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We have known for nearly two generations that stress is a physiological response to change, that we perceive on multifaceted levels - by that I mean emotional, physical, psychological - as a threat to our survival. In receiving this threat within our internal systems, we are called upon to respond in only two ways: to “fight or flight.”
Our body quickly mobilizes to give us added strength and speed, which expresses as rapid heart rate and shallow, rapid breathing. This changes the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance in our systems, which causes our veins and arteries to constrict, making it more difficult for the circulation of blood, oxygen, and elimination. Accompanied with these basic responses can be sensations of both physical and psychological pain which serve as further warnings and directives to separate one from what is perceived to be the source of the stress, or threat.
Physiological symptoms associated with the stress response include headache, stomachache, constipation, diarrhea, chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, sweating, chills, palpitations, blurred vision, and impaired hearing. Psychological symptoms include depression, confusion, anxiety, denial, avoidance, inability to make decisions, panic, paranoia, projection, violent/aggressive behavior, fear, hyperactive behavior, inability to perform tasks, procrastination, impaired judgment, narcissistic behavior, sleep disturbance, nightmares, and convoluted thinking.
Like Pandora opening the box and meeting all the ills of the world, the stress response, only initiated by our basic need and right to insure our survival, carries us into terrible “stuck points”. That is why so many books, courses and approaches have been offered to free the Self from this response, which is what this chapter is about: clearing a space within yourself and disconnecting these systems, or turning off the “red alert”. On an electromagnetic level the stress response ties up our energies, forcing us to communicate along rigid signal lines that are fear-based. We must evolve those “fight or flight” patterns in order to create a significant shift into a safe space.
Exercise I
Write the word “STRESS” at the top of a clean sheet of paper. Write whatever words or phrases come into your mind, one word or phrase to a line, in response to this word, until you have run out of ideas. Now look over what you have written. This is a picture you have painted of the part stress continues to play in your life, as well as your response to these stresses, and how you have identified the source of the threat to your survival. What do you think about this map? Write down your responses.
Exercise II
Your response is your beginning dialogue with your inner self about your stress response. This is designed by your inner self, the center of your being, which is free from stress, to direct you through this gridwork “up and out”. Just stay with your feelings for a few moments. Now imagine that somehow your feelings carry you to a safe place of beingness. What happens inside you through this experience? Record your insights.
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This wonderful guided meditation hypnosis audio is for about-to-be-parents: You can open a channel to extend your ability to lovingly communicate with your unborn child, and express and energetically transmit your tremendous love and faith in your new family. You can forge a spiritual bond with your developing baby to fully ready yourselves to welcome your unborn child into the world, and prepare all together for this blessed miracle.
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Relax! Freedom from Stress (downloadable mp3 version)
Stress is a killer. Break away from the power of stress to destroy, and rebuild yourself and your life from a new place of ease rather than dis-ease, empowerment rather than eroded self-esteem. You can stay centered, balanced and able to be in your own greater flow. In this transformational guided meditation hypnosis audio you will detach from the stressors in your life and develop your ability to rise above whatever tangles and hooks you to regain clarity, humor and insight from a new center.
To download this as an MP3 file, click on the "Buy Now" link below. You will be directed to pay via Paypal. All you need is a valid credit card. Once the transaction goes through, you will receive an email from Payloadz with the link to download the file you purchased. Please note that you only have a few days before the link "goes bad"--so make sure you check your email frequently after your purchase!
Free Yourself from Being A Grown-up "Good Little Girl"
Assertiveness is a well-worn word in our culture, but still a goal that many people struggle with. I do a lot of assertiveness training in my practice, which continues to involve a lot of women clients.
It is also well-known, and for a very long time, that women were not, until fairly recently, given training or permission to be assertive. Instead, women have, for many millenia actually, been hugely conditioned to be "good little girls" . . . for life.
Be Good to Yourself
So here is my crash course on assertiveness, especially dedicated to all you grown-up good little girls out there who now need to be good to yourself, and free yourself and your powerful voice to Speak Up.
10 Ways to ASSERT YOURSELF
1. Give direct eye contact
2. Use the word "I" or "me" when you speak - "I think", I feel", "for me it's this way", etc.
3. Let go of expectation
4. Let go of looking to fix anyone else on any level
5. Let go of looking for anyone else to fix you on any level
6. Take at least 5 full, deep breaths before you open your mouth
7. Don't speak out of obligation
8. Don't justify how you feel
9. Speak from a central awareness of being true to yourself
10. Tell yourself before you speak you'll survive the exchange and life will go on
Our Inalienable Right to Speak
We are entitled to our thoughts and feelings. It is our inalienable right to freely express ourselves and to be heard, and listened to attentively.
Whether someone else has an opinion about what we say does not change our right to speak, nor does anyone else have the right to presume how we think and feel. Assertiveness is an integrated way to accept and love yourself unconditionally, empower yourself, and put yourself on an equal footing with all other human beings.
So . . . . whaddya got to lose? Speak up . . . . and keep breathin'!