Many have good reasons to be stressed, worried, concerned, and anxious. However, how many of our worries and/or concerns never manifest? A study by Cornell University found that 85% to 90% of the things we worry about or concern ourselves over never happen. And the 15% or so that does happen, people find manageable ways to oversee them.
So why do so many feel stressed, worried, and concerned over things that are outside of our control? There are many answers, but one that comes to mind is emotional conditioning.
Emotional conditioning is the process by which we learn emotional reactions through association. Two splendid examples are: When we hear a song that provokes an unconscious or conscious reaction because we associate the song with a hurtful breakup from the past. And two, if we are invested in the stock market and see it drop, we become concerned for our future, even though we know what goes down must come up.
So, how can we manage emotional conditioning? The simplest way is to listen to your body’s reactions. Do you mean our bodies can speak to us? Yes, our bodies constantly communicate with us in many ways. For example,
1. We may experience physical pain, such as a headache, when we feel overwhelmed or tightness in our shoulders caused by tense muscles, or when we receive unwelcome news.
2. Our stomach begins to growl (hunger pains) when we forget to eat, or we have a dry mouth when we need to drink.
3. Emotional sensations such as a rapid heartbeat when we feel we are falling in love, sadness when we lose a loved one or a pet, anger when a driver cuts us off in traffic, or joy when a long-lost friend calls unexpectedly.
4. Behavioral changes in sleep, clenching teeth, or drinking excessively to dull a painful experience.
5. Mindfully overthinking, zoning out, unable to focus, and/or brain fog.
Ignoring these signals can lead to illness and eventually burnout.
So, what can we do when our bodies speak to us? We can:
1. Slow down and check in.
2. Notice your thoughts – thinking patterns.
3. Conduct a body scan identifying the location of tension – tight shoulders, stomach upset, heart racing.
4. Journaling the body’s feelings tends to release stress, worries, and concerns.
5. Increase self-compassion – making sure our cup is filled to overflowing.
6. Learn to appreciate yourself and acknowledge YOU.
Now that you know, what is the plan to avoid stress/anxiety-related illnesses and/or burnout? Only you can answer this question! Josette Veltri, a Boca Pointe resident, is a certified educator and coach on loss and transition. Her purpose, to assist clients heal and move forward so they can go from I Can’t to I Can, One Step at a Time. She can be reached at [email protected]. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josettejveltri/).
