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to my question!
One complimentary question answered...
Dr. Rae began this Mini-Seminar discussion on "What is Stress?" with readers of Paul Siegel's LearningFOUNT, a discussion list about business strategy ~ an incubator for community-building ideas.
Private TeleClass with Dr. Rae.
Dr. Rae's response: Regarding your question... "Supposing I had a project that I'm committed to complete in 30 days, but I know that it should take 60 days to do it right. How do you suggest I proceed?" I would first ask if you made this commitment knowing that it will "take 60 days to it right"? If your answer is yes, you must accept that your choice created the situation you are facing. Instead of worrying about the outcome, I suggest that you stay here-and-now. Life is about right now, and not about the obstacles and uncertainties that lie ahead. You may be surprised that in fact "doing it right" may come sooner than 60 days. Next, I need to know what stress indicators (symptoms) you are experiencing, if any. Further, forget the word "should" and replace it with "will". It is amazing how our stress levels increase with the words we use, and thoughts we have. Try this experiment : say "I know that it should take 60 days to do it right" and then say "I know that it will take 60 days to do it right". Do you feel any different? I know I do. With the second statement I feel more in control than with the first one. Once I become aware of this, I can make another choice as to how to proceed. The choice as to how to proceed is yours. The moral of all this is : when you feel the feeling of being in control you can take control of your life. [Sidebar : being in control does not mean being in control of anyone other than yourself] You must remember this : we all have choices and lessons to learn. Just make sure that you ask the following questions : What will my choice produce? And, am I willing to accept the consequences of my choice? Thank you Paul for this opportunity to share my work with you and your readers - Dr. Rae
From: Edith Heiberg edith.heiberg@forestrytas.com.au I don't seem to feel stress but I know when I am because physical things happen to me. For example, my hair starts to fall out, I lose weight, always feel tired, but apart from that my mind is fine. Your post mentions that we all need the mental stress as part of the necessary process, does my 'style' of stress count? Dr. Rae's response: Hello Edith - thank you for your inquiry. Yes indeed, your 'style' of stress counts. BTW, the post does not mention "...that we all need the mental stress as part of the necessary process." We all need stress to live and be creative. Stress is our body's response to any situation and/or thought. It is when stress becomes distress or eustress that we must begin to look for cause. Your stress indicators (symptoms), tell me that you are making some choices and decisions that are creating these symptoms. Without any further information from you as to your nutrition, environment, breathing and attitude the key stressors (causes) it is difficult for me to respond. Be sure to read our next post for further information that may offer you some relief - Dr. Rae
From: Tarleton Ware, Vice President, Marketing, Mark-Rite Corporation tarleton@mark-rite.com Dr. Rae's response: Thank you Tarleton for your responsive comment and inquiry. "I've been intrigued by the "stress posts." It seems to me in my life anyway - that there is a difference between stress and pressure. I prefer to think of deadlines as "pressure," and pressure I can handle, because I can control it. Stress, on the other hand, seems to be out of my control, and possibly not the result of any choice I have made. The differences may seem subtle, but it has helped me manage. I'm not really very "smart" about all this, though. I'm wondering if Dr. Rae could elaborate on the difference (if there is any)." I am delighted that you have found a way to manage your stress. Remembering the definition of stress I am using in this mini-seminar : stress is not something to be avoided, it is a response of the body to any demand made upon it, for me then, pressure is a response, a physical symptom, a stress indicator, something that is felt. Did you know that the feeling of pressure is created by the contraction of muscles? Natural breathing will relax this contraction. [More on this in our next post] [SideBar : Please be careful not to hyperventilate (your body's reaction to taking in more oxygen than it is used to). When you begin to feel light-headed, sit down, cup your hands over your mouth lightly and breathe normally.] Tarleton, you make an excellent point about the interactiveness of the mind and the body with your final comment "Also, looking at one task at a time helps me to not convert 'pressure' into 'stress.' Even if I'm just playing word games, it seems to have helped me." We feel what we think, and we think what we feel. The choice is ours. The wonderful thing about choices is that we can always make new ones. There is always another chance. Everyday is a new day, it's a gift. What we do with it, is up to us. Thank you Tarleton for this opportunity to share my work with you and the readers of this discussion list - Dr. Rae
From: "Michaela and Jim McCormick" eurog@cableinet.co.uk Hello Jim - thank you for your illuminating portrayal and inquiry on cultural differences as it relates to stress. Regarding your request that I "...comment on a more general issue" which I understand to be about choice, time/project management and culture. First, let me remind you and others that stress and stress responses are idiosyncratic to each individual and to each culture. What may be stressful to you may not be stressful to me. And it follows that your stress responses may be different from mine. There is interesting research available indicating that certain personality profiles are prone to specific dis-ease. "I have to say that I like nothing better than a good crisis. Is this a Western trait?" I am not sure, what I am sure about is that stress responses are learned. It is our reaction (our response) to stress that needs to change. "Some cultural artifact inculcated through literature, everything from Shakespeare's Portia to Batman? Or are we so time driven and have such short operational horizons that we have no choice?" Being "time driven," having "short operational horizons, and having "no choice" are choices. Thank you Jim for this opportunity to share my work with you and the readers of this discussion list. If I missed your point, please be a bit more specific on your "more general issue." Also, please remember that my response comes largely from the discipline of Bioenergetic Analysis. I do not provide medical or psychological advice. Further, the information presented is for educational purposes only - Dr. Rae
From: "Martha J. Retallick" lnrider@azstarnet.com Bravo Martha! Your final comment "So, how you manage stress is up to you." works for me, thank you - Dr. Rae
From: "Michaela and Jim McCormick" eurog@cableinet.co.uk Yes indeed Jim, not having control over your destiny is a definite stressor. Resentment, self-pity, frustration and negativity are killer stressors. Whereas, realistic goals, appreciation of self and others, and diversification of thoughts and actions are life producing stressors. Be sure to visit Your Stress Matters and click on the "Stress-Related Articles by The Baum Group" link for "The A to Z Steps to Managing Stress" and "29 Keys to Making Stress Work". Two helpful resources for your well-being - Dr. Rae
Hi Paul - thank you for your detailed comments and question "Some people claim they like close deadlines and to be "busy." I think deadlines are a BIG stressor. What do you think, Dr. Rae?" Did you know that our belief system motivates our actions and behaviors; and what we believe creates what we believe? If I believe that deadlines create stress, I will feel a stress response. As we all know, mind and body can influence each other. What we think can affect how we feel - and how we feel can affect what we think. The trick is not to act on feelings, and keep thinking to a minimum. I have found that being in my body helps me respond from a "here and now" position which is often the best for the results I want to achieve. [SideBar : As you know our decisions/choices in the present becomes our future] Some call this process intuition, I call this process "being" rather than "doing". Hope this helps - Dr. Rae P.S. You can find a cardiologist's view on stress by going to Your Stress Matters and click on "Stress : A Cardiologist's Point of View"
As promised here is the information on natural breathing.
From: "Tarleton Ware" tarleton@mark-rite.com "Stress and spam: they both seem related, I suppose. To Dr Rae, I appreciate your thoughtful comments regarding stress. You described stress as physical...so it seems that physical remedies may be more effective than I realized (breathing, etc.)" Hello Tarleton - be sure to read Dr. Diamond's report on breathing. This report has been distributed to and used by many of our clients who did not realize that natural breathing has a major role in well-being. [Remember your body will react to taking in more oxygen than it is used to, so please be careful not to hyperventilate. When you do begin to feel light-headed, sit down, cup your hands over your mouth lightly and breathe normally]
From: Robert Gately gately@compuserve.com Thanks Robert for this very helpful reminder on job matching. Many of us need this very necessary awareness to make our choices - Dr. Rae
From: "John Rhodes" john@webword.com Thank you John for your observations. If I may I 'd like to share a few of my thoughts on your comments. First, people are in a hurry because they don't choose to slow down. Second, did you know that we need stress to live and be creative? It is the reaction to life events, as you say, that needs to be managed. It is both eustress (good stress) and dis-stress that ..."occurs when you are taxed beyond your available resources." Third, being able to say no is one way of taking control of your life. We all have this choice - Dr. Rae
From: "peraza" peraza@centuryinter.net Hello Jackie - natural breathing, something we all take for granted, can offer you the balance in your life that you are looking for. Be sure to read Dr. Diamond's report on "Breathing Plays An Important Role" - Dr. Rae
From: John Counsel john@profitclinic.com Hi John - thanks for your "quick afterthoughts"... I am delighted that you have found a way to see your life as ..."a bonus,...one of continually pleasant surprises and gratitude." - Dr. Rae
From: "Sean O'Seasnain" awe@golden.net Hello Sean - thank you for sharing what works for you regarding "time pressure to keep busy in order to keep up." I am delighted you found that the word busy needed to be changed for you (and others) to manage anxiety, a stress indicator (symptom). BTW, stressors that have been identified are attitude, breathing, nutrition and environment and "time pressure" falls in the category of "attitude". What we think has an affect on how we feel and visa versa. Time pressure can also have an affect on breathing, nutrition and environment. It appears that you have found a crucial step in "taking control of your life" and that is awareness. Wishing you continued well-being - Dr. Rae
Reply to post here : my reply/question
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Bioenergetic Analysis. We do not provide medical or
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