I think I handle short bursts of stress well.
But I don’t do well with chronic stress or situations that don’t bring out the best in me.
The hard part is recognizing it when it’s happening.
Usually I assume that something is wrong with me instead of realizing I’ve just adapted to something I know isn’t healthy.
Humans are incredibly adaptable. And the more I appreciate and respect our adaptability, the more I am careful about what I accept in my life.
Because I know I will adapt to it – because that’s what we do. In some cases it’s awesome to adapt, like exercise, and in other cases it’s awful to adapt.
I don’t want to adapt to things that I’ve recognized as unhealthy for me.
Interestingly enough, that awareness and resistance to adapt is not making my life easier.
This is one of the reasons Covid has caused me so much stress. Covid is not short term. We have come a long way and it looks like we have a long way to go yet.
Stress management is important for short term stress, but long term stress is different. You can minimize it, but you can’t manage your way out of it.
Space, thinking time, and taking the time to just be is crucial. But so is fun, connection, and turning inward to find some moments of peace.
The stress can’t take over your life. You need to find a way to stay in the drivers seat.