Stress is Not the Enemy
Author: Derby Stewart-Amsden at Ashwhin

Stress is implicated as one of the primary factors behind many health complaints. It has been linked to heart disease, cancer, arthritis, asthma and the functioning of our immune system - which means everything from full blown AIDS to the common cold is effected by the stress in our lives.

I don't disagree. In fact I would go further and say that the mismanagement of stress is one of the factors behind all illness and disease.

It is the way we handle stress, rather than the amount and duration of stress itself that determines whether the stress in our lives is translated into bodily tension, worry and eventually ill health. If we learn how to handle it effectively we can ride on the wave of stress and generally feel exhilarated and content with all aspects of our lives.

The fact is that we cannot avoid stress in our lives. Unless you are able to totally retreat from the world then you will have some stress. When you are excited, that is stress. When you are stimulated, that is stress. And of course when you are worried or frantic or discouraged that too is stress.

The big difference between what I keep reading and what I have to say to you is the element of choice and control that we have. Every single one of us can learn to handle the stress in our lives in such a way that we stay healthy. Every one of us who is ill or in pain can change their condition, often very dramatically, by simply changing our daily routines and some of our attitudes.

Am I offering the answer to all pain, trouble and traumatic circumstance? Not at all, in life as we know it “shit happens”. Of course we can learn from it all. What I am talking about is the possibility of transformation through a simple, easy regime that you control - that gets you to wherever you want to be.

There are several things that each of us needs to be aware of, and to monitor in our lives, before we can arrive at that place of health where we are glowing and just as healthy and content as we can be. I am not talking about anything mysterious, nor anything that you probably haven’t heard of many times before. The sort of things I am talking about are nutrition and diet, relaxation, and learning to listen to our bodies needs.

Best of all is that you can do this all by yourself and for yourself. There are many books on meditation, health through movement, food and juices for better health, nutrition, and many, many more topics. Of course you will need the time to read them, and the self motivation to explore the various options and pick out the best things for you at this time.

There are also many web sites that offer you a multitude of free advice on how to handle your stress, and all of these strategies will be valuable for some people at some point in their lives. Your challenge will be to get started on your own, and to keep the motivation high enough so you continue with your stress management programme.

Of course, some of you might consider taking a course or a break that will help you get started. I am sure that there are many wonderful courses and breaks available, and I am not suggesting that the one I offer here in Argyll is necessarily the perfect one for you. That is for you to decide. I mention it because I care deeply about this world, and helping people to handle stress in their lives is an important part of my life. Also, like most of you, I rely on my work to financially support home and family.

What I will endeavour to do during the “Ease into Health” weekend is to introduce you to a huge variety of helpful strategies for handling stress. The possibilities that I will present to you are simple. They include many ways of relaxation from breath control to meditation, several ways to develop your self awareness and suggestions for improving your dietary and health routine.

At every stage you are in the driving seat. You decide the pace, and the components of the changes to adopt into your daily routine. This is because I don't believe that there is any single way of living that is more correct than every other. Each of us has different needs, different influences and different goals, so how could a single change or set of changes be right for each of us? It can’t - at least I don't think it can.

Consider “Ease into Health” if you want:- the magic of Scotland, the peace and quiet of the countryside, open fires, wonderful fare at a luxury hotel, time to concentrate entirely upon yourself, and a personal tool kit of sensible suggestions in do-able small steps, that will - if you follow them even a little bit at a time - make your life a better place to be. Find out more at http://www.ashwhin.com/spiritual_retreats.html








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About the author - Derby Stewart-Amsden is a complementary therapist, counsellor and trainer. She prefers the description catalyst for change, because she explains that you do all the work, she simply provides the options and the support to help you along your way. To find out more about Derby or her business, Ashwhin, visit http://www.ashwhin.com or email her at derby@ashwhin.com

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