While Stressors Happen- Awareness Keeps us Calm
Stressors happened every day. These stressors can cause us to be triggered. Our triggers activate stress reactions of the brain’s fight, flight and freeze responses. This response activates our adrenal glands which releases hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline will increase your heart rate, elevate your blood pressure, and boost energy for the moment. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugar in your blood stream and enhances your brain glucose. Cortisol also suppresses your digestive system and reproductive system. The Mayo clinic warns that long-term activation of these hormones can increase anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, impair memory and concentration impairment, and much more. So, it is of utmost importance for us to learn how to handle our stress.
The question that runs through people’s minds is how can we stop this endless treadmill of chronic stress in a world filled with stressors? The better question is, “Stressors will happen but do we have to be triggered?” The answer is “No”. The stressors will occur. However, if we can find the ability to have awareness in the present moment, then we don’t have to get on the treadmill of chronic stress. Even if we happen to be swept up onto the treadmill of chronic stress, being in the present moment with awareness, we will have the resiliency and the mindset to make a different choice.
The only place that awareness occurs is in the present moment. The power of awareness is when you’re able to see, feel, and listen to what’s going on in the moment without judgment of past worries or interference of thoughts regarding future anxieties. The definition of mindfulness is being aware in the present moment without judgement. The key to mindfulness and reducing stress is the word aware. Awareness is a skill that we all can obtain with practice, patience, and perseverance.