Transforming Negative Stress Reactions Into Positive Stress Reactions
Michael Ellner, medical hypnotist and Quantum Focusing coach in New York City
Putting Fun and Joy Back into Work and Play:
The Art and Science of transforming Negative Stress Reactions Into Positive Stress Reactions
Many of the clients and healing professionals that I talk to tell me that stress is sucking the joy out of their lives. They report feeling “overloaded” or “stuck”. Work, work, work; study, study, study; practice, practice, practice. They just don’t have time for fun or joy anymore!
I tell them that they are at serious risk of developing a “Fun”, “Joy” or (even worse) a “Fun and Joy Deficiency Disorder” (FDD, JDD or F&JDD.)!
Are you in danger of developing an F, J or F&JDD?
Take this simple test: Do you suffer from one or more of the following?
* Generalized seriousity
* Feeling stuck
* Never having enough time
* Always feeling tired
* Extreme boredom
* Everything seems just so damn hard to do
* Nothing is fun anymore
If you suffer from one or more of above symptoms, you could be at risk, or even already have, one of these disorders. The great news is that a series of easy to learn and very brief mental exercises can help you transform your negative stress reactions into positive stress reactions and help you put the fun and joy back into your life!
This is important because negative stress sufferers are spending their lives in “chronic survivor mode” and basically everything seems more frightening, more painful and more disturbing in these chronic “fight or flight” states. Untreated, these negative stress reactions can become vicious, reactive loops and can morph into a wide range of medically unexplained symptoms and syndromes that seem to become more severe over time.
FDD, JDD and F&JDD suffers are acutely aware that they desperately need fun and joy in their lives but wonder how can they possibly relax, have fun and put some enjoyment into their lives when there is just so much to do? Or maybe they just have forgotten how to have fun or have lost touch with the wonderful joy of just being alive!
The great news is that Quantum Focusing coaches and/or Quantum Focusing guided self-help programs can teach you a series of easy-to-learn mental exercises designed to help you develop emotional flexibility and relaxation skills. My suggestion that these exercises automatically help you feel better, heal better, and have more fun, is informed by evidence-based research into relaxation, mindfulness, meditation and self-hypnosis training.
Quantum Focusing exercises like the one below helps people move out of “survival states” and into mindsets that promote thriving and enjoying work and play. When people are really engaged and enjoying what they are doing, they are more effective in all aspects of their lives!
I am going to guide you through a mental exercise that will help you process some toxic emotions and feelings that could be interfering with your fun, joy, healing and/or recovery. Let’s start by releasing all of the unnecessary tensions in your mind and body.
Close and open your eyes … this allows you to keep reading … Now, inhale and exhale deeply and, starting with the left side of your body, mentally scan the toes on your left foot … now scan your foot, your ankle, calf and shin … that’s it … now scan your knee, thigh, hip, the left side of your solar plexus and your left lung … scan the left side of your neck and face. Now scan the right side of your body … scan the toes on your right foot … now scan your foot, your ankle, calf and shin … that’s it … now scan your knee, thigh, hip, the right side of your solar plexus and your right lung … scan the right side of your neck and face. Soon there will be no unnecessary tensions left in your mind and body and that will feel so right!
Good, we are almost ready to start. Please close and open your eyes. Feel free to shift your position, any time you feel that you want to during this exercise. Are you ready to transform some negative stress into positive stress?
Great! Please close and open your eyes … breathe deeply and discover how easy it is to release toxic emotions and feelings when you want to. As soon as you get the feel for it, you will be able to release toxic feelings and emotions when and wherever you want to in less than 2 minutes.
Let’s do it!
1. Close and open your eyes … Inhale and exhale deeply … Now create a safe space in your mind and allow yourself to feel whatever has been disturbing or upsetting you recently … Get in touch with the feelings and emotions associated with this and how you feel about those feelings and emotions … as you do so … make a fist with your right hand … release the fist. Relax your hand.
2. Inhale and exhale deeply and close and open your eyes.
3. Now picture yourself in your mind as follows: You are having a great hair day! You are at your ideal weight! Your skin is glowing with health! Your eyes are sparkling with confidence and there is a big smile on your face because your heart is happy, your mind is peaceful and your spirit is playful!
Excellent! Now remember the last time you laughed out loud and enjoy those feelings and emotions as you make a copy of those emotions and memories for safe-keeping. Now, make a fist with your left hand and release it. Relax your hand.
4. Now inhale and exhale deeply and gently close and open your eyes. Okay … now count to ten and at the count of ten, make a fist with both hands at the same time. Now just relax your body and mentally count to five before opening both fists.
Feeling better?
Now try to get in touch with the unwanted emotions and feelings …. Amazing, huh?!
If you found this helpful, and I am confident that you did, all of Alan Barsky and my guided self-help programs have a series of brief mental exercises designed to help you get unstuck, stay on track and take charge of your life and health. To get the most out of our guided, self-help programs, we recommend working with a certified Quantum Focusing Coach.
You can put the fun and joy back into your life!
Michael Ellner of http://www.nycanxietyhypnosis.
Michael Ellner © 2012
How do you transform negative stress reactions into positive stress reactions?
How do you put fun and joy back into life and work?
Have you tried these Quantum Focusing exercises?
Share your thoughts in the comment form below.
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Yes, I call it creative visualization and that works wonders for me. Also, deep breathing with creative visualization or peaceful imagery is the best technique for me. I should thank you for explaining it to me so clearly. I have also written a post on these techniques at my blog, I’ sure love it if you read it and comment on it – 5 Ways to Beat Stress Doing Nothing.
Thanks again for this awesome post!