Disconnect From Stress

Notes from a workshop we had at work:

1. You have a choice to sit in stress or work through the stress.

Stress can make you feel like you are alone.

2. You have to make a decision not to be scared by stress.

3. What you do in that moment will either have you stay in stress or out of stress.

4. You have to be INTENTIONAL in managing your stress and health and peace.

How to disconnect from stress:

-Get a grip and Learn how to be quiet and still.

-Learn how to have meetings with yourself.

Questions:

-What I am thinking does it keep me stuck or move me forwards?

-What I am thinking about does it increase my stress or decrease my stress?

-What I am thinking about does it connect me to the stress or disconnect me to the stress?

Have a meeting by yourself to get rid of stress.

Three types of boundaries:

-mental

      -Set and resetting your mind.

      -"Your mind is on overload because you have not taken the time to get out of auto pilot and land the plane."

-relational

       -Protecting your identity.

-personal space

       -To enjoy yourself.

       -Don't let anyone mess your space up.

       -Sperate your joyful activity from your stress.

These boundaries create space for me.

-Learn to sleep.

-Naps are good for setting and resetting your mind.

-Value your Peace

       

-How can you know your peace is off:

           -When your stress is your identity.

           -When a person is talkative but they are quiet.

           

Laughter

        -lowers blood pressure 

        

How to make right decisions:

           -Get right info.

           -Seek wise counsel.

           -Make sure to go through the process.

"Always be in a teachable place where you can learn from and not let life/stress get to you."

          

My May: Creativity

May: Creativity 

April's Reflections:

- April's wins

       -got last COVID shot

       -got something for my headaches 

-April's favorite moments:

         -Dad's birthday 

         -Easter 

         - Penny and Aoife gave life to the Lord

-April Hard moments:

         -a lot of headaches 

         - trying to understand people

-What I want to start:

         -Going to yoga

         -Write happy entries 

Mood Tracker: 

        -Depressed: 0 times

        -Overcome: 4 times

        -Blissful: 16 times

        -Exasperate: 9 times

        -Panic: 3 times

        -Passion: 4 times 

May Habit Tracker:

         -Say Prayers: 11 times

         -Bed by 10:45: 11 times

         -Doing yoga: 4 times

         -Using oils: 12 times

Creativity Activity:

-I define Creativity as expressing yourself.

-Creativity isn't throwing things on paper.

-When I am feeling creative, I am listening to nothing. 

-I find the creative flow best when I am outside or by myself.

-I enjoy creating photos, woodburning pieces, or poems.

This is Me:

-What is something that makes me feel joy?

      -my family

-My favorite hobby is:

       -Journaling

-The first thing I like to do when I wake up is:

       -pet my cat

-My greatest talent is:

        -loving children

Calendar:

-May 3rd: first hottest day of summer

-May 4th: Zack's 2nd COVID shot

-May 5th: 1st yoga class at Cocoon

-May 8th: Went county riding in a jeep with mom, Amber, and Jenni

-May 9th: Mother's Day

-May 10th: Zack's das got COVID 

-May 11th: head hurts because of rain

-May 12th: Mom's birthday and 2nd class of yoga

-May 13th: Zack's birthday and he got cowboy boots and a pillow with pictures on it. We also had hot dogs and Mac and cheese for his birthday dinner.

-May 14th: headache but took meds for it

-May 15th: Zack's birthday in Branson. We went to Guy's place and also got old time photos taken of us two. Went to the Landing.

-May 16th: Zack's sad went to the hospital 

-May 17th: No masks at Wal Mart.

-May 21st: Zack's dad doing better

- May 22nd: did mellow yoga aka regular yoga at Cocoon

-May 24: Vincent's birthday 

-May 27th: found out no masks in June at work 

-May 28th: Work Awards 

-May 30th: PARENTS' 50th party with family and friends

AND I GOT ENGAGED during the party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Currently:

-Loving: my Fiancé

-Feeling: stressed and hopeful

-Enjoying: time with family and old friends 

-Anticipating: Zack's birthday and a 3 day weekend

-Planning: Parents' 50th and Zack's birthday 

       

Stressala

"Stress is a disease."

"Mind can work for you or against you."

Here is how you tell if you have a stronger relationship with stress:

-It is part of your identity.

-When thoughts are a lot of your time.

-When people can tell you are stress by you actions.

Here are some stress patterns:

-Passed down through the family.

-Past experiences.

Here is what stress can do to a person:

-mess up peace of mind

-affect health

-affect thoughts

-distance yourself from others.

"When it comes to stress, you have to seperate yourself from stress to know your stress."

-"God has got me! Go away stress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The Various Responses to Christ

Luke 11:14-28

What kind of people were around Jesus: 

-3 different kinds of people

-People were amazed at Jesus. 

-People were accusing Jesus.

Acts 19:13-14

Luke 11:23

-"Who is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

-People were asking Jesus to show more signs.

Luke 16:27-31

Matthew 12:39-40

"You are more blessed when you put your faith to action."

My April: Freedom

In my April journal, I wrote this:

Mood Tracker:

Insecure: 2 times

Relieved: 10 times

Hope: 7 times

Regret: 0 times

Eager: 3 times

Disgust: 8 times

Habit Tracker:

Take a walk: 2 times

Say prayers: 11 times

Eat one healthy meal: 12 times 

Wash dishes: 4 times

Bed by 10:45: 11 times 

What did I do to feel more free?:

Got my last COVID shot.

During and after time with God.

Sat outside under the sun.

When I don't have to decide.

When I write out my feelings. 

Having the energy to do things.

Walk in the rain. 

Have you ever had a time where you felt trapped in some way? 

Right now, my health.  I just feel like I am not free to eat like I use to. It adds stress to me everywhere in everyday life. 

What do you need that helps you feel more safe and secure in who you are?:

I need to know that no matter how I turn out someone we always love me. I need someone to listen too. 

April 1-Got my 2nd covid shot.

April 2-I got really sleepy and my body was hurting all day. 

April 3-Feel better from the shot.

 Penny and Aoife got baptized. 

April 6-Made play dough with frosting and powdered sugar.

April 10-Plant my impatient flowers.

April 11-Went to tulip farm as a church activity.

April 13-Zack got 1st covid shot. Took my first whole day off of work. 

April 15-Got strong in shot for headache. It helped.

April 17- Ate out at FDs for Dad's 70th b-day and got 6 balloons for him with mom.

April 18-Went back to parents church for 1st time in a long time.

April 20-Snow day in April.

April 23-Da went to ER to take port out.

April 27-Got meds for head and got a stoaid shot for relief. Felt free the next day.

April 28-1st tornado of the season with class at work.

April 29-Flood near me down the road. 

Loving: my whole day off

Wishing: I knew what was wrong with my head.

Watching: Games of Talents, The Mighty Ducks, Vegas Chef Prizefight

My March

What My March was like:       

Word of the month: Curiosity 

          February wins: Started a Bible Study at my new church. It was an online one. 

February hiccups: Prayed less then I would have like to.

What do I want to start?: To journal at least 2 times a month. 

My Moods:

Amazed:  2 times

Stressed: 3 times

Calm: 13 times 

Annoyed: 6 times

Happy: 12 times

Helpless: 3 times

My Habits:

Filling out my journal: 21 times 

Saying prayers: 13 times

Eat healthy meals: 13 times

Talk a walk: 3 times

Go to bed at 11:00: 8 times

Question Log (questions I had throughout the month):

-Will my dad be okay?

-How will headstart run after masks are done with?

-Why after all he has been through?

-What will the world be like after masks?

-Why can't we just love people?

-When is my check coming?

-How do you cure seizures?

-Will there ever be a cure for Altimezier's?

-How much will my bears be in the future?

-Will there ever be a cure for cancer?

What am I curious about:

-I am a really curious about cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and seizures.

-I wish I knew more about how tonstar a website store.

-I'd like to be really good at woodburning.

-If I had the time and money, I'd do craft shows and markets.

-I am fascinated when I look at old bears.

-I could listen for hours to my cat purring.

-I've always wanted to see my dream wedding.

-I love talking about my family. 

-I wonder what Normal is anymore.

What I did:

-March 6th-Went to Topgolf for the 1st time.

-March 7th-Went to Dave's and Buster's for then1st time.

-March 11th-Got my 1st COVID shot. I was really sleepy and arm hurt.

-March 12th- Arm still hurt from shot.

-March 17th-Haf my 1st live observation at work since COVID started.

-March 18th-Had a visitor come to work today and the kids loved what he left them.

-March 19th-Found out how we see going back to normal at work.

-March 20th-Saw all the family or most of it since COVID. Out of state family. 

-March 22nd-Spring break starts at home in MO.

-March 24th-Back in AR for the rest of Spring break. 

-March 27th-Went to the biggest thrift store in NWA. Also, went mini golfing in the rain.

-March 29th-We actually got to go back to work after Spring break. 

-March 31st-Dad had his biopsy. 

Currently:

Feeling- Loved, wanted, annoyed, worried

Wishing-I could be thinner.

Enjoying-the new food I am trying, Spring break

Watching-A Dog with Blog, Full House, The Masked Singer

Planning-Spring break, what to spend my check on

Loving-my boyfriend 

            As you can probably tell by this entery, March was not boring at all. I can tell you that April's entery won't be boring either. It just keeps getting busier and crazier from here.

Easter 2021

           Easter have been different for the past two years. Last year it was because of COVID and this year we are trying to get back to "normal" which is strange now too. For me, that's not the only reason it is strange for me. A lot has happened over this Easter weekend. A lot that shows new life like Spring and Easter should show.

           First, Dad went into the hospital and had no idea why or what was wrong. He stayed there for about 4 days. The drs. did all these tests but we still had no answers. Finally, his regular Dr. came in and said we are going to figure this out. They went ahead with the biopsy and we still don't know. That is where I worried and waited. 

           Second, I got my last COVID shot on Thursday. Now I can be free in life and start anew that way. It is almost Iike I was born again in a strange way. It was like that shot really had to go through my body to make a difference. I felt really bad on Friday. Worse then I had felt since high school and I slept all night Friday night. Yet I woke up on Saturday refreshed and felt like new. So that was the born again and refreshing feeling for me.

          Third, my 2 youngest nieces got baptized last night at their Easter eve service. That gave me another feeling that Spring and Easter are known for. That feeling is Hope. Hope that they will grow closer to the Lord everyday. Hope that they will have a good life especially these days. Hope that they know their aunt will always love them. Their Hope that they will just have in life too. 

           Fourth, came Easter Day and we all know what that means. It means that we don't deserve the Amazing Grace that is given to us. We get it because Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and rose again to set us free. Just like all the feelings I was feeling the past few days. 

          The feeling of fear, sleepiness, worry, sickness, and many more. Jesus has set us free from all of those because we have love and hope because He lives. 

          How often is it that you feel all the bad feelings before Easter but then you get to Easter day and you burst into tears at church because you know God is good? How often is it that you feel like you are actually free? You know He took all that pain away and He still does to this day. How often us it that you want to examine the feeling but just can't find the right words? That's how it is for me right now. That is how Easter 2021 felt for me and what it will always be remembered for.