If one part of the body suffers, the entire body suffers. We spend time trying to fix one symptom when there are many root issues at work.

Last time we talked about stress and sleep and the impact it has on weight loss and health. Today I want to talk about ways we can minimize stress.

1. Let go. Seems simple, but there are so many things that are outside of our realm of control. We can’t fix everything. There’s deep truth in the serenity prayer.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Letting go of the things we cannot change brings peace to our minds, spirits, and souls.

2. Cease being all things to all people. Someone once said the key to failure is to try to please everyone. It’s not going to happen. Over-extending ourselves is a sure fire way to be stressed. What has to be done and what can be done by someone else?

Also trying to make everyone happy is unhealthy. We are not responsible for another person’s happiness. They alone control their happiness. You can do all that you know to do and someone still end up unhappy.

3. Nix perfectionism. Perfectionism is self abuse. Excellence, seeking to do the very best job possible is good. Perfectionism is a cruel task master that says, “If it’s not perfect, it’s not good.” I’m a painter in my free time. Some of my favorite paintings aren’t perfect, but they are still beautiful to me. Aim for excellence and be okay with not having perfection in everything.

4. Celebrate your accomplishments. I don’t mean brag, but if you achieve a goal, take a moment to celebrate that victory…no matter how small. It’s so easy to overlook the good and focus on the next thing. We need to slow down and give thanks.

5. Do something fun. All work and no play makes life dull and boring. We work for the weekend. Find something you love to do and do it! Life is too short not to be enjoyed. If you have a family, see if you can slip away for some alone time every so often. Solitude is often good in our fast paced lives.

There are many other things that help with stress like exercising, journaling, prayer, etc…just wanted to share a few with you that I find helpful. Here’s to your journey to wellness.