Sample idea for #5: Examine Your Beliefs

Respond consciously

A common belief:

“It's natural to react negatively to stressful situations.”

Another perspective:

When you find yourself in a stressful situation created by people and circumstances that are out of your control, it's very easy to take things personally. Even though it may seem personal, often it is not. One key to reducing your stress level in such situations is to remain neutral and respond consciously rather than react out of a personal sense of threat.

Here is a 4-step process that will increase your ability to respond consciously in stressful situations:

1. Stop. Realize that life is offering you another opportunity to learn about yourself and grow.
   
   
2. Breathe. Take a full abdominal breath or two.
   
   
3. Reflect. While remaining neutral, survey the situation. Consider your circumstances as though you were a character in a movie.
   
   
4. Choose. Decide how your character can respond in a win/win way. Setting and keeping healthy boundaries is important, and so is the attitude that your character can remain open to compromise.
   

Begin by practicing this process with low-stress situations. When you've proven to yourself that this process can work for you, take on bigger stressors.