The first step to change is awareness. You cannot change what you are not aware of. The following self awareness survey is designed for self reflection of your stress triggers, where your stress resides in you, and how you may react to stress.
You may also feel more vulnerable to stress if you don’t know how to calm or soothe yourself when you are experiencing various emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, etc.
Look at this as a process of self-discovery. Of the numerous clients I have worked with one common theme is that they have events throughout their life that they have not been proud of. I too have things that I wish never happened. But in reality … no one is perfect or had the perfect life. In other words be ok with any perceived shortcomings (remember it’s your EGO anyway.) Your EGO is not who you are, it’s concocted by erroneous and distorting thinking; an unconscious conditioning of one’s past.
Start today with finding you as an individual with various experiences where you formed distorted beliefs of yourself. I know it sounds rather simple but you at one time knew (whether you remember or not) that you were an acceptable and loving being. Please don’t try to talk yourself out of this (it’s your EGO doing it by the way.) And you can start to move towards that authentic thinking that was once your natural right. In the big scheme of things we are exactly where we are, whether we like it or not.
So start by saying yes, and practicing and integrating these simple, yet proven, methods towards acceptance of yourself and situations. Remember, the only thing we can change is ourselves. We can only change our thoughts; our mindset and emotions.
Take a moment now and circle your level of, reactions to and behaviors associated with stress as it applies to you recently over the last few weeks.
Be honest with your answers. You of course can keep your answers confidential. You do not have to share this with anyone. It’s for you to think about and ponder. It’s important that you not make these elements you noted below as “wrong” about you.