MANAGING STRESS - THE NEW LIFE SCENARIO

Only change is permanent in life – it has been the cardinal truth for centuries. May be the pace of change vary from time to time, place to place, country to country and from person to person. But, change takes place day in and day out. It being so, there is no denying the fact that the world is changing and also changing fast - socially, economically, technologically, politically and culturally, and so is our country. The pace of this change has been faster in corporate world with the advent of the famous concept of LPG -Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization.

Now, if change is the main variable in our life, accepting and accordingly adapting to the changes to keep us going and enjoying life is very essential. It is more so for individuals who try to build up a big business empire or to go up in career path very fast. In fact, failure to manage change results in worries, tension and stress which as per several findings of medical research have  also been the reasons for heart, kidney and liver problems – in number of cases even in early thirties itself. 

Its common knowledge that over the last couple of years, value system in our society has undergone changes more for worse; in corporate world, it has generally collapsed. Young professionals seeking remedy for maladies like stress and depression talk straight and simple against the compelling work environment being created purposefully for achieving, at times even seemingly unachievable, business targets more by crook than by hook. Unfortunately, this is becoming the order of the day in many companies, more noticeably in Indian IT as well as Financial Sectors.

Yes, the level of uncertainty, tension and stress has been going up, everyone agrees, if not talk openly. And almost in the same proportion the level of joy, happiness and comfort has been going down despite the much talked about GDP growth story of our country.  But, except visiting a doctor and taking sleeping pills, is there any easy and doable solution to correct the situation to begin with? Can effecting a change in our lifestyle, behavior pattern and thought process help in this regard? 

Definitely, there are a few we can discuss here.

The first thing we should do is to avoid imitating others blindly. Making our life a copy-paste version will not lead us to a happy and contented life. On the contrary, we should sincerely try to know ourselves. And, in turn, find ourselves and be ourselves always endeavoring for further improvement in one’s personality by positive thoughts, actions and engagements on an ongoing basis.

Instead of being submissive or aggressive in one’s behavior, it is desirable to be assertive since assertive behavior encompasses the qualities of being confident, mature, frank, balanced, objective, dynamic, decisive, competent, humorous, relaxed and logical. The assertive attitude must be backed by an honest, transparent, and committed action.

Physical fitness is necessary in order to stay mentally healthy as well. What affects our body affects our mind and vice-versa. Eating healthy and sleeping well are therefore, very necessary as engaging oneself in regular physical exercise including walking. Spending quality time with family, more particularly with children and elderly ones is equally important.

Generally speaking, the human tendency, you will agree, has been to think and worry about what we haven’t rather than think what we have, even though; generally many of the things in our lives are right. In fact, we have been in the habit of counting our curses and not the blessings. Undoubtedly, this is the greatest tragedy and it has probably caused more misery than all the wars and diseases in the history. Contrary to this kind of psychology, if we tend to practice ‘Think and Thank’ philosophy in our day to day life, we can have the feeling of wellness in abundance. 

Practicing ancient relaxation techniques like Yoga, Meditation and Prayer needs no extra emphasis in today’s fast and relatively complex life. Yoga is not an exercise but it is a way of life. Yoga actually means the experience of oneness or unity with your inner being. Meditation, sitting still, alone with our thoughts and feelings, usually has a very soothing effect both on our body and mind. And many of us know that our greatest power lies in the power of prayer.

So, then why not start enjoying the fruits of conscious living instead of casual living we normally live knowingly or unknowingly and complaining against its negative outcomes. It would definitely change our whole perspective towards life which is so precious to be experienced and enjoyed.

As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post comments to share your views and experiences.

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