Greetings everyone especially the Wellness WOWers and those who seek wellness, harmony and balance in every area of your life! Dr. Michelle Clay here, your Holistic Physian specializing in stress relief for exhausted executives and stressed out professionals helping you to find your happy and healthy place simply and naturally.
We are in a state of transition. Current events are causing some to feel anxious, despair and disappointment. These feelings of disappointment and uncertainty can lead to increased stress.
According to Oxford's Dictionary, the definition of disappointment is:
-a feeling of sadness and displeasure as a result of one's non-fulfillment of hopes or expectations.
Disappointment can lead to despair, so I will give you 5 tips to help you make a u-turn off of the dead end street of despair and create a fresh start.
Here are 5 ways to move through disappointment:
1. Focus on the positive
Many times when we experience disappointment, we wallow in the negative instead of focusing on the positive things in life. A key to this is gratitude. Having an attitude of gratitude helps you shift your mindset to focus more on the positive things in your life (friends, family, health etc.), than the negatives. When you take inventory, the pros usually outnumber the cons. In this way, gratitude helps release stress because it helps to shift your focus.
2. Learn from the Beetle/Scarab - Adaptability
There are different types of beetles. Depending on the environment the beetle lives in and what is available to it, determines what it eats. Some scarabs, are herbivores or omnivores (eats both plant and animal material), while some even feed on dung. If necessary, the scarab may make its home in dung. Talk about making the most of a bad situation! People, conditions and situations may change, but when you adapt, they won't break you.
3. Metamorphosis to transform
We often resist change, especially if we are comfortable and content where we are. Change and conflict are the order of the day. Learn from the scarab. It goes through a complete metamorphosis, a series of abrupt changes in its body structure to reach maturity and its full intended purpose. Change is not always easy and sometimes painful. If there is an abrupt disruption in life, it can cause our minds to spin resulting in feelings of instability and/or anxiety. But a metamorphosis is neccessary to reach maturity, to live your dream life, to fulfill your purpose.
4. Pay attention to the messages around you
I once heard Oprah say, "There are no mistakes. Failure is just that thing trying to move you in a different direction." What signs have you been ignoring? Are you trying to take the back roads and it is now time to take the 8 lane expressway? Where has that small still voice been trying to direct you and you resist and deny the message? What is your dream? What is your vision? Get a new pair of eyeglasses so you can see it clearly and walk to it!
5. Be Creative
When things are not going the way you planned or envisioned, you may need to renovate and/or redecorate. Just like we redecorate our homes, sometimes we need to redecorate facets of our lives. Being creative can include redocorating a room, putting together a new outfit or creative art such as crochet, painting, ceramics etc. Studies have shown that creating art can reduce the stress hormone cortisol and bring a feeling of relaxation and decreased anxiety. ("Art Theapy" Ray, Muniz et al.)
For additional ways to shift from disappointment to calm ease and tranquility, download your complimentary audiobook, "10 Minutes to Tranquility".
This audiobook provides additional ways to release stress and tension simply and naturally. Until next time, be well!
Yours in Health,
Dr. Michelle Clay is a speaker, author & Holistic Physician specializing in stress release and management, helping you reclaim your health and happiness simply and naturally. As the founder and visionary of FREELIFE7 a life enhancing company, she is frequently called upon to give a refreshing holistic perspective on ways to release stress, recharge health and the mind-body connection, finding that happy place to live a free life on purpose with passion.