Thursday, September 02, 2004

 

Stress and your heart

The Globe and Mail reported this week a landmark Canadian-led study of over 30,000 people, study led by Salim Yusuf that for non-smokers with good cholesterol levels, "stress is the most powerful predictor of a heart attack."
As I was reading these findings, relaxing on a lounge chair just looking at the sky and the mountains, waiting to receive my second therapeutic massage in three days in majestic Mont-Tremblant, it almost felt I knew nothing about stress. However, I know from experience that stress is a silent killer. It's only when it gets so big that we finally stop and realize what's happening. If you are a single parent, you have stress; if you take care of aging parents, that's stress too; if you have a job with poor management above you, that's stress; if you have unfinished emotional business, that's stress; if you are a two working parent family, you have stress; if you have too little money, or too much money (afraid to loose it) that's also stress. If you hate your job that's stressful. If you are in conflict with someone, that's also stress. If you feel you don't have a choice about how you live your life, that's stress. If you don't take your lunch break as a break, that's stress. If you brag about multi-tasking, you are also probably stressed. If you can't find the time to get that massage or for your eye exam, or.... I could go on and on.
Some will argue that you can't eliminate all stress. Well, I am not certain. What I know for sure is that if you take time to take stock, you can decide to eliminate a lot of it.
Coach's tip: Set aside one hour this weekend and look at the stresses in your life.
If you say you can't take time to do this, that's a sign that you must be stressed.
Look at all your "obligations" and other activities. Does this leave you with time to relax and do nothing. Yes, absolutely nothing. Just enjoying the sky and the sound of the birds. Or time to do what you say you want to do: start an exercise program, prepare healthy meals, read that book, take that class, go to bed early, take time to journal.
Being away from my home obligations and everything I know "I must and should be doing" allowed me to follow my natural body rhythm and feel quite self-indulgent and THAT'S HOW WE ARE MEANT TO LIVE, not like the machines that this century has made of most of us.
Remember, it's your heart that's at stake.

Marguerite Tennier
The coach who wants to change the world
One Man at a Time

http://www.canadascoach.com

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