I Can Manage Me

“Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy, and rewarding life.” – Marilu Henner

 

Today when I feel stressed I will use my stress busters. I will take a walk or exercise, use my breathing to calm and quiet my nervous system, listen to music, take a warm bath or sit quietly by myself and meditate. I know what works best for me to get back into a relaxed space. Sometimes it’s just collapsing in front of my favorite show. All of these activities release serotonin or dopamine or both into my bloodstream. These are nature’s mood stabilizers, my body’s built in antidepressant. When I learn how to trigger my relaxation response naturally, I can manage my moods through pleasant activity, and I can build these mood managers into my daily life. Just when I am giving up dysfunctional mood managers, I am adding functional and fun ones, the kind that enhance my health, beauty and good feeling about myself. But the key is, I will notice when I am stressed and do something to counter it before it spins out of control, and I will make these activities part of my daily life!. Today, I will take responsibility for my own state of calm.

I know what calms me.   

 

You are reading from One Foot in Front of the Other: Daily Affirmations for Recovery by Tian Dayton, PhD (Health Communications, Inc., 9780757317880, paperback, 384 pages, $11.96).