WELCOME BACK!
Before we dive in, I want to say welcome back! It's been a few years since my last post, and I must admit, I'm feeling a bit nervous as I sit here writing this. My journey with my blog, I Am Arshawna, began back in 2018 when I was a college student eager to discover what life had in store for me. I had no idea where to start, but I was excited to make a beginning.
Fast forward to today, and I'm proud to say that I've grown so much since then! I'm no longer just a blogger but a business owner, mar keting specialist, and soon-to-be-ordained evangelist. But that's a secret that I'll reveal next month, so stay tuned!
Over the past five years, I've experienced an incredible amount of change in all areas of my life, from my relationships with friends and family to my career. As I mentioned earlier, with change comes stress, and I've certainly encountered my fair share of challenges along the way.
The past few years have been an incredible whirlwind of surprises, exciting moments, and life-changing experiences. Among the many highlights, one of the greatest joys has been my relocation to Texas. If you've seen my moving to Texas vlog on my YouTubechannel, you've caught a glimpse of the moving process. It's hard to believe that I've been a Texan for a whole year now as of June 1st, 2023. While my videos showcased some fantastic events, the truth is that moving can be incredibly draining
This blog holds a special place in my heart because it's somewhat therapeutic. I wanted to focus on dealing with stress because this move has affected me tremendously. I've lost some friends and gained others, lost some clients, and gained new ones, and even lost and gained some family members. There have been countless ups and downs, yet somehow, I've managed to hold onto my sanity.
Stress is a part of life; we all experience it at some point. God doesn't promise to take it away, but there are many effective ways to manage it so that we can keep moving forward. I hope you find these stress management tips helpful and try them out for yourself.
If you're like me, you hide your stress to try to fake it until you make it, but get trapped in a continuous loop of paralyzing anxiety.
It's essential to understand that stress is a normal bodily response to difficult situations. It's a state of worry that can be caused by anything from a tough day at work to a significant life change. However, if we don't deal with our emotions and allow them to pile up, they can quickly turn into multiple stressors that overwhelm us.
That's why the first thing I do to manage my stress is to acknowledge it fully. I speak it out loud and make it known to myself that I'm feeling stressed and that the situation is not making me happy. It may sound simple, but acknowledging our feelings is often the most challenging part of dealing with stress. Many of us hide our emotions to avoid disrupting others or appearing weak, but doing so can do more harm than good. And if you're like me, you hide your stress to try to fake it until you make it, but get trapped in a continuous loop of paralyzing anxiety.
However, every time I've acknowledged my stress, Ive learned that it's best to try to identify the root cause. It's easy to become overwhelmed by stress and focus on the symptoms rather than the cause. Pinpointing the source of stress can help us find effective solutions.
When we're stressed, it's easy to neglect our physical and mental health. However, taking care of ourselves is crucial to managing stress. I make sure to get enough rest, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and take breaks when needed. Trust me. It's easier said than done. Sometimes I have to schedule my cleaning days just so it doesn't overwhelm me.
Another effective way to manage stress is to talk to someone about it. Whether it's a friend, family member, or therapist, sharing our feelings with someone we trust can help us feel heard and supported. Additionally, seeking professional help can provide additional tools and strategies for managing stress.
Lastly, I try to focus on the present moment and practice mindfulness. When we're stressed, our minds tend to race with negative thoughts about the future or past events. However, focusing on the present moment and practicing mindfulness can help us stay calm and centered.
As human beings, we experience a range of emotions, from happiness and joy to sadness and anger. However, sometimes these emotions can become overwhelming and lead to stress and anxiety, impacting our mental and physical health. This is where reflective writing can be a powerful tool.
Reflective writing is the process of writing down our thoughts and emotions, exploring our feelings and experiences, and gaining insight into our lives. By reflecting daily, we can identify patterns in our emotions and behaviors, understand the triggers that cause stress and anxiety, and find ways to manage them.
One of the most helpful things my therapist suggested to me was to reflect on my emotions daily and write them down. At first, I was hesitant about the idea, but as I started to do it regularly, I realized how powerful it was. Writing down my thoughts helped me to process my emotions and understand them better. I could see patterns in my behavior that I hadn't noticed before, and I was able to identify the triggers that caused my stress and anxiety.
Reflective writing also helped me to take stock of my life and see beyond my stressors. I could see the reality of my situation and understand the bigger picture. It allowed me to gain perspective and put things into context, which helped me to manage my stress and anxiety more effectively.
However, reflective writing is not just about venting our emotions. It's also about exploring our thoughts and feelings, analyzing them, and finding ways to improve our lives. By reflecting on our emotions, we can identify areas of our lives that need improvement, set goals, and find ways to achieve them.
The most crucial step in reflective writing is to give it all to God.
This is often easier said than done, but God provides us with numerous opportunities to change our lives for the better. We only have one life, so why not make the most out of it?
By giving our stress to God, we can change how we move forward. God has given us the knowledge of who we are, the awareness of what's wrong, and even some tools to change our situation. He is our ultimate protector and will change our situation if we trust in Him.
If we don't give our stress to Him, we risk trying to figure it out on our own, leading to disastrous outcomes. It may cause us to manage our stress in ways that take us far from our goals and values or even lead us deep into depression.
It's WAY better to give our hearts to God and allow Him to change who we are. While there are many ways to manage stress, reflecting on our emotions, and giving it all to God has helped me the most. I've been able to dig deep into my heart, understand what's broken, and trust God to bear the burden.
So if you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed, take some time to reflect on your emotions and give it all to God. Trust that He will guide you through the tough times and lead you to a brighter future. Remember, you are not alone, and with God's help, you can overcome any obstacle. Keep pushing forward, and soon enough, you'll see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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