The Problem: A word about Stress

One of the main source of someones happiness tends to be stress.  The effects of stress-whicsh include anxiety, panic, doubt, lack of self-confidence, depression, and a host of other emotions.   Stress is the root cause of every state of ill health and affects every part of our being; psychological and emotional as well as physical. 

Not all stress is bad

The stress we deals with comes from distress that arises from an accumulation of pressure from much smaller issues

Stress comes from the latin word meaning “to be drawn tight”

By paying attention to your physical and psycho/emotional responses to various situation you can determine where you are being “drawn” into a tight or constricted psycho/emotional state and the effect it is having on your body. 

The effects of stress includes

Physical

• Digestive disorder

• Ulcers

• Heart burn

• Indigestion

• Headaches

• High blood pressure

• Palpitations

• Breathing problems

• Overeating

• Exhaustion and insomnia

• Back or muscle ache

• Skin rashes (hives or eczema)

• Excessive sweating and nervous disorders such as twitching, grinding teech, or picking at skin

• Immune system (can be direct or indirect cause by stress)

 Emotional

• Easily overreact

• Loss of clear perspective on priorities

• Disorganization

• Loss of control

• Irritability

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Frustration
  
  DebShapiro of “Your Body Speaks Your Mind” says that the real cause of stress is not the external circumstance, such as having too many demands and not enough time to fill them. The real cause is your perception of the circumstance-whether that is a fearful, overwhelming, or challenging perception. It is also your perception of your ability to copy as when you feel stretched beyond what you think you are capable of. And your perspective invariably arise from your inner belief system about yourself. What you have to come to believe you are cable of due to what you have been told or taught.

The Solution: The "courage to be happy" starts with doing the following:

Step 1:  Answer the following questions below.

1. What does being happy mean to you
   (Hint: Take a moment to think about what happiness means to you. Note down whatever comes in to your head.)

2. What things make you happy?
   (Hint: Now think about specific things that often make you happy. These could be activities, people, places or anything else that comes to mind.)

Step 2:  Complete the Online Activity below.

Assess your happiness
VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire
www.authentichappiness.org

Step 3:  Check out the "So Hum" meditation video and answer the following questions below. 

Answer the following questions below.

• Who Am I?

• What do I Want?

• What is my Purpose in Life?

• What am I grateful for?