Everyone, from children to adults, experience stress nowadays. So many factors in life create negative feelings.
To reduce stress, people tell you not to sweat the small stuff or not to make a mountain out of a molehill. Although it’s pretty much cliche, there is wisdom to it.
By not focusing on small inconveniences, you can concentrate your attention and energy on some other things that are worth your while, like paying off your car and home loans or pursuing a promotion. It will give you peace of mind and even make you live longer.
However, that is easier said than done. How exactly can you stop yourself from fretting over every single misstep and bad experience?
Identify Triggers
By now, you probably already have an idea of what types of circumstances push your buttons and cause you to overreact. Awareness is key to help you manage your emotions.
If you do not know your triggers, it would help if you reflect on the past week. Remember the situation wherein you lost your calm. Did a coworker say something that you did not like? Was your idea unfairly rejected?
You should also try to think about your own state that day. Were you tired? Stressed over something else? Hungry? These factors affect your emotions and, therefore, should be considered.
Write It Down and Toss It Out
One way you can express yourself without blowing off is by writing down your thoughts and feelings. Journaling has long been known to help people parse through the situation and clear their heads of any problems they encounter. It might help you, too.
Keep a pad of paper or a notebook by your side at all times. Whenever you encounter a stressor, sit down and start writing.
Once you have written your negative thoughts, rip the paper, and throw it out. It might sound silly, but it is effective. Research found that physically throwing away written bad feelings into the trash can alleviate one’s mood.
You can do the same thing on your personal computer. Type your negative thoughts and feelings in a word document and then drag it to the recycle bin. Make sure to empty the recycle bin so that you would not be able to retrieve it.
It would feel very cathartic to literally throw away thoughts and feelings that have been bothering you.
Get a Little Perspective
Is the situation really as bad as you make it out to be?
You have faced much tougher challenges throughout your life. If you remember the hoops that you have to jump through back then and compare it to your experience now, does the current irritant really matter?
There are things in life that, although unpleasant, are not inherently bad. Spilling your coffee on your favorite shirt in the middle of the day is not the end of the world. You have gone through so much worse in your life and you have come out stronger. So, why are you letting a small issue bother you now?
You are tough and resilient. You can go through anything that life throws at you.
Not everyone has the capability to handle negative thoughts and feelings with ease. You need to learn and practice how to be mentally and emotionally strong so that you can face any obstacle with a clear head and use it as an opportunity for growth.
