Learning to Appreciate Stress…

Learning to appreciate stress, which is usually viewed negatively, can help balance your emotions.  Stress can actually have some surprising benefits. Let’s look at how we can consider stress from a different perspective. 

Long-lasting stress and anxiety doesn’t serve anyone. However, there are some limited instances of short-term stress that can be beneficial. 

Stress can help the brain. In a study, “Acute stress enhances adult rat hippocampal neurogenesis and activation of newborn neurons via secreted astrocytic FGF2,” the researchers found that stress had an interesting impact on the brains of rats. They found that stress can make neural connections stronger and help memory. This applies solely to short-term stress and not long-term or severe stress. 

The study also found that short-term stress can help push the brain to an optimal condition. This means that the brain is forced to focus better and reach its highest potential. During the study, the rats’ brains improved because stem cells made new nerve cells. Scientists believe the same thing is happening in human brains under stress. 

A good example of this short-term stress forcing one to focus better is when you are down to the final hours to finish a project, homework or something else that has an approaching deadline.  Usually, one puts everything else aside and puts laser focus on the task at hand.  In turn, this stress also provides motivation. It forces you to reevaluate your deadlines and motivates you to take action to finish your tasks on time. In essence, this short-term stress forces one to take charge of the situation.  Providing the motivation to stop procrastinating and “get ‘er done” as the saying goes

Another benefit is how stress can fortify resilience. We become more understanding and flexible. The idea that stress can make you stronger is true. Researchers believe that surviving short-term stress helps build emotional and mental resources. 

Believe it or not, it can even improve your immune system. A study, titled “Stress-induced redistribution of immune cells – from barracks to boulevards to battlefields: a tale of three hormones,” found that stress can help the immune system. Our immune system responds to stress by going into active mode. Researchers believe this developed over time to protect humans. Evolution allowed people to stay strong and healthy under stress.  

If you feel your body and mind are under stress, it can remind you that it’s time to re-evaluate what’s going on in your life. Stress can be a reminder that you need to make changes or just slow down. Stress can be a warning sign before serious health or life issues arise. Take the time to reflect on your concerns about family, friends, work, and your various obligations, when you feel you’re under constant pressure. Your stress could be telling you that things may need to be adjusted, so you’re not overwhelmed. 

Finally, stress can strengthen our relationships. Stress makes the body release a hormone called oxytocin, which impacts bonding behavior, the creation of group memories, social recognition, and other social functions. Basically, this hormone makes us feel like bonding with others and sharing our woes. This can help us build stronger bonds with those we love by encouraging the sharing of troubles instead of letting them consume the mind.

Constant, extreme stress is undoubtedly harmful. However, understanding and appreciating the fact that some stress has its benefits, can advantageously affect your body and mind in a variety of ways ranging from motivation to brain activity and in turn help us lead more balanced inspired lives.  

Love and Light to you!

Dawn-Marie

Written on 17 September, 2019

Biography

Dawn-Marie P. Dalsass, President of Livelihood Spirit Balance is a Stress Management Maven. She’s a Stress and Anxiety Expert for Middle Managers. She started her career in Corporate America while she was in high school and worked her way up the ranks finding herself in middle to upper management for most of her corporate career. She loved what she did but along the way she battled stress, anxiety and depression. When work and life were more than she could handle she planned her suicide in detail. Fortunately, she didn’t go through with it when she saw her 2 little boys on her way to get a knife with a plan to end it all. It was in that moment that she vowed to pull herself together and begin a new journey.

In 2015 she started her own business called Life Coach DM. After several years of working with clients, she realized that the majority of her clients were in middle management just like she was. She had helped most go from being stressed, anxious and / or depressed to being more balanced, aware and dynamic while guiding them on their own journey to achieve life goals including work life balance.

Dawn-Marie has since become a Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide and teaches individuals how they too can annihilate the stress, anxiety and depression (aka S.A.D) that middle managers and working parents can face through a process called equilibration (the balancing of the mind and emotions) along with the healing benefits a deep connection to nature (both indoors and out) can bring to become fully balanced, aware and dynamic (aka B.A.D).

Through her own practice, Dawn-Marie discovered what she calls Livelihood Spirit Balance where how one lives their life is in alignment with their authentic self, their B.A.D Ass-self. With Livelihood Spirit Balance, Work Life Balance and everything else just falls into place.

Based on her years of work and client success stories, Dawn-Marie changed her business name to Livelihood Spirit Balance to align with her teachings, mission, vision and purpose.

Dawn-Marie offers online courses, personal and corporate development coaching, workshops and seminars. As the owner of  Total Convalescence – Nature & Forest Therapy she also offers public and private Nature & Forest Therapy Walks.

Dawn-Marie is a:

• Certified Mindset Transformation Coach
• Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide
• Certified Law of Attraction Wealth Practitioner
• Certified Fraud Examiner and
• Certified Internal Controls Auditor