. So let it out by writing it out and feel the release taking place in your energetic body.. I'm able to control and minimize the stress from major life challenges and changes. 
Do things that feed your soulDuring stressful times it’s important to do things that feed your soul and nourish your mind and body. Consider it the perfect time to reconnect with self and reflect on any areas in your life where you may have neglected or ignored what your inner being has been trying to tell you. There are many things you can do, such as listening to Meditations or going for walks and connecting with Mother Nature, You can engage in Yoga practices such as, Restorative Yoga, which is soothing and healing for your mind, body, and soul. You can also enjoy a good book while taking a candle-lit cleansing bath with Epson Salts and essential oils like Lavender or Ylang Ylang; I call these Spiritual Baths. Other things you can do to feed your soul are creative activities such as painting, drawing, knitting, colouring, cooking/baking, or putting together a puzzle. Anything you enjoy doing, do it. It's also good to try something new and different. Give yourself some relief from any current chaos in your life so you can keep your energy calm, strong, and grounded. I have let go of mentally replaying negative situations in my mind. Pay attention to your thoughtsIt’s hard not to fall victim to our thoughts and allow them to take control our entire being. What our thoughts can do, however, is affect our emotional state. When you have a "negative" thought come up that you feed energy to, it then grows. As it grows it turns into an emotion, and our emotions are known to control our actions and behaviours which can cause us to respond from an "irrational" place of high emotion. To stop a “negative” thought in its tracks, ask yourself, "does this thought serve me purpose, and is it feeding the energy of love, or fear?" These questions create an interruption in our thought pattern and can help us choose new thoughts that are more empowering and healthier for our wellbeing and state of mind. We also want to be mindful of what, and who, we allow into our energy field. When we are bombarded with fear-based news and articles flooding our social feeds, it’s easy to get pulled into the "darkness." But nothing good comes from feeding and fuelling our fears; in-fact, fear alone is known to weaken our immune system. Take time away from your phone and any distractions that may be causing your stress levels to increase and give yourself permission to nurture your needs without any quilt or shame. I have replaced feelings of overwhelm with faith that everything will work out. All will be well. 
Listen to musicMusic can affect the body, mind, and soul in many different ways, which is the basis for a growing field known as music therapy. You can use music in your daily life and achieve many health benefits such as stress relief, an enhanced feeling of joy, a burst of creative energy, as well as exercise if you find yourself dancing along to your favorite songs! One of the great benefits of listening to music as a stress reliever is that it can be used while you conduct your regular activities so it doesn’t take time away from your schedule. Did you know... "Faster music can make you feel more alert and concentrate better. Upbeat music can make you feel more optimistic and positive about life. A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Music is effective for relaxation and stress management." Cool right?! Put together a custom playlist of your favorite songs and release stress and tension using the power of music. I am freeing myself of any obsessive and compulsive thoughts. My body and mind is becoming calmer and more grounded. Have AcceptanceWhen we don’t accept our current reality as it is and the stresses we are experiencing, we resist it. When we resist it, we remove ourselves from the situation thus preventing us from managing our emotions and working towards creative solutions. Non-acceptance simply keeps us stuck and paralyzed. Acceptance is the act of acknowledging and embracing what is as opposed to trying to control what isn’t, or what might be. Use the statement, “I accept what is happening in my life right now, even if it's uncomfortable and I don’t like it." I will use the tools I have to help me become less stressed and less anxious." Acceptance will move you into a place of action and guide you towards finding healthy solutions as well as managing your emotions. In truth, acceptance provides a sense of inner peace and freedom when you let go of what isn’t and you embrace what is, as stressful as it may be at the moment, there is freedom in acceptance. I am letting go of all feelings of despair and hopelessness. I have trust and faith in the future that lies ahead of me. 
Take a conscious breathWhen you find yourself consumed with unpleasant thoughts, pull yourself away from your thoughts by connecting to your beautiful breath. Ground yourself in the present moment where everything is truly okay. Place your hand over your heart, as this has a calming effect on your mind and body, and take deep conscious breaths in and out creating a wave of relaxation throughout. Visualize your body filling with peaceful white healing light and allow yourself to let go and just be. Your breath is life, connect to your essence of life and being. When engaging in a deep breathing practice, simple observe your thoughts and refrain from attaching yourself to your thoughts. Become one with your body and focus on the sensations you're experiencing. Notice where you may be holding any stress or tension then breath deeply into those places and release what needs to be released. When your session is complete, do a few full body shakes to release the stressful/anxious energy and move it out from your body and back out into the Universe where it will be dissolved. I am releasing the habit of always assuming the worst and I replace this energy with trust, hope, faith, and belief.
Cultivating calm isn’t about avoiding the stresses in our lives, in fact, it's quite the opposite. It's learning that it's okay to feel how we're feeling, because our feelings are valid. And when we use helpful tools to manage our stress, we work towards creating harmony and balance within our body and our mind.
When we engage in productive things that provide us with the calm our body is needing, we are fuelled with the energy that helps move us though our day in a healthy and happier way. 
Vanessa Marie Dewsbury is an internationally known Reiki Master, Self Love & Spiritual Teacher, and Bestselling Author. She is also an advocate for Mind & Body Wellness. You can find her on Instagram at @soulalivebarrie
Vanessa has been a guest on well-known radio shows and podcasts and has appeared in news articles acknowledging her work in the spiritual and personal development community. Her acquired wisdom through her own life experiences and health issues combined with her training and certifications in various modalities allows her to offer powerful guidance as well as the vital tools required to enhance and promote inner-healing, personal growth, and self love. |
Vanessa Marie Dewsbury
Wellness Blog 
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