STRESS: THE SQUARE PEG IN THE ROUND HOLE
Updated: Jul 22, 2019
When we experience negative stress it is important we identify its origins and take action to minimise any damage it may cause. It has a habit of creeping up on us. We may find we begin to notice it more when we start experiencing physical discomfort. Stress is often linked to our external environment - work or home for example - but it also may be a result of what is troubling us in our heads. For example, we may not see a parent very often, but we may experience increased stress if we are subjected to continual negative comments in the form of phone calls, emails and post from that parent.
We want to prevent our stress levels from escalating. To do this we need to distinguish between who we are and what we believe others want us to be - which in itself can be a form of anxiety ('mind reading'). Trying to become someone else flies in the face of our own beliefs, values - that is - WHO WE ARE. If we continue to go down the route of trying to be someone else we can expect to feel inner conflict (not healthy), tension and stress.
Trying to fit our square selves into round holes is pointless. Hitting our heads against a brick wall serves little purpose. It only gives us a headache: another common symptom attributable to stress.
Better perhaps to resist the urge to be someone else; take a step back and think about who we REALLY want to be. There are plenty of techniques that can help us achieve this. But the most important part is to work out who you are.
The rest, as they say, is easy peasey (well, less stressful anyway).