2011 Stress to 2012 Peace

Well, the year is almost done, only about 14 hours to go, as I    write this post. What has the past year been like for you?

Stressed 2011

Many people have been telling me, and not just my clients, that this has been the worst year of their life, they never want another year like this one, or, that nothing could be worse than this year that has been.

The reasons for their stress and angst are many and varied, so here’s a selection:

1. Floods or droughts or fires caused devastation of home, jobs, and business
2. The Global Financial Crisis is worsening and many business owners are becoming desperate and closing their doors.  This affects staff, owners, and surrounding businesses as belts are tightened and spending decreases.
3. Banks are foreclosing on mortgagees in arrears
4. Bankruptcy is occurring at the rate of around 25,000 people a year
5. Stress, emotional upheaval and relationship conflicts are triggered by these events, and of course they affect how you feel, your energy levels, and what you think of yourself or the judgements you make of others.
6. Lots of relationship crises have impacted on couples, with affairs, marriage or partnership break-ups and break-down of family units on the rise.
7. As this occurs, money tightens further and credit cards are pushed to the hilt, worsening the debt situation. 

Stress Responses

These events are a cause of stress reactions, so that the stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin are pumped through your body, and when stress increases and is compounded, often on a daily basis, many people do not have the tools and resources to deal with their fluctuating emotions and inability to think clearly.

What’s Positive About It?

I’ve been encouraging my clients to look for what has been positive from these situations, to observe their strengths that have come to the fore, to focus on knowing that no matter what, you are a valuable and worthwhile human being who still deserves love, respect, acceptance and approval, because you are independent of these events.

Pride and Ego Down

The problem is that many people identify their self-worth through their achievements and accomplishments and without those achievements their self-esteem is knocked because pride and ego, take a beating. 

Pride and Ego Build UP and UP and UP

It’s easy to see how that can start: you bring home a little certificate from school that says you were the most well-behaved kid in the class!
WOW! Everyone praises you and says you are wonderful.

You bring another one home that says you aced the spelling test! 
WOW! Everyone praises you and says you are wonderful.

You bring a certificate home that says you came 1st in the running race! Or at swimming, or the cross-country or were Most Improved at Football!
WOW! Everyone praises you and says you are wonderful.

As these events occur all through your life, your identity becomes bound up with achievement and accomplishment.  As one of my clients said, “I wish someone had told me I was worthwhile and lovable, just because I was me…”

What happens when suddenly you’ve lost your job, or your business closes, or your home has been flooded and the insurance won’t pay? If your self-esteem is tied to your accomplishments, (and let’s face it, for most people it is) then BAM! it takes a big hit, your pride is dented, and you may become more stressed, anxious and depressed.

This is one of the reasons that I am very focused on working with your Sub-conscious, (also known by me as your inner child) so that your inner child may begin to flourish without the need for achievements.

Positives on the Flip-side

Here are some positives that others have found when they focussed on the flip side of the situation, instead of the negatives:

1. An inner strength and determination that they didn’t really know was there
2. A sense of humour to laugh things off
3. Creativity, bred by necessity (necessity is also known as the mother of invention)
4. Resourcefulness
5. Self-discipline to stay focussed on a course of action
6. Kindness for others less fortunate
7. Gratitude for what you do have, starting with yourself and your family
8. Learning new skills which opens doorways to new opportunities and also helps to rebuild confidence
9. Love, both spiritual and personal
10. Learnt how to meditate and take better care of themself.

I wonder what positives you can find if you go looking for them? These positives may help you to heal and move forward in peace into 2012.

I’d love to know, so please leave a comment, so others can benefit from your experience too.  May you find the peace you so richly deserve in 2012.