Be Stress-Free: 5 Principles

Stress is the root cause of many illnesses. In fact, how we deal with stress can make the difference between health and illness, life and death. It may alter the way we look at the world around us. It affects our feelings about ourselves. Coping with stress can increase our productivity. It can make us healthier. And it can result in fuller, happier, more relaxed lives.

Here are the five simple principles that can help you to a stress-free existence in the New Year:

1. Be who you wish to be. Whenever you find yourself contemplating the idea of becoming, stop and repeat the phrase, “I do not need to become, I will be this person beginning right now.”

2. Solve the problem. It is folly to lament the fact that you have a problem. What you must do is decide on a solution and try it.

3. Concentrate. Whatever you do, put everything into it. If you decide to be lazy, be lazy, concentrate on your laziness! When you relax, really relax.

4. Have faith. Believe in yourself, believe in the religion of your choice (if you choose one at all), believe in an idea or goal. Believe that you can conquer stress through the stress-free habit.

5. Meditate. Meditation is a vehicle for bringing the other four principles into perspective on a regular and orderly basis. Meditation is at the heart of the routine practice of the stress-free habit. It is also one of the best tools available for helping us learn to concentrate.

Read more: Spirit, Guidance, Mental Wellness, Self-Help

Adapted from The Stress-Free Habit, by John M. Perkins (Inner Traditions, 1989). Copyright (c) 1989 by John M. Perkins. Reprinted by permission of Inner Traditions.
Adapted from The Stress-Free Habit, by John M. Perkins (Inner Traditions, 1989).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Donna H.

3:19PM PDT on May 13, 2012

Thanks for posting.

send a green star

ii q.

4:11PM PDT on May 1, 2012

Carol Ann O.

12:08PM PDT on Mar 23, 2012

when distrees or crying as kids...My grandmother had a saying that loses in translating from Polish to English. " It will be gone before your weddding day !

Danuta W.

1:23AM PST on Dec 24, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Teresa W.

5:06AM PST on Nov 20, 2011

some people seem to have unlimited time

5:00AM PST on Nov 20, 2011

Meditation doesn't work, at least for me.

Tim C.

9:37AM PDT on Aug 17, 2011

thanks

Ann F.

6:47AM PDT on May 18, 2011

thanks !

Robert O.

2:24PM PDT on May 17, 2011

Thanks very much!

Mary S.

11:12AM PST on Feb 7, 2011

This "being" reminds me of my student who said,
"I'll try to leave now." I said, (like Yoda, my favorite Star Wars character,) "There is no 'try.' Do!"
I need to follow my own advice. Beginning now, I am a person who eats healthily, unafraid of the numbers on a scale!