Dimension VII [VOCABULARY].
Over-criticising internal dialogue vs. Lexical awareness.
Take a moment to tune into your internal dialogue and observe the language you use. Are you speaking kindly and compassionately to yourself, or is your self-talk overly critical and negative? Remember that our words have the “power to shape our reality”[9]. Our minds are highly responsive to the language we use, using our self-talk as a direct command to create our personal reality. By selecting certain words, we limit the range of potentials available to us from the quantum field. If your reality is not what you desire, it could be due to negative self-talk. Many of us are programmed to speak harshly to ourselves, which can lead to unhealthy stress and a less desirable reality. However, you have the power to change this. By consciously choosing to use language that is kind, accepting, and loving towards yourself, you can create a more positive reality. Use your freedom of choice to select the words that will bring your desired reality into existence.
Dimension VIII [INTENTION].
Subconscious vs. Conscious
The subconscious mind plays a crucial role in our behaviour, accounting for up to 95% of it[10], and its primary function is to ensure our survival. It’s a more powerful force than the conscious mind and operates continuously, even during sleep. The patterns and strategies we acquire during early programming and throughout life have a direct impact on our relationship with stress.
If you find yourself consistently feeling stressed beyond your physical and emotional capacity, it may be helpful to examine your subconscious beliefs and strategies for managing stress. Once you understand their purpose and intention, you can determine whether they align with your conscious goals or have become outdated. Reprogramming outdated beliefs, automatic patterns, and strategies can help you upgrade your mindset and develop healthier ones.
Dimension IX [ACTIONS].
We live in a world of constant action and stress is our evolutionary response. We have three primary ways of responding to danger: fight, flight, and freeze. Fight mode prepares us to combat aggressors, flight mode activates us to flee and avoid danger, and freeze mode causes us to pretend to be dead to deceive predators.
It’s essential to understand how these initial programs might impact our social life as well. For instance, flight mode could manifest as toxic aggression towards others, while flight response might lead to avoidance or “quiet quitting”[11]. Freeze mode might result in procrastination.
Therefore, it’s crucial to reflect on our actions and determine whether they help to cope with or escalate our stress response. By bringing our actions into the realm of mindfulness, we can improve our coping skills and become more resilient, enabling us to use stress effectively.
Conclusion
Let us take a lesson from evolution and harness the benefits of stress. Create your own understanding of how stress operates by adding your unique perspective to the proposed multi-dimensional model. This is your opportunity to cultivate bulletproof resilience and become the master of stress.
References:
[1] Tan, S. Y., & Yip, A. M. (2018). Hans Selye (1907–1982): Founder of the stress theory. Singapore Medical Journal, 59(4), 170–171.
[2] The Evolution of the Stress Concept: The originator of the concept traces its development from the discovery in 1936 of the alarm reaction to modern therapeutic applications of syntoxic and catatoxic hormones on JSTOR. (n.d.).
[3] Marisa, P. (2018). I Am Enough: Mark Your Mirror and Change Your Life.
[4] McGonigal, K. (2015). The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and how to Get Good at it. Avery.
[5] Personally, I prefer to use Rapid Transformational Therapy ® for reprogramming negative beliefs.
[6] “All traumatic events are stressful …”. Peter Levine Healing trauma study guide
[7] Epel, E., PhD. (2022). The Stress Prescription: Seven Days to More Joy and Ease. National Geographic Books.
[8] Epel, E., PhD. (2022). The Stress Prescription: Seven Days to More Joy and Ease. National Geographic Books.
[9] Marisa Peer
[10] Lipton, B. H. (2016). The Biology of Belief 10th Anniversary Edition: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles. Hay House, Inc.
[11] Daugherty, G. (2023). What Is Quiet Quitting—and Is It a Real Trend? Investopedia.
Disclaimer
No content in this article should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Main photo by Kat Smith
