“Stress is caused by your thoughts, not the situation.”
Studying to take a test? Trying to get a promotion? Trying to get in better shape for a competition? Whatever it may be, life is full of stressful situations and events in and out of our control. Stress comes to us when we feel challenged or overwhelmed. Additional to the emotional strain, stress is a physical response that affects our entire body; with the potential to cause damage to our organs, such as the digestive system and the immune system. But before you stress out about stress, understand that chronic stress is the main contributor to these ailments. And there are many ways to reduce chronic stress and its subsequent effects.
Becoming More Stress Resilient
We cannot stop the release of stress hormones from happening, but we can learn tricks to become more stress resilient and stress less. There are, unfortunately, many types of stress that contribute to bad feelings such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle strain, poor sleep, etc. No matter how your stress manifests, we can all learn better habits and skills to deal with this strain. Since we have little control over situations and events that happen to us, learning to control how you react and deal with stress will help you perform better in the short term and keep you healthy in the long term.
Control
The best thing to do in stressful situations is identify what you can and cannot control. More often than I’d like to admit, I cannot control the situations that I find myself in or the stress that fills my body. But I can control my perception and the way that I deal with the events at hand.
One thing I like to do in order to take back some control is grounding myself in whatever moment is right in front of me. When I find myself spiraling in thoughts or stuck in a thought loop, I try to take a moment to breathe. Intentional deep breathing allows me to clear some of the worries on the forefront of my mind and gain clarity in what actions I want to take to mitigate feelings of anxiety. It might not make you stress less in the short term, but building these kinds of habits can help you become more stress resilient.
Financial Stress
Let’s take for example, financial stress. I deal with others’ financial stress daily as a financial advisor. Feelings of anxiety about not having enough money, where to invest money, how to keep track of expenses, and even the shame of not knowing where or how to start. These are all valid and real feelings that manifest.
Firstly, take a deep breath. Things will be okay, and you will figure it out. Next, figure out what actions you can take. Like becoming more knowledgeable about your finances such as where you are spending the bulk of your money and how much income you realistically make. Then learning about the more basic vocabulary of finances can help provide context to bigger concepts moving forward. Doing individual research may help you understand what you want to be doing with your money. And if this still feels too overwhelming, you can always reach out to a financial advisor, like myself, for help.
For long-term prevention, focus on your mental and physical health. Try small changes in your diet, exercise, meditation, journaling, and sleeping habits. Having healthy outlets to relieve stress can help immensely.
Like most things in life, it’s always easier said than done. And even being aware of your emotional and physical strain can be difficult, so be kind to yourself as you figure things out. The first step in building stress resistance is accepting there are things in life you cannot control. You can do anything you set your mind to.
Marilyn Suey
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
marilyn.suey@diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com
Marilyn Suey is a Registered Representative with, and securities and Retirement Plan Consulting Program advisory services offered through LPLFinancial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. Other advisory services offered through Mariner Independent Advisor Network, LLC a Registered Investment Advisor. The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors and Mariner Independent Advisor Network, LLC are separate entities from LPL Financial.CA Insurance License #0E01981
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification mark CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification mark.
Marilyn is the Founder and CEO of The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors. She is a nationally recognized Financial Educator, Author, Speaker, and Wealth Manager, who you may have seen in NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX network affiliates and Yahoo News, Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, Wall Street Select and others. Marilyn and her team at The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors have been showing business owners, healthcare professionals, and executives how to accumulate, preserve, and pass on their wealth for almost 20 years. Marilyn developed The Prosperity BluePrint™, a five-step wealth planning process, that includes strategy for Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Preservation, and planning for your ideal retirement lifestyle. She founded the Savvy Women Community where she shares her wisdom and experience with like-minded women. She received an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in Applied Math and Economics from UC Berkeley. To schedule your complimentary Lifestyle Upgrade Assessment, call: (925) 219-0080 or email; marilyn.suey@diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com
