When Life Gets “Lifey:”
How to Accept Uncertainty
On overload? Too much uncertainty can tip the scale of a sense of balance and make us feel unsteady, giving us too much to worry about than we can handle. We need security, yet there are no guarantees of it in life. The first signs of uncertainty overload are sleep issues and chronic anxiety rising up in us, sending the message that it’s all just too much to cope with. Being that changes are an inevitable part of living, transitions are unavoidable. How can we comfort ourselves and soothe the fears of the unknown future that lies in the steps beyond what is now?
The best possible preparation for the future is a well lived present.” – George H Brimhall, 1852-1932
Calm your system with upgrading nutrition
The connection between stress and nutrition can’t be minimized. It’s probably the biggest factor that influences our state of mind that we have control over.
The top five foods that trigger anxiety are sugar, fried food, caffeine, processed food, and food additives.
These nutrient-poor “goodies” create chemical reactions in the body that hijack stress regulating hormones. Think twice before reaching for another cup of coffee or sweet tea or soda when you are stressed, instead try doing the opposite and give yourself some space to acknowledge the stress or pressure you feel. Instead, reach for something really flavorful to soothe the nerves, like peppermint, ginger, or orange herbal tea. It will give your nervous system a chance to do its job instead of doping up on stress-inducing drinks and foods only making matters worse.
Ramping up the pace and ignoring how stressed you are, only builds up tense pressure in the mind and body. Numbing feelings out with stimulants, sugar, and empty-calorie snacks block the body’s ability to calm itself down naturally, which the body is designed to do.
Dehydration is another big source of anxiety. We often reach for a snack, when we really need to re-hydrate.
Go for some hot water with lemon and honey or herbal tea. Processed sugar and carbs actually feed anxiety, so go for lower-sugar fruits like berries, cherries, apples, and other non-exotic fresh fruits. When it’s time for a meal, opt for salads, soups, and stews that are heavy on veggies, high quality protein and fats will clear your mind and revitalize your energy for the most important time, which is NOW.
Get present with honesty and appreciation
Deep breaths take us into a calmer place, INSTANTLY. It won’t make the feelings go away that very moment, but breathing with whatever you are thinking and feeling in the moment (and not judging or repressing it) will release the tension of it. Accepting our thoughts and emotions as they are is a great act of courage, and courage is calming, instead of having fear run the show, by avoiding them. The breath is free, no training required, but there are tons of resources online to learn specific techniques.
The most basic is way to use the breath for focused stress-reduction is to focus on lengthening the exhale for longer than the inhale.
Try it three times and see if you can notice a difference with only three simple breaths. Pausing, only for a few moments is a great way to shift from future-dreading to present-being. Cultivating more stillness in our lives brings great benefits to calm our nervous system and count our blessings.
Using the mind to think of things that we have NOW that are good, useful, and well, SIMPLE things gives us a great focus away from future-fearing.
Deep breaths take us into a calmer place, INSTANTLY. It won’t make the feelings go away that very moment, but breathing with whatever you are thinking and feeling in the moment (and not judging or repressing it) will release the tension of it. Accepting our thoughts and emotions as they are is a great act of courage, and courage is calming, instead of having fear run the show, by avoiding them. The breath is free, no training required, but there are tons of resources online to learn specific techniques.
The most basic is way to use the breath for focused stress-reduction is to focus on lengthening the exhale for longer than the inhale.
Try it three times and see if you can notice a difference with only three simple breaths. Pausing, only for a few moments is a great way to shift from future-dreading to present-being. Cultivating more stillness in our lives brings great benefits to calm our nervous system and count our blessings.
Using the mind to think of things that we have NOW that are good, useful, and well, SIMPLE things gives us a great focus away from future-fearing.
Actively release tension
The power of motion can shift our mindset very quickly. A quick walk works wonders to reduce stress and clear our heads. Activity is our body’s chemical regulator; low-impact movement.
Simply shaking the arms, or a few jumps in place can help to release pent-up tension.
Our hormones dictate how we feel, engaging in activity breaks the worry cycle and freeing our mind to focus on what matters the most, what is right in front of us, not speculation about the future.
Trust in time (aka practice faith)
Trusting doesn’t come easy to most people nowadays and with all we see around us in current events and along our networks. It is easy to get pulled into worrying and anticipating bad news. The future is unknown and neutral, so when stress starts to creep in, soothe it with the reminder that whatever is meant to be will be, and will shift our sails to adjust to the changes as they happen. Having faith means to have confidence in our future and to trust that in time, we will make the best choices when they need to be made.
When you get “ahead of yourself,” reel yourself back into the present moment with a simple breath of reassurance and relief that taking care of the now, takes care of the future.
Share
This article illustrates the connection between beliefs, nutrition, and movement. The power of presence can calm the storm of overwhelm when life gets scary.
