I was standing in the grocery line recently when the gentleman ahead of me was getting antsy, tired of waiting, his heavy sighs were getting annoying.
Now, I'm no fan of waiting in long lines, but that particular day, I didn't have a choice. The store was busy and everyone seemed to be doing their best.
The gentleman, and I use to term loosely, was starting to make comments about not having enough help, not having enough check out lanes open and how he hated this particular store. He was becoming obnoxious and the tension was mounting with every coupon that the lady in front of him was handing to the cashier.
As I stood there, I couldn't help but think about the elderly lady, handing over her multiple coupons, digging the pennies out of her wallet. It might have been those coupons that allowed her to buy more food on her fixed income. Without those coupons, she may have had one less meal that week.
I could tell all of this was oblivious to the gentleman standing behind her. To him, she was nothing more than an obstacle in his day, one more thing that irritated him.
For a few brief minutes, I reflected on her life and the struggles she had endured to get where she was today. I smiled as I watched her put the last bag of groceries in her cart, slowly struggling to push it towards the door.
The gentleman quickly paid for his purchase and scurried past her and out the door before she had reached it. I couldn't help but wonder how many more times that day he was going to be annoyed by something or someone because they slowed him down.
How do we lower our stress when we are constantly bombarded with situations that try our patience, with people who irritate us and with frustrating events that we have no control over?
As with most daily annoyances, the ability to deal with stress is mostly in part to our perception of what is happening around us. We feel helpless in situations that we can't control. It tends to bring out the fight or flight syndrome that we have been born with.
If you have routinely perceived situations from a pessimistic standpoint, you have come from a place of resistance which causes suffering.
Instead of accepting situations as they unfold, resisting them causes undo stress.
If you are struggling with day to day stresses and need a help reprogramming your brain, the following tapping script may help you become more calm.
Tapping is a great tool to release stress, frustration and irritations. This technique taught me how to lower my stress and deal with life's little challenges with renewed strength and self control.
Remember, lowering your stress also helps you look younger!
If you are new to this blog and unfamiliar with the tapping process,
please see the "introduction to tapping" link at the top of this page.
It will provide you with everything you need to know!
Remember to change the words to fit your personal situation so it resonates
with you!
Start with the Karate chop point.
Karate chop point:
"Even though I don’t know how to lower my stress, I love and accept
myself anyway”
"Even though this seems easier said than done, I am open to learning how”
"Even though I know stress isn't good for me, I love who I am anyway”
Round One:
EB: All this stress
SE: Day in and day out
UE: I don't believe there is any way to escape it
UN: It has become my norm
CH: I wouldn't know how to act if things went smoothly
CB: What in the world would that feel like
UA: I can't imagine
HD: Maybe part of me likes the stress
WR: It gives me something to complain about
** Now take a deep breath or two and proceed to the second round of tapping**
Round Two:
EB: What would I talk about if I didn't have something to complain about
SE: It makes me feel good to complain
UE: It makes me feel like I know what is right
UN: And everyone should agree with me
CH: Because I know it all
CB: Or do I?
UA: Maybe I just sound pathetic to others
HD: And they are too nice to tell me
WR: Maybe I'm the cause of stress in their lives
** Now take a deep breath or two and proceed to the third round of tapping**
Round Three:
EB: I don't want to be that person
SE: I don't want to be the one causing the stress
UE: Maybe it's time to turn this around
UN: And get an attitude adjustment
CH: I'm not sure how to do that
CB: But I'm willing to try
UA: Who knows
HD: I might be a little happier
WR: And start looking younger too!
**Now take a deep breath or two and proceed to the fourth round of tapping**
Round Four:
EB: It’s time to let it go
SE: Let it go
UE: Let it go
UN: It’s safe to let it go
CH: I’m safe
CB: All the stress, all the resistance, all the frustration, irritation and unbearable situations
UA: It’s safe to let them all go
HD: I’m ready to let them go
WR: I just might live to be 100!
**Take a deep breath and say “PEACE”**
Showering you with blessings of a new attitude and stress free life!
Cindy (Selvaggio) Shumaker