As I was driving this afternoon I glanced at the license plate on the car in front of me. It read "I STRESS." My first reaction was to distance myself from it, not wanting to be in close proximity to a negative vibration. As I slowed down, putting distance between myself & the car, I began wondering one, why anyone would choose to make such a declaration, thus bringing it into conscious awareness on a daily basis, and two, were they using it as a noun or a verb (okay, I tend to think a lot). If the former, then it might mean s(he) feels "under a lot of stress.". If the latter, perhaps the person "stresses" the importance of life events. Placing too much importance on everyday, average events (or "stressing"), will eventually produce a physical stress response in your body. This response can be brief & pass quickly, or, if not managed, can hang around for hours or days or longer. Learning to manage negative life events, or startles, which naturally occur to every human being daily, is crucial to maintaining peaceful physical & emotional states. Mindfulness is a skill that can be learned. While children are more amenable to mindfulness training & tend to master techniques more quickly than adults, an open mind & the desire to experience a more peaceful, joyful life are the only prerequisites. When you click on the Contact page of my website & join my mailing list, send me a brief description of a life circumstance you or your child is struggling with- I'll respond with a mindfulness technique that can be applied right away which will provide a new perspective & a better feeling! Looking forward to your email!
A Mindful Approach...A better feeling is just a thought away!
Betsie Saltzberg, MEd PsyD
Psychologist & Mindfulness Practitioner
216.706.9176
