We all experience Environmental Stressors over which we have no direct control. Things like foul weather, traffic jams, and getting stuck in the slowest line at the post office.
While we may not be able to eliminate the stressors themselves, by changing our perspective we can release their hold on us and reframe the experience in a more positive, life-affirming light.
While life won’t always follow your plans and expectations, try shifting your perspective by seeing everything as an opportunity. An opportunity to understand yourself better and open your heart wider — to develop greater compassion for yourself and others. While the details of our lives differ, we all experience the same range of emotions from fear, frustration and loneliness to joy, contentment and peace. With yourself firmly planted in the present moment, it’s your ability to respond creatively and constructively that makes the difference.
How might you uncover the opportunities in unexpected delays? Turn what you’ve always experienced as wasted time into transformational time. Try keeping audiobooks in your car to make your slow commute entertaining, educational and inspirational. Ditto for always having a few good magazines and books with you.
How about keeping a journal and pen handy at all times to turn those spare moments into opportunities to get in touch with your Inner Self. Just journaling about your frustrations goes a long way to helping you release them. Who knows, you might even find yourself laughing at the trivial things your “Head Chatter” manages to turn into huge dramas. And laughter remains one of the all-time best reframing tools ever invented. Journaling could even be a step on the way to publishing that book you’ve always dreamed of writing but still haven’t made the time for.
As long as you’re not operating heavy machinery, you might consider investing those spare minutes in closing your eyes and breathing, a proven mood soother and blood pressure reducer. You’ve been saying you wanted to meditate more. What if this delay is not an obstacle but a loving gift from the Universe — a way of making space for you to fulfill your desire. Just you, just here, just now, just be.
Finally, one of the most powerful tools for reframing Environmental Stress is Gratitude. Instead of being overwhelmed by piles of laundry, you might be thankful for having lots of clothes to wear and clean water to wash them. Instead of grumbling over an eight-hour delay at the airport, how about celebrating finding the time to get started on that really good book you’ve been carrying around in your bag for many months. Or when you are stuck in the slowest line at the grocery store, you might look at your cart full of food and be grateful that you have access to an incredible variety of food and the money that allows you to enjoy it.
Gratitude for Universal Abundance anchors each moment in generous, effortless, joy-filled FLOW — a fluid Journey to Wholeness grounded in Who you are Being NOT What you are Doing.
