Have you been feeling stressed recently?
Stress comes from urgency of internal or external demands. It is actually optional, which means it is a choice that you can make most of the time.
The only certain thing about Life is that life is uncertain. It gives us thrill and fun when there are surprises that match with our expectations. It gives us anxiety or stress when there are surprises that we do not expect (or like) to experience in our lives.
So is a stress-free life possible? Is whether to have stress or not in life a choice we can consciously make?
The answer is YES. And that power of choice resides within us. I call this a simple three-step (choice) process: Anticipation, Acceptance, and Resolution (AAR).
1. Anticipation: The first choice is to use the power of anticipation. Whatever we plan to do in life, there are always multiple possible outcomes that range from great to “it sucks.” If you choose to take time, anticipate the consequences of each possible outcome, and create plans to align with your goals for each possible outcome, then you are well prepared. Once you analyze and prepare for the uncertainty, you are no longer uncertain anymore. More importantly, because you are prepared, it takes the urgency under management so that nothing really becomes that “urgent.” As simple as it sounds, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
2. Acceptance: When the less desired possible outcomes (the ones we do not want) happen, you have another choice to make. The second choice is to either accept what’s happened already or blame others/yourself for the “misfortune.” Acceptance means no resistance. Because there is no resistance, you are not stuck. Hence, you are free to move on to the next step quickly. Many people get stuck in this step, simply because they choose to not emotionally let go of what’s perceived by the brain as “loss.” In fact, nothing is permanent in life. There is always spring after winter, sunrise after sunset, etc.
3. Resolution: When there is acceptance, energy flows naturally. With anticipation (planning) and acceptance, you have clarity. Clarity leads to resolution if you know exactly what you want and why you want it. With the planning from the first step, this step is as simple as taking the necessary actions to resolve the situation.
It is the choices that we make in life that shape our destiny. Do you choose to have freedom or stress in your life? The key is to always choose to do the things that are really important to you, even if they are not urgent, so that they never become urgent in your life.
God bless.
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