It would be wonderful for things to always go the way we planned, but in reality this is never the case. We’ll always come up against something that will throw a spanner in the works, like getting stuck in traffic when you’re already running late, or stubbing your toe on the coffee table when you’re running to catch an important phone call. These moments are often so frustrating and sometimes painful too and it can be easy to get angry and stressed.
I’m sure, like me, you’ve had entire days where nothing has gone your way and you’d much rather just get back into bed and start again. But that’s a luxury not many of us have, so what do you do instead? Pick yourself up and keep battling on, getting more and more stressed and upset? The chances are that if you continue in a heightened state of emotion and stress, you’re likely to run into more things that’ll push your buttons, and by the end of the day you’ll be completely exhausted with a nasty tension headache to boot.
So, when faced with these situations, what should you do instead?
Take a breath. Take another, and then take one more. If you’re feeling particularly angry and frustrated, let it out, then let it go. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with expressing your emotions, so rant and rave, swear and scream if you need to. So long as you’re not personally directing it at someone else, take five minutes to get it all out in the open and then move on. Draw a line under it and don’t keep dwelling on it.
When things continually don’t go your way it can be a great opportunity for reflection and personal growth. Ask yourself why you reacted and how that situation made you feel. Have you had similar feelings before, and what happened to trigger them? You might find it helpful to write things down in your journal, or a blank piece of paper. If you’re using writing to vent, make sure you throw it away or safely burn it once you’re done. This is an incredibly effective way of helping yourself to let things go.
Once you have processed your emotions, ask yourself what would make the situation better, or what would you like the outcome to be if you encounter something similar again. It’s important to remember that you’ll never be the only one going through this situation, and many people have likely gone through the exact same thing and have come out the other side. Resilience isn’t built in our comfort zones, and the more we encounter and overcome difficult situations and experiences, the more emotionally strong, stable and resilient we become.
I find it helpful when I’m thinking ‘why me?’ to also ask myself ‘why not me?’. We are often so guilty of taking things personally and feeling as if everything is against us. But this simply isn’t the case. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed in stressful situations more often than not it may be a sign that you might need some additional support, either from a professional or friends and family.
Navigating the complexities of stress and anxiety in today’s fast-paced world can feel impossible at times. Although stress and anxiety are natural responses, when they become overwhelming, they can impact your well-being. My mission is to empower you with strategies and support to manage and conquer stress and anxiety.
If any of this resonates with you, please reach out for a free 15 minute consultation.