How does stress land on you?

Just wanted to chat a minute. I recently have been having some amazing conversations with friends, my kids, and clients surrounding stress and wanted to share. I mean, what a past year, right? To say we have had more stress in this past year, would be an understatement.

We all know logically that stress impacts our bodies. But have you lately stopped, got out of your head, dropped down into your body to connect, really listen to your body? How does stress land on you?

This past year life has changed. Most of us have had to stretch our comfort zone in some way. As we reach the edges of our comfort zone, that is where we feel stress, contraction, and all the emotions bubble up. And then when you step out of your comfort zone, things are unfamiliar and unknown and your body again reacts. There is no getting around it, stress impacts our bodies.

I know in my house this past year, we have had some huge adjustments. I shut down my business for five months while I waited to get my hands on PPE, changing my policies and procedures to move forward as safely as possible with this new landscape that we are all facing. Online learning for my twins and starting Middle School this fall with 13 teachers, 13 websites, and their added stress of having to be "seen" with their cameras turned on. The strain of crashing internet sites and computers, until the third modem we found could handle the load of 2 kids streaming school, while I Zoom to connect with coaching clients. My kids and I have missed connecting to friends face to face, sharing a meal, and gathering with those we love. We have missed connection. All this has the potential to add up to a not so fun ball of stress. It has been a great lesson as my kids and I are actively making choices on how we choose to move forward with the life we desire.

The juggle. We all have had to juggle differently this past year, making some shifts and changes with life. As we go through our day, stress lands on us. Our body takes in that stress and then expresses it in some way, good or bad. Stress can build, layer by layer, until we reach our max threshold.

But what would it look like if we were so connected with ourself that we could pick up on the subtle changes before things get swirly out of control like a lighted up runway for the perfect set up for a migraine? 

The first step is awareness. What are those very first early signs of stress impacting your body? 

Do you start to to get a pull at the base of your skull that travels down your neck? Or does stress and tightness land straight into your shoulders? 

Is stress normally felt on only one side of your body?

Do you get a headache? 

What about a tightness in your stomach? Or do you feel a contraction across your chest, your throat?

Depending on the type of stress, stress can show up in different places in your body, uniquely to you. By reconnecting to yourself, shifting your awareness, you can begin to understand your body and what your body needs.

A few starter questions to play with…

Where do you notice that stress in your body?

What does it feel like?

How does this stress show up and impact my life?

How do you want to feel?

Have fun with these questions, get out of your head and drop into your body for the answers. Feel free to drop me a line on what you discover!