Sometimes, no matter how great our lives are, there is just some negativity that gets into our heads. It can feel like being under a heavy black cloud. And if you let it linger there for too long, it just may have the power to create negative impact on your wellbeing.
Let me assure you, these unhappy thoughts and stress have not come out of nowhere — there was always an emotion and reason swirling underneath them which they fed on. These emotions could be fear or anxiety — any feeling that is unpleasant will do the trick!
HOW NEGATIVITY AND STRESS AFFECT OUR HEALTH
Negative attitudes and feelings of anxiety and stress lead to chronic stress, which upsets the body’s hormone balance and damages the immune system. And chronic stress can decrease our lifespan.
People who are stressed out have higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, migraines, autoimmune diseases, infections and even some forms of cancer. They also have a lower quality of life overall.
So, to prevent these unlikely outcomes, the best way and prevention is to manage negativity and stress firsthand.
But let go of negativity and stress? Impossible? Not with the right techniques.
Let me tell you how you can manage it:
1. LET GO OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU
People’s opinions will always be their own and you do not need to let it affect your life. People can say what they like, but all that matters is how you feel about yourself. Be comfortable in your own skin. Improve yourself for you and not for others. If someone tries to put you down, let them know by not reacting in a way which would let them make themselves feel better by making you feel bad.
If the person is not worth your time (because let’s face it we’re all happier without negative people around us), then just ignore them and walk away or do something else for a bit until they get bored and move on!
2. LET YOURSELF KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
When we let negativity seep into our lives, usually we push ourselves too hard at work, let our house get a bit messy and let things slide with friends and family.
So let yourself relax, let go of your anxieties and try not to let anything bother you for an hour or so. Go on a walk, stare at the clouds, or just take some deep breaths. You cannot let negativity win if you are doing nothing about it!
3. LET YOURSELF BE SILLY!
Why should only children get to play and laugh all day? Think back (or pay attention next time) — we laugh more often as children than we do as adults because we spend less time worrying then. The more we worry about what other people think of us (see number 1), the less likely we are to inject a little silliness into our lives.
So let yourself let go of your inhibitions and let loose! Dance, make funny voices, do a silly walk — let yourself really get into it and tap into the child inside you that never got the chance to grow up because we made them stop playing too soon.
4. BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN LIFE
Think about all the things you are unhappy with in your life right now — this job, this living situation, being single, being unhealthy, whatever it might be — what can you do to change them?
If there’s nothing you can do then let go of any feelings of resentment or jealousy towards other people who have something you don’t because they worked hard for it while you did nothing. But if your situation needs action, then do something about it today. Doing nothing about your situation will only yield more negative thoughts, which will lead to more negativity and stress—this is not a good cycle to let yourself get caught up in!
5. LET YOURSELF BE OPEN FOR POSSIBILITIES
The world is full of possibility, so let yourself see it too! Letting go of negativity and stress means asking help from other people. If you think you find it hard to lose weight no matter how you try and you get stressed over that fact, then seek help. There are professional health and fitness coaches like Rita Trotter who can help you move out from that unhealthy cycle.
Again, stress and negative thoughts are part of human emotions, they are our natural responses to the things and events around us. But always remember that too much is bad for your overall well-being.
Manage your stress today, and do not let negativity and stress take over your life the next time around.
