At a networking event a few months ago, an acquaintance introduced me to her colleague as someone who speaks about stress management.
Ugh.
I immediately felt my insides collapse.
I felt disgusted to be identified with stress management.
This is not what I do.
I help professional women BE FREE of burnout and chronic stress.
What happens when you are FREE of burnout and chronic stress?
You stop allowing work, pressure, and other people rule your life.
You feel ALIVE. You are CONNECTED with life – with who and what you care about most.
You experience MEANING.
You experience SELF-MASTERY of your inner world.
You are PRESENT. Your heart resonates with APPRECIATION.
You operate from LOVE, CONTENTMENT, TRUTH, & INSPIRATION.
These are very different outcomes than managing stress.
If you’ve ever heard me speak, you’ve heard me say this:
“MANAGING STRESS AS A
CONSISTENT WAY OF LIFE
IS MANAGING MISERY.”
– Angela Savitri
Stress is normal. It comes – you feel stress. It goes – you feel relaxed. Your body returns to a state of neutral. Excellent!
Chronic stress is not normal. It comes – you feel stress. Stress lingers – you feel stress. Stress leaves – you cannot relax. Your body stays hyper-aroused. You experience more states of tension than relaxation. Ruh-roh.
So what is my beef with ewwwwwww…..stress management?
3 REASONS WHY STRESS MANAGEMENT STINKS
No 1:
STRESS MANAGEMENT LIMITS WHAT IS POSSIBLE
Stress management is just that…learning how to manage stress.
Who eagerly raises their hand and says, ‘Pick me! Pick me! I want to learn to manage what sucks in life?’
And who eagerly raises their hand to say, ‘Pick me! Pick me! I want to experience peace of mind. I want to feel safe regardless of my circumstances. I want to feel deeply connected to myself, my work, my friends, and nature?’
Which sounds more awesome to you?
And which sounds more scary?
Opening up to what is possible is IMPERATIVE to be free of chronic stress.
Step 5 in my FREEDOM FROM CHRONIC STRESS PROGRAM is increasing your tolerance for love, connection, and joy where you free the chains that prevent you from living a whole-hearted life.
But stress management operates on managing the negative instead of shifting toward love and connection. Now that stinks.
No 2:
STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES ARE
BANDAGES FOR DEEPER PROBLEMS
I’m all for not hyperventilating.
I’m all for diaphragmatic breathing and keeping things simple.
But oftentimes, stress management techniques are bandages for deeper problems.
A consistent experience of stress is often a symptom you are operating from your wounds instead of your values…a space that lacks love.
It is important to identify the root source of chronic stress.
It may be easy to identify the root source of the stress. Or it may be complex and you need assistance from a friend, coach, or therapist.
If you want freedom from the chains that bind you, do not solely rely on simple stress management techniques to navigate your ups and downs.
It’s time to look within and change the relationship with yourself.
No 3:
STRESS MANAGEMENT KEEPS YOU
LOOKING OUTSIDE YOURSELF FOR ANSWERS
Stress management techniques are typically instructions about what you can do to temporarily reduce acute stress.
Excellent. IF that is what they are used for.
If stress negatively influences your relationships, well-being or work for more than two weeks at a time*, it is time to evaluate if you need stress management or self-reflection.
Chronic stress comes about because of both internal stressors (from inside of you like judgment, high expectations, perfectionism, self-pressure) and external stressors (like working too many hours, relationship strain, clutter).
In Step 4 of my FREEDOM FROM CHRONIC STRESS PROGRAM, letting go what no longer serves, clients take inventory of their internal and external stressors.
Clients always report internal stressors (judgment, reactivity, impatience, not being present, perfectionism) generate more negativity in their life than external stressors (work, relationships, clutter).
This certainly was my experience too!
Stress management stinks because it does not encourage you to look lovingly and deeply within yourself.
Want to experience freedom? Stop looking outside and look within.
I invite you to begin your inward journey by signing up for a free video series below – How To Stop Overscheduling: Less Rushed + More Effective.
You receive 6 videos – all under 13 minutes – over 2 weeks to help you operate from your values instead of your anxieties.
In turn, you learn to engage with life at a sustainable pace, say no without fear of disappointing others, fear of missing out, or guilt.
You learn to focus on what is most important to you so you can enjoy life, even with a demanding career.
Sign up below, and I’ll see you on a side that doesn’t stink. 🙂
