Stress Mastery: The Art of Coping Gracefully

Chapter Summary

Remember that attitude change follows behavior change; therefore, act how you want to be until it comes naturally for you. Learn to adopt the stance of a peaceful warrior. Focus on the here and now, really listen to your body, and actively cultivate relaxation skills. Practice progressive muscle relaxation, in which you systematically tense and relax each muscle group from head to toe, to facilitate awareness of bodily tension and to release muscular tension. Remember to integrate proper breathing with your practice of releasing muscle tension. Get into a regular routine of stretching your muscles to release tension. It is much harder to feel stressed out when you are adept at relaxing your body.