by Kelly Ismail

Created on: January 09, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

The kids have been fighting all morning. The phone started ringing at six in the morning. Your job has decided that to save money all salaried workers must now work six days a week. The traffic on the way home was moving so slow and you got cut off multiple times. You and your spouse have been arguing. These are stressful times. Stress isn't always something you can laugh off or try and ignore. It grows and grows quickly leading you to feel aggravated, anxious, and worn out. You lose patience easily and it effects your ego and self confidence.

Are there any ways to counteract the effects of stress in your life?

Tomorrow morning, you are going to get up, dress appropriately for the weather, take a deep breath, walk out your front door and take a different look at the world. Why, you may ask ? You are going to walk your stress away. Every step you are going to take, you are going to release a little bit of stress from your body. Impossible? No, not impossible at all.

When you walked out of your house ready to take those first steps, you already made a mental choice to do something about all the stress. When you take in the fresh air and walk your way to the road, by yourself, you are taking steps to freedom from worry. You are walking away from the things that are bothering you even if it is only for thirty minutes or so.

As you are walking down the road or in the park, you are working on emptying those thoughts and feelings that have broken through the barriers of peace and tranquillity in your mind. You have taken yourself away from the things that are bothering you and you have found solace in your thoughts. During this time, you can take time to look around and notice your surroundings.

You might notice the wild flowers growing or the chipmunk that has run across the path in front of you. You might be able to notice the music of the birds or the far away chatter of a squirrel in a tree. You might be able to notice the clarity and color of the blue sky or the amazing formations of the distant clouds. All these things and more add to the peace you can attain when you take the time to walk your stress away. This is because you have taken your mind off the negative and found positive things to fill your thoughts with.

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